After nine spring training games, a few players are earning notice. The question is, will it matter?

Coming into spring, the thirteen position players on the opening day roster were already set: two catchers (Higashioka and Heim), six infielders (Seager, Semien, Burger, Jung, Smith, Duran), a DH (Pederson) and four outfielders (Langford, Carter, Garcia, Taveras).

Spring performances usually mean nothing. But if you look back all the way to 2024, you will see an example of a great spring making a difference. Last year, the Rangers signed Jared Walsh to see if they could catch lightning in a bottle. They do this every year, just like they have done with Kevin Pillar, Nick Ahmed, and Tucker Barnhart this year.

Walsh had been a very productive first baseman for the Angels. In fact, he was seventh in Rookie of the Year voting in 2020, and made the American League All-Star Team in 2021 and drove in 98 runs. Then, just like that, he lost it. He was cut after the 2023 season, when the Rangers picked him up. Walsh had a big spring, which led to being the Rangers starting first baseman based on both his performance in spring and an injury to Nathaniel Lowe.

He got off to a quick start, then faded. He was gone by mid-April.

So, spring performance can matter. An injury could open a spot for someone. Or, in that rare instance, someone wins the job they were never expected to win.

Tucker Barnhart has a 1.100 OPS this spring. Trevor Hauver is tied for the lead in home runs, and putting up a 2.167 OPS. Alejandro Osuna seems to barrel the ball every time he hits it, which explains his .357 batting average. Nick Ahmed is batting .300 with a .964 OPS. With an even more impossible shot of making the team, there’s Abimelec Ortiz, hitting .375 with a 1.250 OPS.

Will any of these guys be wearing a Rangers uniform when the season starts? It could happen.

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TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME:

Texas vs. Kansas City, 2:05

Radio: MLB Audio