After a rollercoaster season that ended in a dead-even 81-81 record, the Texas Rangers find themselves at a crossroads. The postseason slipped through their fingers for the second straight year, and with spring training just around the corner, there’s no time to dwell on what went wrong. This is a team with talent, but also one with clear areas to address-both on the field and in the clubhouse-as they prepare to turn the page under new manager Skip Schumaker.
Here are three key priorities the Rangers need to lock in on during spring training if they want to get back into the playoff mix:
1. Generate Offense Without Relying on the Long Ball
Let’s call it what it was: the Rangers' offense last season was frustratingly inconsistent. When the home runs weren’t flying, the runs weren’t coming. And in today’s game, where pitching is dominant and ballparks aren’t always hitter-friendly, you’ve got to find ways to manufacture runs.
Texas struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, and that’s not just a stat-it’s a symptom. Too often, the lineup leaned into a boom-or-bust approach, swinging for the fences instead of focusing on situational hitting. That means too many strikeouts, too many empty trips to the plate, and not enough productive outs.
This spring, the Rangers need to reestablish the fundamentals. Moving runners over, executing sac flies, working deep counts-these aren’t flashy plays, but they win games.
With the power still in the lineup, the goal isn't to eliminate the home run threat, but to stop relying on it as the only way to score. If they can start cashing in those runners on second and third with less than two outs, they’ll look like a much more complete offensive unit.
2. Build a Unified Culture Under Skip Schumaker
While the on-field issues were obvious, there were also whispers of something deeper-fractures in the clubhouse. Whether it was personality clashes or a lack of cohesion, the Rangers didn’t always look like a team pulling in the same direction. That has to change, and it starts with new leadership.
Enter Skip Schumaker.
Schumaker’s arrival marks a fresh start, and spring training in Surprise, Arizona, is the perfect setting to lay the foundation. The 2023 World Series team thrived on chemistry and selflessness.
Everyone knew their role, and egos took a back seat to the team’s bigger goals. That’s the blueprint Schumaker needs to recreate.
It’s not just about rah-rah speeches or team-building exercises-it’s about accountability, communication, and trust. Schumaker will need to set the tone early, but the players have to buy in.
This is where veterans need to lead by example, and younger guys need to embrace the team-first mentality. If the Rangers can get everyone rowing in the same direction, the talent on this roster will have a chance to shine.
3. Identify a Real Closer-Not Just a Committee
One of the biggest thorns in the Rangers’ side last season? The ninth inning. Or more accurately, the uncertainty of who would be on the mound to finish the job.
For most of 2025, it felt like a nightly guessing game. Luke Jackson, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin-multiple arms were shuffled in and out of the closer role. Eventually, Shawn Armstrong stepped up late in the season and looked like a potential answer, but the fact that the role was still in flux that deep into the year says it all.
Despite the need, the front office opted not to bring in a proven closer this offseason, so the job is still wide open. That makes spring training even more important.
The Rangers can’t afford to enter April without clarity at the back end of the bullpen. Whether it’s Armstrong proving he can handle the role full-time, or someone else emerging from camp, the team needs a defined plan-and fast.
With one of the best starting rotations in baseball, Texas should be able to hand over leads more often than not. But if the bullpen can’t lock things down, it won’t matter how good the starters are. The closer role isn’t just a luxury-it’s a necessity.
The Bottom Line
Spring training isn’t just about shaking off the rust. For the Rangers, it’s about reshaping their identity-offensively, culturally, and in the bullpen. There’s no shortage of talent on this roster, but talent alone won’t get them back to October baseball.
If they can become a more versatile offense, build a connected clubhouse under Schumaker, and find someone who can slam the door in the ninth, they won’t be sitting at .500 again this fall. They’ll be right back in the thick of the postseason hunt.