Texas Rangers revealed Opening Day roster. This player was stunned to make team
Leody Taveras might spend only two weeks on the Texas Rangers’ roster.
He will be fortunate to get a start or even 10 at-bats before the Rangers face another decision on his roster status.
But they made a significant one Wednesday night, one that he will never forget.
Taveras, a top prospect for five years, will be on the Rangers’ Opening Day roster.
Manager Chris Woodward informed the 21-year-old outfielder of the good news before the Rangers lost their second straight exhibition game to the Colorado Rockies, 7-3, at Globe Life Field.
Those teams will play again Friday in the opener of their 60-game seasons, and Taveras will be in dugout.
“Oh, man,” Taveras said. “I was extremely excited. I called my family first. I didn’t know what else to do. I was sweating. I never thought I would get that information.”
Woodward announced that right-hander Ian Gibaut, left-handers Joe Palumbo and Kolby Allard, outfielder Scott Heineman, first baseman/outfielder Rob Refsnyder and first baseman Ronald Guzman had made team.
Rosters will include 30 players to start the season, but will be trimmed to 28 on Aug. 6 and then to 26 two weeks later.
The Rangers purchased the minor-league contracts of Gibaut, Refsnyder and right-hander Edinson Volquez, who was told last week he had made the team. Left-hander Yohander Mendez was outright assigned off the 40-man roster and removed from the 60-player pool.
The Rangers also placed right-hander Rafael Montero (elbow tendonitis) and left-hander Joely Rodriguez (strained left lat) on the 10-day injured list.
Guzman survived a roster battle with Greg Bird, who has elected to stay with the organization that their alternate site. It wasn’t so much that Guzman beat out Bird, but that Bird would have needed a spot on the 40-man roster.
Guzman has the edge defensively, and will be a late-game upgrade, if needed. He will have to earn playing time by showing a commitment to the changes being made to his swing and by staying in the strike zone.
The breakthrough spring and summer camp of Isiah Kiner-Falefa at third base also impacted the situation at first base, which will now be manned primarily by Todd Frazier.
“One thing I told Birdy is he’s starting to trend in the right direction,” Woodward said. “I told him it wasn’t really about Guzman. It was about Kiner. Our infield defense, being able to put Guzman in late. I can pick and choose when I start Guzie. I told Guzie he’s going to have to earn his playing time, but we will make that switch if anyone starts to fail.”
Palumbo and Allard beat out fellow lefties Taylor Hearn and Wes Benjamin, though both could be headed to the alternate site as rotation depth once Rodriguez and Brett Martin (COVID-19) are ready again.
Hearn, from Royse City, came to summer camp as a favorite to make the roster, but struggled with his command. Woodward said that Hearn likely would have made the roster in a 162-game season, when the Rangers could afford to ride out his inconsistencies, but there isn’t that margin for error this season.
That doesn’t go for just Hearn and Guzman, but anyone who struggles.
“We don’t have time to wait out somebody,” Woodward said.
Placing Taveras on the Opening Day roster starts his service clock. Taveras is trending toward becoming the Rangers’ starting center fielder for several seasons, and there was an argument to hold off on starting him on the long road to free agency, but he was too good this summer to deny him a spot.
He is an elite defensive player, one of the fastest players on the team and a switch hitter who has developed a good knowledge of the strike zone and some power. The Rangers, though, will likely use him only for his defense and speed.
“I did tell him I didn’t think we had any intention of keeping him to start of the camp,” Woodward said. “We thought, out of the prospect group, he was the most likely just because of his skill set. He could fill the role of a pinch runner. He plays an elite center field. It’s that kind of thing. He earned it, man.”
