Introduction to the Rangers’ Coaching Staff
The Rangers gathered their newly-constructed coaching staff as a group for the first time. Some interesting stories among the newcomers include Rod Barajas, who played well as a non-roster catcher in the spring of 2004, and Travis Jankowski, who is back after retiring as a player a couple of months ago. Alex Cintrón, who knows all the Astros’ offensive secrets from his years on the staff in Houston, has also crossed the Silver Boot line to join the Rangers.
The Task Ahead for Justin Viele
However, the most pressing story is about one of the holdovers: Justin Viele. He’s the guy charged with putting the offense back together. It’s no small task, considering the Rangers’ offense was frustrating to watch, with players hacking and chasing or standing and watching at the wrong times. The team ranked 27th in on-base percentage and 26th in slugging, which was supposed to be their strong point.
The Plan to Improve the Offense
When asked about the plan, Viele said, “I think it’s still strength-based. It’s still about being a multi-dimensional offense. We can’t expect, for example, Josh Jung and Jake Burger to all of a sudden have walk rates of 10%. We need them to be really good at what they are really good at. We need the other guys that are on-base guys, to get on base. But you aren’t going to turn everybody into an on-base guy. It’s not fair to them. They feel their best when they are aggressive hitters. We want our hitters to be good at what they are really good at.”
Focusing on Jung and Burger
Viele started with Jung and Burger because that’s where the Rangers can and need to make their biggest leaps. No, they aren’t going to walk 10% of the time, but they have to walk a little bit more than 3.1% for Burger and 5.2% for Jung. Being a little more discriminate at the plate should improve their walk rates slightly but should improve their slugging percentages significantly. Jung has to stop chasing up and down as much as he did in 2025, while Burger can chase high pitches and crush them, but he can’t chase in three other directions too.
Working with the Players
Viele has already been at work with Jung and Burger. He’s talked with Jung at length and spent time hitting with Burger last week in Arlington. In January, he will start hitting with Joc Pederson in Arizona “four or five times a week.” Pederson, who had the worst year of his career, is another guy who must step up. Viele has a relationship with him dating back to 2022 when both were with San Francisco. Knowing Joc, the competitor that he is, he was not happy with the way he performed, and Viele thinks he’s excited to get to work.
The Road to a Special Season
The Rangers don’t need guys to work towards having their own special seasons. They need guys to work towards contributing in their areas of strength. If that happens, then the offense, as a whole, can have a special season. And that would be more interesting than any other story on the coaching staff. The team has already taken steps to improve, such as signing RP Chris Martin to a one-year deal to return to the bullpen. The Rangers are looking to make a comeback, and with the right strategy and teamwork, they can achieve a special season.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Rangers’ coaching staff is working hard to improve the team’s offense. With the help of Justin Viele and the focus on players like Josh Jung and Jake Burger, the team is looking to make a comeback. The Rangers need to work on their strengths and contribute to the team’s overall performance. With the right strategy and teamwork, they can achieve a special season.
FAQs
Q: What is the main goal of the Rangers’ coaching staff?
A: The main goal is to improve the team’s offense and make a comeback.
Q: Who is charged with putting the offense back together?
A: Justin Viele is charged with putting the offense back together.
Q: What is the plan to improve the offense?
A: The plan is to focus on the players’ strengths and make them good at what they are really good at.
Q: Who are the key players that need to improve?
A: Josh Jung and Jake Burger are the key players that need to improve.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the team’s efforts?
A: The expected outcome is a special season for the Rangers.
