2 Rangers players who’ve played their way onto Opening Day roster, 2 who have played their way off
The Texas Rangers have tough decisions coming up as Major League Baseball only allows teams to carry 26 players on their active roster into the season.
While most of the spots are accounted for there are a handful of non-roster invitees, top-level prospects and others that are battling for the final spots when Texas takes the field against the Red Sox on March 27 in Arlington.
If there were only two roster spots to fill at this point, we asked, which two players have earned their spot on a roster and which two have underperformed their way off?
2 Rangers players who’ve played their way onto Opening Day roster
Adrian Houser, pitcher
The veteran starter has very much stepped up and done everything that has been asked of him. The sad part is it was about to be for nothing a few days ago but with the recent injuries of Cody Bradford and Jon Gray, he’s likely going to start the year on the Opening Day roster. In five games, the 32-year-old has a 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings of work this spring. The biggest question is what will happen to Houser when Bradford and Gray return. Will he get the boot or will he remain on the roster in a Jose Urena-like role?
Kevin Pillar, outfielder
Pillar is another non-roster invitee that has done everything he possibly could have to get a spot on the Opening Day roster. Due to one of the players on the other side of this list it is appearing more and more likely he will be in Arlington on March 27. The right-hander still plays top of the line defense in the outfield and his hitting against left-handed pitching is miles better than a few other offensive options on the Rangers roster. This spring, Pillar is hitting .296 with eight hits in 27 at-bats.
On tonight’s episode of Guys Competing For Center Field Playing Time, we’ve got:
2 Rangers players who’ve played their way off Opening Day roster
Ezequiel Duran, utility
The time has come where the smartest move the Rangers can make is to move on from Duran. It’s hard to really defend him other than point out that he does play solid defense and his arm is one of the strongest on the roster but his offense is terrible. Outside of the first half of the 2023 season, the 25-year-old has not done much to warrant wanting to keep him around. The rise of Josh Smith and the performance of Kevin Pillar this spring has made it much more possible for Texas to finally pull the trigger and move on.
Kumar Rocker, pitcher
I wanted to see Rocker in Arlington on Opening Day. It would be electric to hear his name called during introductions and to see him pitch in Globe Life Field but his spring training performance has been one of the worst on the team. In three games Rocker has a 22.85 ERA and 3.69 ERA, including a bad miss with his fastball on Friday evening that hit San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. in the helmet. Now the Bradford and Gray injuries might give him the chance to make the roster but with the solid performances of Houser and his Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, there’s no need to rush Rocker if he isn’t comfortable on the mound right now.
