You’ve got to feel for Josh Smith. He went into last season a man without a position, trying to find his place on the team. All he did was make the All-Star team and win a Silver Slugger award after filling in for Corey Seager when he went down then for Josh Jung’s yearly injury.

After all that, he comes into 2025 in the same position he entered 2024. No room at the inn. Or, so it seems.

Already, Wyatt Langford is injured. He suffered a “mild” oblique strain before Friday’s opening game of the exhibition season. He is expected to miss five to seven days.

Sure, he is. If anyone believes that, there’s some prime swamp land for sale, all you have to do is send money to a Nigerian prince for a short term loan that will be repaid in triplicate.

Like last year, Josh Smith will play a valuable role for the Rangers in 2025. Even assuming Wyatt Langford will somehow be ready by opening day, what are the odds Evan Carter’s back doesn’t come back to bite him?

So, off the bat, it appears Smith might get some playing time in left if Langford isn’t ready or, if he is and Carter goes down, Langford would shift to center for Smith.

Then, there’s the annual Josh Jung injury. Or a nagging injury to Seager that always seems to happen.

For a guy who had no position going into last season, Smith started 76 games at third, 41 at short, four in left, one in right, and came in to play second in one game. 

For a guy who had no position going into last season, Smith made 592 plate appearances. Only Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia had more.

The last thing any Rangers fans wants to see is an injury to anyone. But it will happen. And Josh Smith is just the guy the Rangers need to have ready when an injury hits.

Josh Smith’s position is insurance. 

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TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME: 

Texas vs Chicago Cubs, 2:05

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