The 2023 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

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But we still have Howard, King, and Sborz on the 40 man.

 

[DT LUNA]

But we still have Howard, King, and Sborz on the 40 man.

Have got to believe CY will get rid of Howard when he can use him as an extra in a trade.

 

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[saddles]

Have got to believe CY will get rid of Howard when he can use him as an extra in a trade.

It will be too late when he does. It should have been done almost 4 months ago and we could still have Mason Englert.

 

[Duane1952]

Have got to believe CY will get rid of Howard when he can use him as an extra in a trade.

I just don’t see what they see in Howard, he hasn’t shown anything.

 

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[Senator_fan]

But we still have Howard, King, and Sborz on the 40 man.

That’s another head scratcher. Somehow Englert slipped through the cracks.

 

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Prospects Live has their new Top 100 Prospects List out and only 4 Rangers are on it.

2023 Preseason Top 100 Prospects List — Prospects Live

The Top 100 Prospects for the MLB 2023 Preseason led by Gunnar Henderson

www.prospectslive.com

29 Jung
31 Carter
65 White
97 Porter

 

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[DT LUNA]

Someday you won't recognize baseball with all the changes being made. The game has excelled for years so why all the changes? And what about records? Records will be changed. Leave the game alone and play baseball.

 

[saddles]

I read this that former Ranger, Jeff Frye, wrote:

"To all you college baseball coaches recruiting based solely on “Metrics” consider this. This 5’9” 160 lb 30th round Draft pick ran a (6.8)60 yard dash. Probably had an (80mph) Exit Velocity in college. Had a (40) arm. Had (30) power maybe. Was a (40) fielder and a (50-55) hitter and wouldn’t even be considered based on the “Metrics” you guys are going by. Yet he played 15 years Professionally with 9+ years in the Big Leagues. Hit (.300) 3 seasons in the #MLB and retired a career (.290) hitter. My point is that you can’t measure heart and guts and desire with these machines PG & PBR are using at their showcases. Don’t write of the kids who are late bloomers or undersized who don’t have the “Metrics” you’re looking for. You might just pass up on a future Big Leaguer. Thankfully Mike Metheny of Southeastern Oklahoma State University didn’t pass up on me. He gave me a chance and I’m very thankful he did."

 

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Keith Law has named a sleeper prospect for each team. Last year he picked Luisangel Acuna. This year he has picked Anthony Gutierrez. I question either his definition of "sleeper" or his choice. Acuna was not a sleeper prospect a year ago and Gutierrez is not really one this year. Here is his full scouting report on Gutierrez.

11. Anthony Gutierrez, OF
Age: 18 | 6-3 | 180 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
International signing in 2022

Gutierrez has some of the best tools in the system, with a 70 arm, great bat speed, and power to the opposite field already as a 17-year-old in the DSL and ACL last year. He’s in center field now but might end up moving to a corner as he fills out his 6-3 frame. Signed in January 2022 for just shy of $2 million, he’s barely begun growing into his body, and might even gain a little speed in the short term as he improves his coordination. The hit/power combination gives him All-Star upside in a corner, with the obvious caveat that he’s 18 and hasn’t even played beyond the complex yet.

 

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Jeff Wilson did an informal of club officials and coaches and asked them which players impressed the most leading up to the start of Cactus League games. Since pitchers had been seen a lot more than position players at the time, they dominated the results. Here are the pitchers who received at least three votes.

Eovaldi
Ragans
Vanasco
Church
Lee
Leiter

Heaney, deGrom, Rocker and Howard each received two votes. (I think Jeff just found out who pushed to trade for Howard a couple of years ago, lol.)

White, Bradford, Latz and Hernandez each received one vote.

Jeff Wilson also had this to say:

Position players, though, haven’t even been working out together for a full week. Nevertheless, some have made favorable early impressions.

Evan Carter, Robbie Grossman and Justin Foscue have been named by club officials and coaches.

 

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[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Here are the candidates to be the Rangers' closer

"General manager Chris Young said he believes the bullpen will improve simply by having a better rotation that goes deeper into games, taking stress off the relievers. Pitchers like Taylor Hearn, Dane Dunning and Jake Odorizzi are expected to be quality multi-inning options out of the bullpen, but the eighth and ninth innings are still undecided."

This is the first I've heard that Dunning and Odorizzi are not contenders for the rotation.