The Texas Rangers open the 2022 Major League Baseball season Friday at Toronto. First pitch is scheduled at 6:07 p.m.
The Rangers have finished last in the AL West three of the past four years. Fans at a pre-season event at Klyde Warren Park say they are expecting a better result in 2022.
"We've made some great additions in the offseason, made a few trades to get Mitch Garver," one fan said.
"I'm optimistic. There's a lot of promise. Unfortunately, we've been there before," another said. "Come on. Let's go Rangers. Let's go Rangers."
In the offseason, the Rangers signed Shortstop Corey Seager to a ten-year, $325 million contract, Second Basemen Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175 million contract, and Pitcher John Gray to a four year, $56 million contract.
Garver was acquired in a trade with Minnesota in exchange for Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Caesars Sportsbook listed the Rangers as 80-1 to win the World Series, an improvement over 150-1 last year. The Houston Astros were listed 10-1.
The Texas Rangers' home opener is Monday against Colorado at Globe Life Field. Friday morning, tickets were still available at https://www.mlb.com/rangers/tickets.
"I know this mayor's going to be there," said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. "I'm going to be there rooting the Rangers on, of course."
Ross says Opening Day coming a week after AT&T Stadium hosted WrestleMania will provide a boost for businesses in Arlington and across the Metroplex.
"WrestleMania's like a Super Bowl event," Ross said. "There were activities week-long where people were going all over the place to do meet-and-greets with wrestlers and to see some of the exciting events happening."
WWE says attendance over the two-day event was 156,352. The Dallas Sports Commission says WrestleMania had a $200 million economic impact on the region.
Globe Life Field opened in 2020 and hosted the World Series that year, but most of the MLB season was canceled because of the pandemic, and fans were not allowed to attend regular-season games. Ross says Arlington is ready to welcome crowds with no restrictions in place.
"I think people are just excited to get their lives back and to share life with one another," Ross said. "We're going to be celebrating just like we always do, in grand fashion, on Opening Day. We'll be out there in full force. We'll make sure everybody's in a safe environment, the activities are festive and enjoyable for everybody to come."
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