Taking an early swing at roster projections
From the publishers of TV Guide
Opening day for the Texas Rangers is fast approaching. The same goes for the April 5 home opener.
Only 16 days remain for the to finalize the 26 players they will take to Kansas City for the April 1 season opener against the Royals.
The Rangers were off Monday in Surprise, Ariz., and won’t be off again until March 31. They are in a stretch of 15 games in 15 days, and each one will factor into their final roster decisions.
By now, with the top prospects moved to the minor-league workout group and enough evidence at hand and some genuine reading between the lines, it might seem like predicting the roster would be an easy task.
Naturally, that isn’t the case, but let’s do it anyway.
Position players
Catchers (2): Jose Trevino, Drew Butera.
Just missed: Jonah Heim. Injuries: Sam Huff (hamstring).
Trevino has all but locked up the job as the starting catcher. The Rangers love his defense, which has been his calling card since being drafted in 2014, and saw his bat take a major jump last season.
His backup will be Butera, a veteran who will edge out rookie Jonah Heim. Heim, acquired in the Elvis Andrus trade with Oakland, has more talent but has played only 13 MLB games. Teams typically want young
catchers actually catching rather than working as a backup. That will prove to be the case here.
Infielders (6): 1B Ronald Guzman, 2B Nick Solak, 3B Rougned Odor, SS Isiah Kiner-falefa, UTIL Brock Holt, 1B Nate Lowe.
Just missed: UTIL Charlie Culberson, 3B/2B Andy Ibanez.
Warning: This could change wildly.
Guzman isn’t going to win any Gold Gloves as an outfielder, but his willingness to play the outfielder corners gives manager Chris Woodward just enough flexibility to allow Lowe to also make the team.
Odor will be in the opening day lineup, though at a new position. Holt has the edge on
Culberson because is a better offensive player, though not by leaps and bounds, and can play shortstop without being a liability. That one could go either way, but give it to Holt, the Stephenville native, for now.
Outfielders/dh (4): LF David Dahl, CF Leody Taveras, RF Joey Gallo, LF/DH Khris Davis.
Just missed: Eli White, Delino Deshields, Adolis Garcia, Jason Martin.
Injuries:
(groin).
Warning: This could also change wildly.
The Rangers are weighing whether White can beat out Taveras, who has lost his early grip on the leaoff spot and needs
Willie Calhoun
to show more to solidify his roster chances. If Taveras is the choice, the Rangers won’t want White sitting as a backup and will move him to Triple A.
Dahl could be the backup center fielder, and Guzman could play left field on the days Taveras sits. Davis is an emergency outfielder, and he will share bats at DH with the lefty-hitting Guzman and Bird.
Pitchers
Starting rotation (7): RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Kohei Arihara, RHP Jordan Lyles, RHP Dane Dunning, RHP Kyle Cody, LHP Wes Benjamin.
Just missed: LHP Kolby Allard,
LHP Hyeon-jong Yang.
Warning: This could change, just not as wildly as other positions.
This weird, wild rotation plan the Rangers have developed is actually a good thing for their development. They will get a chance to evaluate several young pitchers for the future while also monitoring their innings.
Four pitchers will make up two rotation spots, working in tandems. Three of them have minor-league options and could be easily be swapped out for Allard and Yang during the season.
Bullpen (7): RHP Jose Leclerc, LHP Brett Martin, RHP Matt Bush, LHP Joely Rodriguez, LHP Taylor Hearn, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Josh Sborz.
Just missed: LHP Brett de Geus.
Injuries: RHP Jonathan Hernandez (elbow), RHP Demarcus Evans (lat).
Warning: This could change, perhaps wildly but perhaps not wildly.
Hernandez’s elbow woes creates the need for Hearn to fill a key multi-innings role in the bullpen. Otherwise, he would be in the rotation. The Rangers like the power stuff Sborz can offer in the late innings, and Bush is pitching well and has the experience to be the closer.
The Rangers have spoken highly of de Geus, the Rule 5 pick, but he will be too difficult to stash on the active roster for a full season. There’s a chance Rodriguez isn’t healthy to start the season, and that could change things for de Geus.
San Antonio FC forward Jose Gallegos is traveling to Germany for a two-week assessment with Bayern Munich, a source confirmed Monday.
The Athletic first reported news of Gallegos' training stint Sunday night, noting that the trial could result in a transfer.
Gallegos, a 19-year-old product of Central Catholic and San Antonio FC'S Elite Training Program, played his first full professional season last year with SAFC, netting two goals and three assists in 17 matches to become one of three finalists for USL Young Player of the Year.
He signed his first professional contract in February 2020 after training with SAFC since 2018. Gallegos joined San Antonio's active roster in 2019 as part of a USL Academy player agreement, logging 600 minutes across 14 matches with one goal, one assist and 11 chances created.
During his time at Central Catholic, Gallegos helped lead the Buttons to four consecutive TAPPS state championships.
San Antonio FC opened training about two weeks ago ahead of a 32-game USL Championship season, which is expected to begin around May 1. SAFC declined to comment on the report of Gallegos' stint in Germany.
San Antonio FC coach Alen Marcina earlier this month praised Gallegos as a “fantastic talent” and “a star in this league.”
