ARLINGTON -- When asked what one word he would use to describe his first camp as manager of the Rangers, Skip Schumaker said “trust.”
Spring Training was filled with joy and energy as the Schumaker era got off to a running start with the marathon of a baseball season beginning in Surprise, Ariz.
Now, on Thursday, it finally starts to count as the Rangers open the season in Philadelphia against Bryce Harper and Co. And everybody around Texas is optimistic about the club’s development entering the regular season.
“We're excited about this group,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “The performance this spring, the health has been unlike any spring I've seen. I'm really excited to get to Philadelphia and see what this team does.
“I just feel very good about where we are, but Spring Training is one thing. It's time for us. The lights are about to come on Thursday. We've got a very tough schedule to start the season. I want to see that switch flipped, and our guys come out hungry and playing with grit and fight and a determination that I know is in there. It's time to let that go to work and hopefully lead to a great season.”
Here’s a primer to get you ready for 2026:
What needs to go right? Any sort of offensive competence.
In 2025, the Rangers ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381), 26th in batting average (.234), tied for 26th in on-base percentage (.302), 22nd in runs (684) and tied for 22nd in walk rate (8.0%). Even with the best rotation in baseball and a good (but not great) bullpen, Texas could only muster an 81-81 record while missing the postseason for the second year in a row. Even an average offense would have had the Rangers closer to their expected win/loss record of 90-72.
The offense raked in Cactus League play, and while those stats don’t really count just yet, everything is pointing towards a true uptick in offense in ‘26. That could be the difference in the postseason and staying home in October once again.
