Rangers Open Camp in Surprise with Fresh Faces, Familiar Goals
Real baseball is back this week, and in Surprise, Arizona, the defending champs are getting down to business. The Texas Rangers have officially kicked off full-squad workouts, and while the desert sun may feel familiar, the roster looks anything but.
Let’s start with the obvious: this isn’t the exact same group that hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy just a few months ago. The offseason brought change-some expected, some not-and now the Rangers are figuring out how to blend new pieces into a clubhouse that’s still riding the high of a championship run.
A New Voice in the Room
One of the biggest shifts? Leadership.
Skip Schumaker steps in as the new manager, and while he’s no stranger to big-league clubhouses, establishing a winning culture in a room full of new and returning personalities will be one of his first big challenges. Chemistry doesn’t just carry over-it has to be rebuilt.
And with a team that’s aiming to repeat, that process starts now.
Nimmo’s New Home
The outfield picture is starting to come into focus. After months of speculation about how the Rangers would align their outfielders, newly acquired Brandon Nimmo is set to take over in right field and will likely lead off in the batting order.
It’s a move that brings both stability and a spark to the top of the lineup. Nimmo’s on-base skills and veteran presence should fit nicely into a group that already knows how to score runs in bunches.
Langford and Carter: Versatile and Ready
With Nimmo penciled into right, that leaves center and left field to be sorted between Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. The good news?
Both are more than capable, and both have shown they’re team-first guys. Langford, in particular, has made it clear he’s comfortable in either spot.
That kind of flexibility is exactly what Schumaker and his staff need as they shape the best defensive alignment possible.
Burger’s Bounce-Back Plan
Over at first base, Jake Burger is eyeing a fresh start in 2026. After a tough campaign last year, he turned to pilates this offseason-not exactly your traditional baseball training program, but one that speaks to his commitment to durability and mobility. If he can stay healthy and rediscover his swing, Burger could be a key bat in the middle of the order.
Canha’s Chance
The Rangers also made a low-risk move by bringing in veteran Mark Canha on a minor league deal with a spring training invite. He struggled last season in Kansas City, but there’s a path for him to contribute in Arlington, especially as a right-handed platoon option off the bench. He’s got the experience and the plate discipline to be a sneaky-good depth piece if he earns a spot.
Carter: The X-Factor
And then there’s Evan Carter. Still young, still electric, and still viewed as a potential game-changer.
He’s been called the X-factor before, and that label still fits. Whether it’s with the bat, the glove, or his instincts on the bases, Carter’s ability to impact games in multiple ways could be the difference between a good Rangers team and a great one.
What’s Next
As the Rangers settle into camp, the focus is clear: integrate the new faces, reestablish the culture, and get back to the business of winning baseball games. The pieces are there.
The expectations are high. And with real games just around the corner, the journey to defend their title is officially underway.