Rangers Confident Slugger Joc Pederson Will Bounce Back Despite Slow Spring

Texas believes Pederson's track record points to potential rebound season despite early struggles.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:35am

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The Texas Rangers are not concerned about Joc Pederson's slow start to spring training, believing his history of stronger regular season performance compared to spring training numbers indicates he is poised for a bounce-back year in 2026 after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

Why it matters

Pederson is entering the final year of his contract with the Rangers, and the team has other options at designated hitter, so a strong 2026 season is crucial for the veteran slugger to solidify his role on the team.

The details

Pederson has struggled to produce in the final week of spring training, with a .486 OPS in exhibition games. However, the Rangers' front office and manager Skip Schumaker have expressed confidence in Pederson, citing his work ethic, experience, and a history of stronger regular season performance compared to his spring training numbers.

  • Pederson is entering the final year of his contract with the Rangers in 2026.
  • In 2024, Pederson had a 1.018 OPS in spring training but struggled early in the regular season, while in 2023, he had a poor spring but went on to have one of his best seasons.

The players

Joc Pederson

A veteran slugger for the Texas Rangers who has a history of stronger regular season performance compared to his spring training numbers.

Skip Schumaker

The manager of the Texas Rangers, who has expressed confidence in Pederson's ability to rebound despite his slow start to spring training.

Chris Young

The president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers, who has also cited Pederson's motivation and track record as key factors in predicting a turnaround for the slugger.

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What they’re saying

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