The 2023 MLB season is only four days old, but it’s safe to say the Texas Rangers have the most surprising start in baseball. The franchise has struggled since being one out away from winning the 2011 World Series. It’s way too soon to tell if this is a sign of a genuine turnaround, but it’s the start Rangers fans have longed to see.
RANGERS SWEEP OPENING SERIES
The Rangers started the season hosting the Philadelphia Phillies. Texas scored 29 runs in three games to send the defending National League Champions packing. It’s the second best offensive start to a season in MLB history. The Rangers scored eleven runs in the season opener Thursday before adding 16 on Saturday. Sunday was the low scoring affair as Texas beat Philadelphia 2-1.
These two teams could not have been on different trajectories entering the 2023 season. As mentioned before, Philadelphia is the defending National League Champion following a somewhat surprising postseason run in 2022 that only ended when facing the buzzsaw known as the Houston Astros. Philly was looking to start the season hot in hopes of getting the job done this season.
Texas, on the other hand, entered the season amid a myriad of changes. In 2022, the Rangers fired longtime team President Jon Daniels, as well as manager Chris Woodward. The Rangers owners grew tired of the mediocrity and decided to completely overhaul baseball operations for 2023.
NEW MANAGER, NEW PLAYERS
During the offseason, Texas hired Bruce Bochy as the new manager bringing a championship pedigree to Arlington. Bochy won three World Series championships (2010, 2012 and 2014) with the San Francisco Giants, as well as a World Series appearance with the San Diego Padres in 1998. He also has more than two thousand career wins as a manager. It’s easily the most impressive résumé of any manager in Texas Rangers history.
The Rangers also added some pitching depth, something that has been needed for years in Arlington. Texas signed former Mets star Jacob DeGrom to a five year deal. When healthy he’s been amazing, but the question is will he be healthy? DeGrom was vocal about not liking his first outing with his new team, but there’s room to improve.
Texas also signed Nathan Eovaldi who made a name for himself pitching almost a full game in relief for Boston in the 2018 World Series. Eovaldi has had some standout performances with the Red Sox, including one I attended Memorial Day weekend of 2022 where he delivered Boston its only win of that four game series with Baltimore.
The Rangers also added some bats as they signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien during the offseason. Semien already delivered the game winning RBI in Sunday’s game with Philadelphia. Plus, Texas made several other smaller offseason moves that could make them look better as the season goes on.
CONCLUSION
It’s too early to tell if this is just a flash in the pan to start the season or the beginnings of a resurgence. Texas still has to deal with the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros, as well as a Seattle Mariners team that ended a 21-year postseason drought in 2022. The Angels also boast two of the top five players in MLB in Mike Trout and Shohei Otani. It’s far from an easy road, but Texas is off to a surprising start as one of three teams, along with the Rays and Twins, to escape opening weekend undefeated.
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