A Look into the Texas Rangers 2026 Spring Training
The Rangers are off to a hot start at 2026 Spring Training, sitting at 4-2, and are certainly feeling more than the heat of Surprise, Arizona. Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi has had a good start so far, with his latest outing being against the Cleveland Guardians, where he logged 2.2 IP, with seven strikeouts and three hits. His hot start allowed the Rangers to roll past the Guardians with a score of 11-4. With Eovaldi being the presumptive starter for Opening Day on March 26th against the Philadelphia Phillies, there’s a question of who will make up the rest of the starting pitching lineup. The big names that automatically come up are Jacob DeGrom, MacKenzie Gore, and Jack Leiter, with names such as Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz floating around and creating a bit of a pitchers' competition.
Rocker, who’s been teammates with Leiter since the Vandy days, has been the “fan favorite” to make up the last spot of the starting rotation. He hasn’t performed up to the standards fans saw during his college days, mainly due to injuries. His latest injury came in April of 2025 when he suffered a right shoulder impingement against the Athletics. He’s on a ramp-up course, and hopefully, with time and progression through Spring Training, Rocker can solidify that fifth spot in the starting rotation.
With Rocker trying to make those strides to the starting lineup, on the other hand, you have Latz. The 29-year-old lefty “swingman” has had a quiet start to the 2026 Spring Training as he’s only pitched two innings, allowing two hits. Alas, his performance during the 2025 regular season was something to look at. He was undefeated with a 2-0 record, posting a 2.84 ERA, with 76 strikeouts as a starter and in rotation, with even more dominant stats pitching in relief. He posted a 2.36 ERA and held batters to a .206 batting average overall, with left-handed batters only hitting .170 against Latz. He hasn’t really struggled with injuries during his tenure with the Rangers, so he’s proven to the Rangers that he can be reliable throughout the season. If the 29-year-old can grasp back onto that success he had in 2025, and carry it into the 2026 season, look for him to close that gap between him and that fifth spot in the starting rotation.
Spring Training will soon be coming to an end before we know it, so what can we see from the Rangers for the remainder of the month and going deeper into March? I think we start to see players being used more that won’t be making the starting lineup, but can be called up at any time, and players that the team would love to see with their Minor League affiliates, and with time, can make it to the starting roster. I also think we see who’s going to round out the bullpen outside of the starting pitchers, as that has been the thorn in the Rangers’ side in close games. If the club can get the best bats out there, along with arms that can keep a lead or keep a game close, the success for the Rangers in 2026 can be a lot more than people think. It’s safe to assume that the AL East is going to be a tough matchup, as the Houston Astros aren’t the only team to worry about. Now, the Seattle Mariners are going to be a team to watch out for for the foreseeable future, and the Angels of Anaheim and the newly relocated Athletics are never an easy out. It’s easier said than done, but the Rangers, with as much talent as they’ve got in that dugout, have to win the games they’re projected to win and close out the games that they may be the underdog in.
