DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Rangers announced their 30-man roster for Opening Day, and rookie outfielder Leody Taveras made the team.
Taveras, the Rangers No. 3 prospect, has never played above Double-A Frisco. The 21-year-old made the team thanks to his defensive ability and his speed off the bench.
"When this camp started, he was more in the prospect group than battling for a spot on the roster," manager Chris Woodward said, via TR Sullivan of MLB.com. "We had no intention of keeping him. But he just earned it with everything he did."
Young left-handed starters Kolby Allard and Joe Palumbo also made the club, but the duo will be used out of the bullpen. If one of the Rangers starters should miss time, the club would slide one of those two in the rotation.
Here's the full roster:
Starting rotation: RHP Lance Lynn, LHP Mike Minor, RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Jordan Lyles
Bullpen: RHP José Leclerc, RHP Jesse Chavez, RHP Nick Goody, RHP Jonathan Hernández, RHP Luke Farrell, RHP Edinson Vólquez, LHP Joe Palumbo, LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Ian Gibaut
Catchers: Robinson Chirinos, Jeff Mathis, Jose Trevino
Infielders: 1B Todd Frazier, 2B Rougned Odor, SS Elvis Andrus, 3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 1B Ronald Guzmán, UTL Rob Refsnyder,
Outfielders: Willie Calhoun, Nick Solak, Danny Santana, Joey Gallo, Shin-Soo Choo, Scott Heineman, Leody Taveras
