With baseball on hold until who knows when, I wanted to look a year ahead and project the Rangers opening day roster. Try to figure out who will be here and who will not.
There are a lot of directions I can go with this thought process. I decided to project trades and free agent signings and not just who is on the roster now.
Obviously this is for fun. I do not know any inside information on any of this. I’m just making guesses on what the team will do based on the past.
The signing if Corey Seager and Marcus Semien tell me what I need to know about the direction of the club. They are ready to try and compete.
I’m not quite ready to project the entire 40 man roster for 2023 yet. That endeavor will take a lot more planning. Sit back and enjoy this (most likely bad) guess at the opening day lineup for your Texas Rangers.
Opening Day Starter
This is probably the one I debated in my mind the most. Jon Gray, Clayton Kershaw, Sonny Gray, Dane Dunning, the list could go on and on. For this article I had to pick someone. After much thought and even some Twitter conversations, I have decided that it will be Jon Gray.
Gray has been very consistent in his career, and he was pitching in a hitters friendly ballpark. His career ERA is 4.59. His ERA in 2021 was 4.59. I see him dropping to around a four or lower in Texas.
He will be an anchor for the collection of young arms the Rangers have. Jon Gray will be your opening day starter.
Infield
Let’s start at catcher. I do not believe that Rangers are going to bring in a big named catcher. I believe that Jonah Heim will be the opening day catcher. Jose Trevino will still be on the team, but Heim will be the man.
Third base will be fun. There has been some debate since Josh Jung had surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn labrum and will miss almost all of 2022.
I do not think it will be Jung. The Rangers may have to treat him with care until they know if he is injury prone or just unlucky the past two seasons.
It will be between Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andy Ibanez, and it really depends on the kind of season both have in 2022, you know, if there is one.
Shortstop will be Corey Seager. Seager was brought in to the the future at that position, and barring injury he will be.
Second base will be Semien. The Rangers have a great one two punch in the middle infield for a long time.
Now first base should be Nathaniel Lowe, but we are all waiting to see if the Rangers try and bring in Matt Olsen. I do not believe personally that Olsen is going to wind up in Texas, so I am going to say Lowe is the man at first to start 2023.
Outfield
Right Field is going to be interesting. Kole Calhoun will most likely not be a Ranger outfielder anymore. Just a guess. More on that later.
Adolis Garcia may be in right or left, if he is still an option and does not have a disasterous 2022. Adolis is unproven at best, hopefully 2021 was not just an aberration.
I am going to go ahead and put him in right field. I think he is a late bloomer and will be a nice outfielder for the remainder of his career. maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
Center field better be Leody Taveras. He is an amazing defender, super young and has tons of potential.
I am counting on him getting it together during the 2022 season and I think he will be the man going forward. He is close now. Look for him to have a breakout 2023.
Left field, I am going to go with what my friend John Moore has been talking about forever. Seiya Suzuki. I think the Rangers get it done and Suzuki is the left fielder going forward. He can play multiple outfield positions and he projects to be a good Major League player.
Designated hitter is going to be a tough one. Will Willie Calhoun still be here?
Questionable at best. They will probably bring in a DH from somewhere else. A power right handed bat is my guess.
A Charlie Blackmon, Kole Calhoun type. I know I said earlier that Calhoun would not be here, but he could be at full time DH.
So there you have my best guess at the Rangers 2023 opening day Roster. Let me know where I am wrong and if you have any major disagreements!
