There is plenty of optimism surrounding the Texas Rangers heading into the 2023 season. After a disappointing season last year, Rangers fans are ready for things to change. Along with his front office staff, Rangers GM Chris Young went out and made plenty of those desired changes during the offseason. With that said, here is a Texas Rangers season preview for the upcoming 2023 campaign.
New Manager
The Rangers made their first off-season splash less than a month after the 2022 season ended. In late October, they hired one of the most respected managers in the game in the once-retired Bruce Bochy. The Rangers were looking for a permanent manager to lead this team. They relieved former manager Chris Woodward (and executive vice president Jon Daniels) of their respective duties last August. With this in mind, it makes sense that the Rangers would want an established presence in their dugout.
There were many in baseball circles that believed that Bochy was enjoying his retirement. For the most part, he appeared to be nice and relaxed, but he saw the moves that the Rangers were making, and decided that he wanted to be a part of it. It also helped that GM Chris Young was one of his many former players when he was the manager of the San Diego Padres. Fans are hopeful that the familiarity between those two will be one of the things that will allow Bochy to keep this team in the win column this season.
Starting Rotation
The next item on this Rangers season preview checklist is the starting rotation. Much of the optimism and enthusiasm that surrounds this team in 2023 begins and ends with the Rangers’ pitching staff. In perhaps their biggest offseason move, they signed ace right-hander Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal mere days before the 2022 Winter Meetings.
deGrom, 34, is one of the most decorated pitchers of his generation, a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner as a member of the New York Mets who bloomed late but continued to improve into his early 30s. He will head this Rangers rotation in 2023. The Rangers also went out and signed three more pitchers in Andrew Heaney, Jake Odorizzi, and Nathan Eovaldi. The Eovaldi signing came two days after the Christmas holiday. The rotation will consist of deGrom, Eovaldi, Heaney, Jon Gray, and Martin Perez.
The Rangers’ Lineup
The next item on this Rangers season preview is the everyday lineup. Much like last year, Rangers fans can expect to see second baseman Marcus Semien in the leadoff spot in Bruce Bochy’s lineup on a daily basis. It may be a possibility that he also uses the speedy outfielder Bubba Thompson in that spot as well. Expect also to see shortstop Corey Seager, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, outfielder Adolis Garcia among others in the Rangers’ starting nine this season.
The Rangers’ Bullpen
Next on this Rangers season preview checklist is the bullpen. It may be a cliche, but it is true that you can never have too much pitching. Any success that comes from the bullpen is going to be key for the Rangers this season. One of the mainstays from last year’s bullpen, lefty Taylor Hearn, is returning this year.
In time spent in both the rotation and bullpen in 2022, Hearn logged 100 innings. He posted an ERA of 5.13, and finished the season with a record of 6–8 in 31 games. Alongside Hearn, the Rangers’ bullpen will also feature Ian Kennedy, Jonathan Hernandez, Cole Ragans, Glenn Otto, Spencer Howard, Josh Sborz, Will Smith, and Jose Leclerc.
2023 Season Outlook
Last but not least on this Rangers season preview is the outlook for the season. The Rangers finished the 2022 season with a record of 68–94. That was good enough for fourth place in the AL West, 38 games behind the division-winning Houston Astros. One silver lining from that outcome was the fact that it was an eight game improvement on their 2021 record (60–102). Considering the time and money the Rangers spent this offseason with the new acquisitions, as well as a new manager in Bruce Bochy, fans can look forward to an exciting season that holds a lot of potential for the Texas Rangers. Perhaps a trip to the postseason will be in the mix as well.
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