Thursday newsletter time: Rangers pack up, go home after finale, but many staying close for offseason

Jeff Wilson October 6, 2022

(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)

ARLINGTON — The last day of a season is about handshakes, saying goodbyes and getting out of Dodge.

Many Rangers players were on their way home Wednesday night after the season finale, a 4-2 win over the Yankees.

Right-hander Glenn Otto, for instance, had packed up his temporary Metroplex residence and was headed to his home in Houston, and third baseman Josh Jung was Lubbock-bound. Shortstop Corey Seager has a bachelor party to attend this weekend after the first regular season of his career in which his team didn’t make the postseason.

Some players, like free-agents-to-be Martin Perez, Matt Moore and Charlie Culberson, might not be back.

But a fairly large group either lives locally or has made accommodations to stay in the area for the offseason. Second baseman Marcus Semien, right-hander Jon Gray, catcher Jonah Heim, left-hander Taylor Hearn, catcher Sam Huff and utility player Josh Smith are among those sticking around.

The plan is to work out at Globe Life Field, which was unavailable last season because of the lockout.

How long they wait to begin working out varies from player to player, but early November is a common launching pad. Pitchers typically begin their throwing programs around Dec. 1, and some will get off a mound in late December or early January.

They all need to get better, and they know it after a 68-84 campaign that included a 15-35 mark in one-run games.

Grateful Yankees fans

Yankees fans really took the Aaron Judge home run chase seriously.

So pleased was one Yankees fan with the way the Rangers approached Judge, challenging him with pitches to hit rather than pitching around him as he pursued his 62nd homer, that the fan took to Reddit to recommend that other Yankees fans show their gratefulness with a donation to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.

WFAA reported that many donations were made with 62, the single-season American League record number of home runs Judge hit this season, in mind. He hit No. 62 on Tuesday night off Jose Tinoco.

Judge did not hit the history-making home run over the weekend at Yankee Stadium, in large part because Baltimore pitchers walked Judge four times and hit him twice. Judge did not walk in the three games he played at Globe Life Field.

ICYMI …

The offseason is upon us, and the news is going to pile up. Today may or may not be quiet, but Friday definitely won’t be as general manager Chris Young wraps up the 2022 season and gives some insight into the Rangers’ offseason pursuits. Rangers Today will be there after wrapping up a new Rangers Today Baseball Podcast episode with scheduled guest Martin Perez. He might have some insight, too. The point is, just because baseball is over doesn’t mean Rangers Today is going into hibernation. Subscribe to keep up with all offseason news. Here’s a sampling of our latest in case you missed it.

The Rangers’ season is over.

Rangers notes: Nate Lowe hits .300

Internal offseason decisions

Rangers Today minor-league award winners

Rangers Today Baseball Podcast: Talking Do It For Durrett with Emily Jones