Texas Rangers narrow Opening Day roster to two decisions, one involving the injured list
Matt Carpenter did not make the team, manager Chris Woodward said, but Matt Bush, Kolby Allard and Joe Barlow did.
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter was told Sunday morning the he did not make the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster, as the Rangers are set breaking camp with 15 pitchers.
Carpenter was made no promises when he signed a non-roster deal after spring training started last month. He said he will accept assignment to Triple A Round Rock and hopes to turn heads down there.
The Rangers chose another non-roster infielder, Charlie Culberson, for the season-opening roster, and also told non-roster reliever Matt Bush, fellow right-hander Joe Barlow and left-hander Kolby Allard they made the team.
Carpenter didn’t have enough time to show the Rangers that the changes to his swing would stick.
“I appreciate what he's done for our team in the short amount of time just from the leadership aspect,” manager Chris Woodward said. “He's been willing to put in a lot of work, and we saw glimpses of the three-time All-Star.”
Those decisions leave the Rangers with two to make — the fifth outfielder and another reliever in the event that one of the 10 they have selected starts the season the Opening Day roster.
Woodward said that is a possibility, as an unnamed reliever needs more time to be built up.
But 10 have been told they have made the Opening Day roster — the recently acquired Albert Abreu, Allard, Barlow, Brock Burke, Bush, John King, Brett Martin, Garrett Richards, Dennis Santana and Josh Sborz.
Spencer Patton or Greg Holland are potential roster additions if a reliever goes on the IL.
Either Eli White or Jake Marisnick, another non-roster player, will win the final spot on the expanded 28-man roster.