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Patrick Corbin SP | TOR
Rangers' Patrick Corbin: Eyes April 11 for season debut
The Rangers optioned Corbin to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Corbin's tenure meant he had to agree to being sent down, which he did so that he could continue to build up stamina after signing with the Rangers last week. He is slated to make two starts in the minors, with the goal of joining the Rangers' rotation April 11 against the Mariners.
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Kevin Pillar CF | TEX
Rangers' Kevin Pillar: Makes Opening Day roster
Pillar will be on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Pillar said late last season that he was going to retire, but he changed his mind and has now made an Opening Day roster. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Pillar could see some starts against lefties between designated hitter and center field, although the skipper noted that a platoon in center with Leody Taveras is not a guarantee.
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Leody Taveras CF | BAL
Rangers' Leody Taveras: Wins Texas center-field job
Taveras will be the Rangers' starting center fielder after Evan Carter was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Taveras came into spring training in line to serve as the club's fourth outfielder, but he outplayed Carter by a wide margin, finishing with a .747 OPS with four home runs and four stolen bases during Cactus League play. The switch hitter could sit in favor of Kevin Pillar against some lefties, but manager Bruce Bochy said a platoon in center field isn't guaranteed, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Mariners' Rowdy Tellez: Added to Opening Day roster
The Mariners selected Tellez's contract from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Mitch Haniger's release signified that the move was coming, and now it's official. Tellez won a job by collecting an .894 OPS with three home runs this spring, and he could see fairly regular playing time against right-handed pitching between designated hitter and first base.
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Corey Seager SS | TEX
Rangers' Corey Seager: Should be ready for Opening Day
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Tuesday that he's confident that Seager (calf) will be in the lineup for Thursday's season opener versus the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Seager will conclude spring training having missed the Rangers' final three games due to calf soreness, but both Young and manager Bruce Bochy have downplayed concerns about the shortstop's health heading into Opening Day. That said, even if Seager is cleared to start Thursday, it wouldn't be surprising if he received a day off at some point during the season-opening four-game series if the calf issue continues to linger.
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Josh Jung 3B | TEX
Rangers' Josh Jung: Out Tuesday, should play in opener
The Rangers scratched Jung (neck) from the lineup for Tuesday's exhibition against the Royals.
Jung was initially slated to start at third base and bat fifth in the Rangers' spring finale, but he'll instead get more time to recuperate after he was pulled from Monday's game against the Royals due to neck stiffness. The decision to scratch him from Tuesday's contest seems to be precautionary, as Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young expressed confidence that Jung will be back in the lineup for Thursday's season opener versus the Red Sox, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.
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Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Earns rotation spot
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Tuesday that Leiter will open the season in the team's rotation, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Leiter showed an increase in velocity this spring while striking out 21 over 20.2 innings. He also walked 10, and whether the 24-year-old is ultimately able to throw enough strikes will go a long way in determining how successful he'll be. The upside is certainly there, but there's also risk.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Officially makes Texas rotation
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Tuesday that Rocker will be in the team's Opening Day rotation, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Injuries to Jon Gray (wrist) and Cody Bradford (elbow) seemed to make this a foregone conclusion, and now it's official. Rocker mostly struggled this spring, but he ended on a high note with eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings in his final Cactus League outing. The 25-year-old's workload in 2025 will be curtailed to some degree after he threw only 48.1 innings in 2024 following a return from Tommy John surgery.
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Evan Carter CF | TEX
Rangers' Evan Carter: Beginning season in minors
The Rangers optioned Carter to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Carter missed much of the 2024 campaign with back problems and never got going this spring, slashing .154/.214/.205 with a 15:3 K:BB. The 22-year-old will look to get on track at Round Rock while Leody Taveras handles center-field duties with the Rangers.