SURPRISE, Ariz. — This is an important week for the Texas Rangers.
And it will be a tough one for manager Bruce Bochy and his coaching staff.
The Rangers are 10 days from their season opener against the Chicago Cubs on March 28 at Globe Life Field. Their 26-man roster is coming into focus, but the final few moves will be the toughest.
It's tough on two counts: emotionally, because, as is typical during spring training, Bochy and his coaches have become close with non-roster veterans and up-and-coming minor leaguers who have left an impression on the field and off. It's also tough because the Rangers have featured an exceedingly competitive camp for its final few open positions, but in the infield and in the bullpen.
"This is probably the least favorite time for any manager because you got some tough decisions," Bochy told reporters.
Although their group of relievers was thought to be a major liability at the start of camp, they have been very good in Cactus League play. Of the eight bullpen spots, at least two remain to be determined. Backend relievers Jose Leclerc, David Robertson, Kirby Yates, and Josh Sborz, along with Brock Burke and Grant Anderson, are locks. The other two spots remain contested between minor leaguers Jack Leiter Marc Church and non-roster invitee Jose Urena, among others.
"We have a lot of pitching here. And a lot of them are throwing the ball very well," Bochy said. "They say that's a good thing. But it's always difficult. That's why we're here, and our front office has done a great job bringing some really good non-roster guys in here to compete for a job, and they're doing all they can to make the club."
The final couple of position player spots, including at first base, where the club will start without injured first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, will come down to non-roster invitees Jared Walsh, who has batted .303 with three homers this spring, and Matt Duffy, who has batted .294, and minor leaguer Justin Foscue, who has become an option at first base.
Bochy said some moves will come in the next 48 hours.
"We'll start to make those decisions really soon," he said. "We'll sit down and thin it out. We'll let some guys know it's getting at that time. I like the choices that we have, though. It's it's on both sides. position player side and pitching side
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