Not so fast there on those outfield plans. It seems Leody Taveras might not be the backup centerfielder for the Rangers in 2025.

The plan coming into this spring training seemed to be Evan Carter would be the Rangers centerfielder, assuming his back holds up, and Leody Taveras would back him up. Then the Rangers signed thirty-six-year veteran centerfield defensive guru Kevin Pillar.

Suddenly, there’s competition for the backup centerfielder’s job. Carter cannot hit lefties. Neither can Taveras. Pillar can.

It never made much sense to have Taveras backup Carter because they both have the same weakness.

Taveras batted .189 last year agains left-handed pitching, .231 in his career. Those are Hall of Fame numbers compared to Carter, who batted .111 last year and .081 in his brief career against lefties.

Pillar, on the other hand, hit .310 last year against lefties, .281 in his career.

With the signing of Kevin Pillar, it seems Leody Taveras’s time with the Rangers might be coming to an end.

*****

TODAY’S CACTUS LEAGUE GAME:

Texas vs Chicago White Sox, 2:05

Radio: MLB Audio