Bounce-back candidates for Rangers in 2015

As much as the Texas Rangers would prefer to stop thinking about their dismal 2014, it’s impossible to do so when contemplating their outlook for 2015. The reason they did so little in the off-season is because they are hoping that many of the players injured last year will be healthy and able to produce as they have in the past. Some weren’t brought back for 2015. The oft-injured Alexi Ogando, the disappointing Geovany Soto and the tough-luck Kevin Kouzmanoff are all gone. Most, though, are back. Yu Darvish (elbow) and Jurickson Profar (shoulder) will have to wait yet another year. Here’s a look at the injured players who were expected to make a big impact in 2014 and who have a chance to bounce back in 2015. — Jeff Wilson

1B Prince Fielder

Not even baseball’s reigning iron man could avoid injury. Fielder had weakness in his left arm, caused by a pinched nerve in his neck, and had cervical fusion surgery in May. He is said to be 100 percent. He better be.

LHP Derek Holland

The 2014 injury train started in January, when Holland tripped over his dog on a stairway. He had microfracture surgery on his left knee and didn’t return until September, but what a September. With Yu Darvish out, Holland is expected to be the staff ace.

LHP Martin Perez

One of the best pitchers in April, buoyed by shutouts in back-to-back starts, Perez started sliding in May and fell victim to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. Tommy John surgery followed, and the rotation was hit again.

LHP Matt Harrison

All was going to be OK in the rotation when Harrison returned from the disabled list. It didn’t last, as a back condition required fusion surgery that has left his career in jeopardy. He’ll give it one last chance.

RHP Tanner Scheppers

Tanner Scheppers is now the answer to what will be an all-time trivia question: Who was the Rangers’ Opening Day starter in 2014? Not Yu Darvish. Not Derek Holland. But Scheppers, a dominant reliever in 2013. The experiment fizzled quickly.

OF Shin-Soo Choo

An elbow injury that lingered all season shut Choo down late in the year, but an ankle injury early on also scuttled his season. An early-season DL stint following the April ankle sprain might have led to better things in 2014.

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Bounce-back candidates for Rangers in 2015."