Here is the Texas Rangers’ roster for spring 2.0. There are some intriguing names
As general manager Jon Daniels said Sunday, a lot has changed since March, when spring training was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but not much has changed within the Texas Rangers organization.
Their initial club player pool is a perfect example.
“That’s a good thing,” Daniels said.
The Rangers placed 55 players on their roster, leaving five spots open for flexibility during what stands to be an unprecedented 2020 MLB season. The Rangers, though, have plans to add veteran right-handers Edinson Volquez and Juan Nicasio, and potentially minor-league righy Kyle Cody.
Part of that flexibility is for prospects in case the there is no development plan put in place by MLB for minor-league players. Their season is expected to be canceled.
And, of course, what happens if multiple players on the big-league roster test positive for COVID-19?
“We spent quite a bit of time going through it, looking at our options,” Daniels said. “We wanted to give ourselves some flexibility. At the same time there were guys we wanted to come in and get a good look.”
The Rangers are planning to hold their first full-squad workout of spring training 2.0 on Friday. Player must report by Wednesday, take a COVID-19 test, and self-quarantine until they know the results.
The Rangers’ 60-game season will begin either July 23 or July 24. The MLB schedule could be released in a few days, but the New York Post reported that MLB might hold off on the schedule to see if the spike in COVID cases makes play in some cities too risky.
Until then, here are five players in the group to keep an eye on.
Josh Jung, 3B
The 2019 first-round pick from Texas Tech, Jung was not part of big-league camp in Arizona, but appeared in multiple games as a just-in-case player. As expected, he impressed. Daniels does not expect Jung to play in the major leagues this season, but he is one of the players on the roster who the Rangers want to ensure gets some kind of development time.
Sam Huff, C
The Rangers have at least three catchers ahead of Huff, the Star-Telegram’s No. 1 prospect, but he is too good of a player to sit around and lose experience. Daniels, though, seemed more open to Huff finding his way onto the active roster than Jung. Huff would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December if not on the 40-man roster, so it would make some sense to add him during the season if the Rangers believe he is the best option for them.
Alex Speas, RHP
Speas could become the next in a line of hard-throwing relievers to ascend through the system on the strength of his fastball, following the recent paths taken by C.D. Pelham and Emmanuel Clase. Neither of them is in the organization, but their inexperience was negated by their stuff and they tasted the majors despite starting their seasons in the lower levels of the minors. Speas has never pitched above short-season ball, and it was ugly, but he’s throwing 102 mph now after Tommy John surgery and he actually knows where the ball is going.
Leody Taveras, CF
The Rangers have loaded up on middle infielders and center fielders, but none of them is as good defensively as Taveras is in center. He remains one of the organization’s top prospects despite showing little plate production the past two seasons. But 2019 was better than 2018, and the switch hitter was impressing at the plate in his first big-league camp before being optioned to the minors.
Wes Bejamin, LHP
Benjamin was not a part of big-league spring training and is not on the 40-man roster, but he impressed as a just-in-case pitcher in a handful of Cactus League games and vowed that he would be ready for anything that might shake out of the coronavirus shutdown. His stuff has trended upward the past few minor-league seasons, and the Rangers think it might play well out of the bullpen. For those looking for a good story, this could be it.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, INF
It’s not a surprise that Kiner-Falefa is part of the group. He’s on the 40-man roster and has seen ample big-league time the past two seasons. In February, however, Kiner-Falefa was considered a long shot for the roster before breaking through offensively. Granted, he was thriving in spring training, but he was driving the ball like never before while continuing to play good defense. That performance was one reason the Rangers released veteran Matt Duffy on Sunday. The trick now is for Kiner-Falefa to pick up where he left off.
Rangers spring 2.0 roster
40-man players (37)
Pitchers: LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Jesse Chavez, RHP Demarcus Evans, RHP Luke Farrell, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Nick Goody, LHP Taylor Hearn, RHP Jonathan Hernandez, RHP Ariel Jurado, RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Jose Leclerc, RHP Jordan Lyles, RHP Lance Lynn, LHP Brett Martin, LHP Mike Minor, RHP Rafael Montero, LHP Joe Palumbo, RHP Tyler Phillips, LHP Joely Rodriguez.
Catchers: Robinson Chirinos, Jeff Mathis, Jose Trevino.
Infielders: SS Elvis Andrus, 3B Sherten Apostel, 3B Todd Frazier, 1B Ronald Guzman, UTIL Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B Rougned Odor, SS Anderson Tejeda.
Outfielders: LF Willie Calhoun, DH/RF Shin-Soo Choo, RF Joey Gallo, LF Adolis Garcia, CF Scott Heineman, CF Danny Santana, CF Nick Solak, CF Leody Taveras.
Non-roster players (18)
Pitchers: RHP Cody Allen, LHP Wes Benjamin, RHP Luis Garcia, RHP Ian Gibaut, RHP Jimmy Herget, RHP Wei-Chieh Huang, RHP Derek Law, RHP Alex Speas.
Catchers: Nick Cuiffo, Tim Federowicz, Sam Huff, Blake Swihart.
Infielders: 1B Greg Bird, 2B Andy Ibanez, 3B Josh Jung, SS Yadiel Rivera.
Outfielders: LF Rob Refsnyder, CF Eli White.
This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 4:26 PM.
