Your pressing spring questions, answered

This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- In just the second week of Cactus League play, the Rangers seem to be uncharacteristically set positionally. The lineup, after filling a hole in left field, is more or less good to go. The rotation, although going through some nicks and bruises early in camp, is armed and ready. All that’s left to really be determined is a few bench spots and the middle-inning bullpen arms.

That being said, here’s a Spring Training Inbox from Twitter questions:

Do Grossman & Frazier have the best chance to platoon LF this year?
-- @JR_Gaut

Manager Bruce Bochy said not to lock Robbie Grossman into a platoon, so despite his splits (.879 OPS against lefties and .509 against righties in 2022), it seems like he’s the favorite to lock up the Opening Day left field position. That’s not to say it’ll be like that all season, and he very well could fall back into a platoon. But as of now, the veteran presence in the back third of the Rangers' lineup seems to be the priority and he’s proven useful, going 3-for-7 with three walks and a home run this spring.

Clint Frazier has an outside chance of making the Opening Day squad, purely because of the current roster construction. The Rangers have a plethora of outfield options, including Brad Miller, Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran, so Frazier definitely has an uphill battle. That’s not to say Frazier won’t hit his way into a spot following his recent work with hitting coach Tim Hyers, but he’s currently on the outside looking in despite a .313 average so far in Cactus League play.

Seeing a lot of Sandy Leon with the regulars so far. Does that mean Young/Bochy are leaning toward keeping a third catcher?
-- @dopamine1

What's your best guess at how the Heim-Garver-Huff-Leon group shakes out?
-- @theconstantlaw

Jonah Heim and Mitch Garver are expected to split the reps pretty evenly behind the plate this season, but with a former Top 100 prospect in Sam Huff and a veteran like Sandy Leon behind them on the depth chart, things definitely could get interesting.

Huff is currently dealing with shoulder tightness and was removed from the Rangers’ split-squad game against the Padres on March 1, furthering the need for good catching depth.

“He's going to be an option for us, Sandy, with his experience,” Bochy said. “He’s doing a good job handling the pitcher. He gives us an experienced guy that can help us and I can answer that question a little better when we get toward the end of Spring Training, but it's good to have him in camp. He's a professional, he’s a great guy and pitchers like to throw to him.”

Are we going to see Josh Jung start as the 3rd baseman or will he start in Round Rock?
-- @cbltwe_13

Nothing would surprise me more than if the Opening Day infield isn’t Nathaniel Lowe, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Josh Jung. Jung, the Rangers’ 2019 first-rounder, has been set up to be the third baseman of the future for going on three springs now, and now that he’s finally healthy, the position is all his. There’s really no doubt about it.

Where do Glenn Otto and Josh Smith fit into the Rangers plans for this season?
-- Ben (Indiana)

Will Duran get a chance to start in left field or will they keep him as a reserve 3B?
-- @ LeodySZN on Twitter

Three of the four are prospects from the Joey Gallo deal at the 2021 Trade Deadline, all three are expected to contribute in different ways this season.

Glenn Otto is competing for a rotation spot, but is mostly likely to find himself as a multi-inning reliever this season. And truthfully, that may be the best way to use a pitcher with his skill set.

Smith, a natural shortstop, is trending toward a super utility type of role with every infield position blocked for the foreseeable future by Lowe, Semien, Seager and Jung. He is still competing for left field reps, but as noted above, has fallen down the depth chart at that position this spring. Duran, as a natural second baseman, falls in that same boat, but will likely start in Triple-A to get a little more seasoning in the outfield to be able to contribute in that way, whether that’s off the bench or starting.