Texas Rangers 2020 roster
Pitchers
| Player | No. | B/T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Comment |
| Kolby Allard | 39 | L/L | 6-1 | 195 | 8/13/1997 | Starter will work out of the bullpen to start season |
| Jesse Chavez | 30 | R/R | 6-1 | 175 | 8/21/1984 | Bullpen’s veteran could have key role early on |
| Luke Farrell | 60 | L/R | 6-6 | 200 | 6/7/1991 | Will provide multiple innings out of the bullpen |
| Ian Gibaut | 63 | R/R | 6-3 | 250 | 11/19/1993 | Won spot on strong performance in summer camp |
| Kyle Gibson | 44 | R/R | 6-6 | 215 | 10/23/1987 | Will be the team’s No. 4 starter |
| Nick Goody | 41 | R/R | 5-11 | 200 | 7/6/1991 | Offseason waiver claim (Cleveland) makes team |
| Jonathan Hernandez | 72 | R/R | 6-3 | 190 | 7/6/1996 | The star reliever of summer camp, but still young |
| Corey Kluber | 28 | R/R | 6-4 | 215 | 4/10/1986 | Two-time Cy Young winner rounding back into form |
| Jose Leclerc | 25 | R/R | 6-0 | 195 | 12/19/1993 | The closer and most important pitcher in bullpen |
| Jordan Lyles | 24 | R/R | 6-5 | 230 | 10/19/1990 | No. 5 starter could open the season in the bullpen |
| Lance Lynn | 35 | S/R | 6-5 | 250 | 5/12/1987 | Opening Day starter after big 2019 season |
| Mike Minor | 23 | R/L | 6-4 | 210 | 12/26/1987 | Final season of contract, wants to stay with Rangers |
| Joe Palumbo | 62 | L/L | 6-0 | 195 | 10/26/1994 | First Opening Day roster for starter working in ‘pen |
| Edinson Volquez | 36 | R/R | 6-0 | 220 | 07/03/1983 | Talked out of retirement and into key bullpen spot |
Catchers
| Player | No. | B/T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Comment |
| Robinson Chirinos | 61 | R/R | 6-1 | 220 | 6/5/1984 | Veteran shook off camp ankle injury July 13 |
| Jeff Mathis | 2 | R/R | 6-0 | 205 | 3/31/1983 | This veteran is entering his 16th MLB season |
| Jose Trevino | 56 | R/R | 5-11 | 210 | 11/28/1992 | Excellent defensive catcher adding with bat |
Infielders
| Player | No. | B/T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Comment |
| Elvis Andrus | 1 | R/R | 6-0 | 210 | 8/26/1988 | Rangers need more offense from their shortstop |
| Todd Frazier | 21 | R/R | 6-3 | 220 | 2/12/1986 | Former All-Star third baseman moves to first |
| Ronald Guzman | 11 | L/L | 6-5 | 235 | 10/20/1994 | Rangers hoping the Condor takes off at the plate |
| Isiah Kiner-Falefa | 9 | R/R | 5-11 | 190 | 3/23/1995 | Will start at third base after big spring, camp |
| Rougned Odor | 12 | L/R | 5-11 | 200 | 2/3/1994 | Is this the year everything comes together? |
Outfielders
| Player | No. | B/T | Ht. | Wt. | DOB | Comment |
| Willie Calhoun | 5 | L/R | 5-8 | 200 | 11/4/1994 | Hip strain could keep him out first few games |
| Shin-Soo Choo | 17 | L/L | 5-11 | 205 | 7/13/1982 | Entering would could be final year of career |
| Joey Gallo | 13 | L/R | 6-5 | 250 | 11/19/1993 | Can he duplicate his performance in 2019? |
| Scott Heineman | 16 | R/R | 6-1 | 205 | 12/4/1992 | Quietly had one of the best camps on team |
| Rob Refsnyder | 14 | R/R | 6-0 | 205 | 3/26/1991 | Showed well at plate, first base, in left field |
| Danny Santana | 38 | S/R | 5-11 | 195 | 11/7/1990 | Another player who must repeat 2019 |
| Nick Solak | 15 | R/R | 5-11 | 185 | 1/11/1995 | Rangers looking for ways to get him at-bats |
| Leody Taveras | 65 | S/R | 6-2 | 195 | 9/8/1998 | A potential long-term regular will play in spots |
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 12:19 AM.
