Rangers preseason capsule: Jacob deGrom a key to Texas-sized turnaround

Texas Rangers

2024 record: 78-84 (3rd place, AL West)

He gone: LHP Andrew Chafin, LHP Andrew Heaney, OF Travis Jankowski, C Carson Kelly, RHP Jose Leclerc, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, RHP David Robertson, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Kirby Yates.

New faces: RHP Shawn Armstrong, C Tucker Barnhart, 1B Jake Burger, LHP Robert Garcia, C Kyle Higashioka, LHP Hoby Milner, OF/DH Joc Pederson, RHP Jacob Webb.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: Can Texas recover its 2023 World Series-winning form, or is another mediocre campaign on the horizon? The Rangers had a lot of things go right in 2023 but most things went wrong last season when they didn't even make the playoffs. Pitching injuries were a killer, and high-priced RHP Jacob deGrom has thrown just 41 innings in two seasons since being brought in to be the ace. Keeping RHP Nathan Eovaldi healthy also would help. The Texas bats need to ramp back up so that the Rangers can return to outscoring teams. SS Corey Seager was the 2023 AL MVP runner-up and his batting average dropped 49 points last season, while his slugging went down 111 points. A productive Seager makes the difference.

Top prospect: RHP Kumar Rocker has an opportunity to be part of the season-opening starting rotation with LHP Cody Bradford shut down due to elbow soreness. The No. 3 overall pick in 2022 has only 64 2/3 professional innings under his belt due to Tommy John surgery in May 2023. He also had shoulder surgery in September 2021. But he has dominated minor league hitters with 97 strikeouts, and his stuff and maturity are major league quality.

Breakout player: OF Evan Carter was a valuable late-season addition in the World Series season, but he didn't fare well last year and batted .188 while limited to just 45 games due to a back injury. The 22-year-old is loaded with talent and figures to be a key weapon if his health holds up. Carter was a second-round draft pick in 2020.

2025 outlook: Veteran manager Bruce Bochy runs the club with an old-school view while mixing in newer methods, and he usually knows the right button to push. There surely was a World Series hangover effect going on last season, when a turnaround seemed inevitable, but it never happened. The trio of Seager (30 homers, 74 RBIs), OF Adolis Garcia (25 homers, 85 RBIs) and 2B Marcus Semien (23 home runs, 74 RBIs) all can improve on last year's numbers. while 3B Josh Jung (wrist) and Carter are out to bounce back from injuries. If the pitching takes a step up, the Rangers will compete for the division crown.

--Field Level Media