SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The 2025 Texas Rangers have a revamped offense, a completely rebuilt bullpen and a healthy Jacob deGrom.
Things will look a little different from 2024, and definitely from the World Series-winning team from ‘23, but the front office believes it’s put the club back in a position to compete in the American League West and return to the postseason.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Rangers’ likely Opening Day roster.
Catcher (2): Jonah Heim, Kyle Higashioka
Heim, who was an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner in 2023, struggled in ’24 with a .603 OPS and declining defensive statistics. One worry was regarding the backstop’s workload, which is where the addition of Higashioka comes in. Heim and Higashioka figure to almost evenly split playing time behind the plate, though Heim will almost definitely start on Opening Day and get the edge in starts early in the season, unless performance on either end dictates otherwise.
First base (1): Jake Burger
With Nathaniel Lowe shipped off to the Nationals in December, Burger assumes the role of starting first baseman. Burger had 29 homers and 76 RBIs for the Marlins in 2024, while splitting time between the two corner infield spots. He’s less experienced at first base than at the hot corner, but manager Bruce Bochy and president of baseball operations Chris Young have both emphasized that his work ethic and confidence will put him in a perfect position to complement the rest of the infield while at first base.
Second base (1): Marcus Semien
Not the biggest shock of the world, but the Rangers’ iron man will be at second base for the foreseeable future. It's his fourth season with Texas and Semien has been consistent as ever.
Shortstop (1): Corey Seager
Seager, the Rangers’ franchise superstar, played just 123 games in 2024, but when healthy, he’s one of the best players in baseball.
Third base (1): Josh Jung
Jung has been bitten by the injury bug throughout his professional career, and while it’s not always something that’s been within his control, the Rangers need him to be healthy to be a competitive baseball team.
Outfield (3): Adolis García, Wyatt Langford, Leody Taveras
García will almost definitely hold down right field as he looks for a bounce-back season, while Langford will do the same in left as he tries to avoid the sophomore slump. Taveras edged out 2023 World Series hero Evan Carter in center field, who was sent to Triple-A Round Rock to start the season.
DH (1): Joc Pederson
The Rangers have gotten dreadful production out of the designated-hitter spot over the last few seasons, and Pederson perfectly fills a void in the lineup going into 2025. He’s coming off of an electric year in Arizona, with whom he slashed .275/.393/.515 with 23 homers. He’ll bring some much-needed power to the lineup this season as well.
Bench/Utility (3): Josh Smith, Kevin Pillar, Ezequiel Duran
Smith won a Silver Slugger Award as a utility man in 2024, when he logged career highs in all three slash categories (.258/.337/.394), OPS (.731), home runs (13), RBIs (62), walks (46), runs (67), hits (135) and doubles (30). Ezequiel Duran is another utility option, and while he struggled offensively this spring (.447 OPS in 20 games), the Rangers have liked the adjustments he's made at the plate towards the end of Cactus League play. The 36-year-old veteran Pillar signed a Minor League deal with the club a few weeks into camp and proved himself to be a quality big leaguer despite previously contemplating retirement, hitting 12-for-44 (.273) in 18 spring games.
Starting rotation (5): Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker
With Cody Bradford (left elbow soreness) and Jon Gray (right wrist fracture) landing on the injured list to start the season, rookie pitchers (and former college teammates at Vanderbilt) Rocker and Leiter have worked their way onto the Opening Day roster alongside the three veterans.
Bullpen (8): Jacob Webb, Chris Martin, Luke Jackson, Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Robert Garcia, Marc Church, Gerson Garabito
The Rangers fully rebuilt the bullpen after a plethora of losses in free agency, but No. 23 prospect Marc Church has been one of the most electrifying relievers in camp and is emerging as an option. And still, the front office did an admirable job rebuilding, including by adding Jackson during the first week of camp. That being said, there’s no telling who will come out of this group as the closer, though it could be Jackson, Martin (the most experienced reliever of the bunch) or even Webb, who pitched a handful of high-leverage innings in Baltimore. Garabito will act as the long man out of the bullpen.