Rangers' New Catching Duo Embraces Flexible Roles

Kyle Higashioka and Danny Jansen welcome whatever's asked of them as Texas Rangers' new catching tandem

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Texas Rangers have a new-look catching duo this season with the addition of Danny Jansen and the departure of Jonah Heim. Both Higashioka and Jansen, who have a combined 1,012 games of MLB experience, say they're ready to embrace whatever roles and workloads are asked of them by manager Skip Schumaker.

Why it matters

The Rangers made a significant upgrade at catcher by signing Jansen, who had a better offensive season in 2025 than any Texas catcher in the previous two years. How Schumaker manages the playing time and responsibilities between the veteran catchers could be a key factor in the team's success.

The details

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the catching workload will "probably" be close to an even split between Higashioka and Jansen, and it's unlikely either reaches the 110-game threshold that fewer than a dozen catchers reached league-wide last season. Higashioka caught 71 games for the Rangers in 2025, while Jansen caught 93 games for the Brewers and Rays. Both catchers have experience as everyday starters, and their usage could depend on factors like their career splits against left-handed and right-handed pitchers.

  • Higashioka caught 71 games for the Rangers in the 2025 season.
  • Jansen caught 93 games for the Brewers and Rays in the 2025 season.

The players

Kyle Higashioka

A veteran catcher who has never been an everyday starter but is ready to embrace whatever role is asked of him by the Rangers.

Danny Jansen

A veteran catcher signed by the Rangers in the offseason to help fortify one of the team's biggest needs, and who is also prepared to take on whatever workload is required.

Skip Schumaker

The Rangers' manager, who is still determining how to best utilize the team's new catching duo of Higashioka and Jansen.

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What they’re saying

“I kind of just do whatever's asked. I've never been a guy who caught every day, but I've never been a guy who never catches. It's just kind of whatever's asked of me.”

— Kyle Higashioka (dallasnews.com)

“Whenever my name is on the lineup card, I'm going to be ready to go.”

— Danny Jansen (dallasnews.com)

“They're both veteran catchers that have caught every day before in their lives. Both of them are going to get at-bats. I just don't know what the catching and DH and everything looks like just yet.”

— Skip Schumaker, Rangers Manager (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

The Rangers will continue to evaluate how to best utilize Higashioka and Jansen behind the plate and at designated hitter as they prepare for the start of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Rangers have upgraded their catching position by adding the veteran Jansen to pair with Higashioka, giving them a flexible and experienced duo that is ready to embrace whatever roles and workloads are asked of them by the coaching staff.