“He has the total package,” Marcina said. “He's a special player, and he has a massive future ahead of him. We're confident not only is he going to perform for us, but we're going to hear his name on an even bigger stage.”
Bayern Munich is one of the most successful clubs in European soccer, as the Bundesliga side is the reigning winner of the UEFA Champions League.
SAFC finished atop
Group D of the USL Championship last season, standing as the league's final remaining unbeaten team through 11 matches. San Antonio's year ended with a 1-0 loss to New Mexico United in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaking to the media after SAFC opened training this month, Gallegos said he's seen steady improvement in his play.
“I've been here for a couple years now, and I think every year I've progressed more and more,” Gallegos said. “Every day, I feel like I need to express myself on the field, and I enjoy doing it. This year, just like last year, is an opportunity for me to show what I can do. The team that we have, we can do really big things.”
“This year, just like last year, is an opportunity for me to show what I can do. The team that we have, we can do really big things.”
Jose Gallegos
My Feet Are Killing Me: Footnotes
discovery+
This program features neverbefore-seen cases, as well as follow-ups with memorable patients to see how they are doing today.
True Conviction discovery+
Former Brooklyn homicide prosecutor Anna-sigga Nicolazzi returns for season four of the series in which she travels the country to reveal how the nation’s top prosecutors tackled their toughest cases.
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
Netflix
Re-enactments drive this documentary investigating the mastermind behind a scam to sneak the children of rich and famous families into top U.S. universities.
Under Suspicion: Uncovering the Wesphael Case
Netflix
This new true-crime series follows the high-profile court case of Belgian politician Bernard Wesphael, who was accused of murdering his wife in 2013.
Saint Patrick Stewart Day BBC America, beginning at 5 a.m.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a marathon of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episodes that are among Jean-luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) best. Highlights include “The Best of Both Worlds” (season four), “Time’s Arrow” (season five), “Chain of Command” (season six), “Tapestry” (season six) and the series finale, “All Good Things...” (season seven).
Happy St. Patrick’s Day TCM, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
On the day when we celebrate all things Irish, Turner Classic Movies gets into the
spirit of the holiday with more than 20 hours of movies with Irish themes and/or stars. Today’s full lineup, in order, includes: “Irene” (1940), “Little Nellie Kelly” (1940), “The Daughter of Rosie O’grady” (1950), “Flight of the Doves” (1971), “Finian’s Rainbow” (1968), “The Quiet Man” (1952), “Young Cassidy” (1965), “Odd Man Out” (1947) and “Ryan’s Daughter” (1970).
Riverdale The CW, 7 p.m.
A big announcement forces everyone to take stock of their current lives. Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) sets a risky plan in motion after learning some surprising news about Toni (Vanessa Morgan). Jughead (Cole Sprouse) tries to make sense of a strange encounter. Kevin (Casey Cott) and Fangs (Drew Ray Tanner) make a big decision about their future together.
The Masked Singer Fox, 8 p.m.
Group B performers take to the stage for the first time, and one will be unmasked at the end of the new episode “Group B Premiere — Shamrock and Roll.”
Chicago Med NBC, 7 p.m.
As Maggie (Marlyne Barrett) deals with her own trauma, she steps in to help a mother in need. Meanwhile, Dean (Steven Weber) continues to stir the pot with more than one doctor, and a patient comes to Med needing immediate treatment but doesn’t want it from them.
Mysteries of the Unknown Travel Channel, 7 p.m.
Don Wildman examines a pen and inkwell connected to a poisonous political plot, a routine flight gone terribly wrong and a mule that was entered in a horse race.
Farmhouse Fixer HGTV, 7 p.m.
A historical house from 1873 is transformed into a vibrant, modern home for a young family. Jonathan Knight and designer Kristina Crestin give this family of five a home with fun colors, shiny brass, whimsical bird wallpaper and even a beehive.
Chicago Fire NBC, 8 p.m.
Mouch (Christian Stolte), Gallo (Alberto Rosende), Ritter (Daniel Kyri) and Mackey (Adriyan Rae) report for training. Meanwhile, a nasty blow to the head brings Casey ( Jesse Spencer) unimaginable pain.
I Survived a Crime A&E, 9 p.m.
Two episodes of vehicular lunacy: A woman climbs atop the hood to escape a carjacking, a bus driver is attacked in a case of road rage, and a 2-ton truck nearly kills someone on an impound lot.
Food Paradise Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.
In an episode on comfort food, better known as our daily way to get by, look for fried chicken in Atlanta, mac and cheese in Detroit, meatloaf in Kansas City and more cozy goodness.
Snowfall FX, 9 p.m.
Drug kingpin Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) must choose between loyalty and the wellbeing of his business and family when a longtime ally’s reckless mistake causes a rival gang leader to seek vengeance. More trouble looms as reporter Irene Abe’s (Suzy Nakamura) investigation moves closer to the Saints.
Chicago P.D. NBC, 9 p.m.
When a local business owner is gunned down in his shop, it becomes personal for Atwater (Laroyce Hawkins), who patrolled the neighborhood as a young cop. Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent Samantha Miller (Nicole Ari Parker) comes to Voight ( Jason Beghe) with a special request about Andre Cooper.