The 2023 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[saddles]

I asked Evan this question today. I am not sure if he will answer or not, but I will ask you guys as well. Let's say you are the GM and the owner tells you that he wants you to come up with a plan to replace each member of this year's projected rotation with guys who are cirrently in our system, and he wants the transition completed within 4 to 5 years. Who do you think the 5 guys will be and give an ETA for each?

I will have to give it some thought but here are some possibilities to choose from.

Leiter
Rocker
Porter
Winn
White
Roby
Vanasco
Bratt
Kent
Bradford
Garcia
Teodo
Stephan
Acker
Ragans
Otto
Dunning

Let's take a go at this. The good thing is there are so many good candidates that it is very hard to narrow it down to 5.

White -- 2024
Leiter -- 2025
Roby -- 2026
Rocker -- 2026
Porter -- 2027

That leaves out so many like Winn, Ragans, Bratt, Vanasco, and Garcia. There have been lots of years where this second group would have been better than our top 5 pitching prospects.

In my scenario above it doesn't provide for a replacement starter for the rest of this year and only provides one guy for next year. I do think Ragans, Otto, Dunning, Kent and Bradford could all do an admirable job next year if needed.

I didn't include Kyle Cody who I like a lot because I am not sure about what the Rangers plans are for his future. They could easily make a reliever out of him.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

World Series hero Mitch Moreland

 

[Kelleyman]

@Nightcrawler can now sleep at ease

 

[saddles]

Evan continues his countdown of the top 31 Rangers prospects. Today's installment is #24.

No. 24 INF Danyer Cueva

Age: 18

Height/weight: 5-10, 200

B-T: L-R

Who he is: The Rangers signed Cueva out of Venezuela for a $1.025 million bonus during the 2021 international signing period. He was ranked as the No. 41 prospect in the full international signing pool by Baseball America. Though he began 2022 unranked on our Rangers top 30, he finished at No. 23.

Why he is here: A natural hitter, Cueva slashed .330/.376/.483/.859 in the Arizona Complex League last summer, earning a late-season look at Class A Down East. He ranked third in the ACL in batting average and 14th in OPS. His .372 wOBA was right on par with No. 25 prospect Alejandro Osuna, putting them both in the 90th percentile in the minors. He is part of a deep class of athletic, talented shortstops. He was 31 of 34 in steal attempts in the ACL. He has moved ahead of Max Acosta, once considered a top 10 talent, in the prospect pecking order.

What’s his future: While he’s a solid fielder and runner, he’s going to have to work hard to stay at shortstop, perhaps even this season. He and No. 31 prospect Cam Cauley are likely to split middle infield duties at Class A Down East and there are some concerns that Cueva’s more stout body type might eventually force him off short. He’s got good contact skills with a very manageable 21.2 percent strikeout rate, but the Rangers would like to see him walk a little more. He walked just 10 times last year in 207 plate appearances in the ACL. The Rangers like his maturity at age 18, so there is hope that he will continue to grow at short, not outgrow it.

Where he will start 2023: He should be part of the middle infield at Class A Down East.

Rangers’ top prospects

No. 31: INF Cameron Cauley

No. 30: LHP Cody Bradford

No. 29: OF Trevor Hauver

No. 28: RHP Marc Church

No. 27: RHP Josh Stephan

No. 26: LHP Antoine Kelly

No. 25: OF Alejandro Osuna

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Mitch Moreland retiring reminds me of one of my favorite online conversations with Evan Grant. The jist of the conversation was that I wanted the Rangers to bring Moreland up to the big leagues. Evan was certain that it was too early and that it was not going to happen any time soon. Two or three days later the Rangers brought him up.

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

Mitch Moreland retiring reminds me of one of my favorite online conversations with Evan Grant. The jist of the conversation was that I wanted the Rangers to bring Moreland up to the big leagues. Evan was certain that it was too early and that it was not going to happen any time soon. Two or three days later the Rangers brought him up.

Ahh remember you mentioning—- an oldie but a goody

 

[Senator_fan]

Nice game by Thompson yesterday. Only 24 and has a lot of potential.

Do you think he has the most athleticism on the team?

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

“It was special,” said Rangers catcher Jonah Heim, who was one of the five hitters to face him. “There’s a reason we signed Jacob deGrom. His fastball is just different. That’s the only way I can describe it. It’s got extra life. If I’d have swung at the first two pitches, I feel like I would have been six hours late on them both. It’s really hard to put into words how to describe it. It’s just different.”

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Both Ornelas and Duran are starting today.

 

[saddles]

John Moore gave me an answer.

 

[Kelleyman]

Would that player be named B Reynolds?

 

[Kelleyman]

John Moore gave me an answer.

Eovaldi may have a 3rd year. Rocker stuff so far so good this spring. Have to wonder if the entire mix will be starters. No ETA for Porter.

So much speculation and injuries always a factor

 

[saddles]

Eovaldi may have a 3rd year. Rocker stuff so far so good this spring. Have to wonder if the entire mix will be starters. No ETA for Porter.

So much speculation and injuries always a factor

Yeah, it is just a fun exercise.

It does point out how much depth we have currently. A lot of guys could fail and there could also be some injuries and we would still have some really good prospects to work with.

After the draft we may have to find a way for Chase Dollander or Paul Skenes to fit in.