The Texas Rangers were waiting to announce the last spot until after Monday’s game, but they dropped the news that Andrew McCutchen will be on the Opening Day roster and that Kumar Rocker won a rotation spot.
ARLINGTON — Andrew McCutchen didn’t have the luxury of easing his way into Texas Rangers spring training. He had only two weeks to make the Opening Day roster after signing a minor-league deal March 6.
He hit the ground running, played only three games later, and quickly showed that the Rangers couldn’t live without him. On Monday, the Rangers said that he made the Opening Day roster.
McCutchen, Ezequiel Duran, Sam Haggerty, Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz were all told that they will be in Philadelphia on Thursday as the Rangers open their 2026 season. Rocker came away as the winner in the fifth-starter competition, and the versatile Latz heads to the bullpen to fill the early-season need for a long reliever.
The only spot that wasn’t revealed before the first of two exhibition games against the Royals was the final bullpen spot. President of baseball operations Chris Young said that could be revealed as soon as after the game.
“We’re excited about this group,” Young said. “The performance this spring, the health has been unlike any spring I’ve seen, and I’m really excited to get to Philadelphia and see what this team does.”
McCutchen could play twice in the three-game series against the Phillies, who are planning to start left-handed pitchers Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo on Thursday and Sunday. McCutchen made the team as a righty-hitting outfielder/designated hitter on a team that has platoon opportunities.
He said his biggest concern in his truncated spring was how well his body would recover at age 39. He had no problems, which was evident in his play. The former National League MVP batted .444 with a .583 on-base percentage, a 1.361 OPS, one homer and three doubles.
“I did everything I could this offseason to have myself in baseball shape and be ready so that when I did get this opportunity, I could hit the ground running,” McCutchen said. “I really wasn’t too focused on the game itself. I knew that would almost be second nature for me.”
Joining him on the bench are infielder Ezequiel Duran and outfielder Sam Haggerty, who won jobs after a tough competition with non-roster invitees Tyler Wade and Mark Canha. The fourth bench player will be whichever catcher is off.
Rocker claimed the last spot in the rotation by flashing dominant stuff and more command of his pitches. He is still dogged by an inability to control opposing run games and fielding his position, but the Rangers believe he has the upside of an elite starter.
“The key is to pretend that everybody is a priority guy that’s on base,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “I just don’t want him to have to think about singles turning into doubles and that type of thing. The nuances of pitching are not just throwing strikes and striking guys out, right? There’s a lot to it.”
Schumaker is concerned about the potential need for length out of the bullpen early in the season, and Latz is the best candidate to fill that role. He didn’t have the results he wanted in spring training, but showed last season that he can jump into the rotation without much notice and still get outs.
The door remains open for him to start during the season, and he likely will be needed.
“Jacob Latz is arguably one of the most valuable pieces in our bullpen and potentially in the rotation down the road,” Schumaker said. “As you all know, it’s Opening Day, but things change quickly. The fact that Latz can do both, and do it at a high level and in high-leverage situations, is extremely attractive.”
The final bullpen spot is being decided between Rule 5 pick Carter Baumler, 40-man member Luis Curvello and non-roster invitee Josh Sborz. Baumler can’t be optioned to the minor leagues, per Rule 5 stipulations, and the Rangers might prefer the roster flexibility that Cuvelo offers.
Baumler, though, didn’t allow a run in spring training and can pitch multiple innings, which he would be asked to do.
The Rangers hope that those who didn’t make the team — Wade, Canha, left-hander Austin Gomber and right-hander Cal Quantrill — will remain in the organization as veteran depth pieces.
Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com
