As the 2026 MLB Spring Training kicks off in earnest, the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks meet in the Cactus League.
Both teams have put the disappointments of the 2025 season behind them and made significant roster changes, making their first Spring Training matchup all the more noteworthy.
In particular, Texas has closed the Bruce Bochy era and declared a fresh start under new manager Skip Schumaker, while Arizona bolstered its infield lineup by acquiring Nolan Arenado.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Cactus League) |
| Date & Time | February 25 (Tue) 05:05 (KST) |
| Venue | Surprise Stadium (Surprise, Arizona) |
| Home Team | Texas Rangers |
| Away Team | Arizona Diamondbacks |
Surprise Stadium is the Spring Training home of the Texas Rangers, located in Surprise, Arizona.
As an early Cactus League game, playing time for starters may be limited, but it offers a great opportunity to gauge both teams' rosters as they prepare for the new season.
2025 Season Results and Offseason Changes
| Category | Texas Rangers | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 2025 Season Record | 81-81 (3rd in AL West) | 80-82 (4th in NL West) |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Manager | Skip Schumaker (New) | Torey Lovullo (Retained) |
| Key Acquisitions | Brandon Nimmo, MacKenzie Gore, Danny Jansen | Nolan Arenado, Zac Gallen (Return), Merrill Kelly (Return) |
| Key Departures | Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia | Blaze Alexander |
The Texas Rangers were at a point where change was needed after failing to reach the postseason for two consecutive years following their 2023 World Series championship.
Bruce Bochy stepped down and new manager Skip Schumaker took over, while the team completed a blockbuster trade sending Marcus Semien to the New York Mets and acquiring outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
They also added MacKenzie Gore to the starting rotation, building a deep pitching staff behind Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.
The Arizona Diamondbacks also jumped into the Wild Card race in the second half of the 2025 season but ended the year on a disappointing five-game losing streak.
During the offseason, they acquired Nolan Arenado from St. Louis to significantly bolster their infield defense, and with both Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly returning, their starting rotation has become much deeper.
Texas Rangers Key Players and Roster Analysis
The centerpiece of Texas is undoubtedly Corey Seager.
In the 2025 season, he appeared in 102 games and posted a .271 batting average, .373 on-base percentage, .487 slugging percentage, and 21 home runs, but had to end his season early due to appendix surgery.
A five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP, Seager staying healthy for a full season is the biggest key to Texas' resurgence.
| Player | Position | 2025 Key Stats |
| Corey Seager | SS | .271/.373/.487, 21HR, 50RBI (102G) |
| Wyatt Langford | OF | .241/.344/.431, 22HR, 22SB, 5.6 bWAR |
| Brandon Nimmo (Acquired) | OF | .262/.324/.436, 25HR, 92RBI |
| Jacob deGrom | SP | Returned in 2025, managing health |
| Nathan Eovaldi | SP | Rotation ace |
The growth of second-year player Wyatt Langford has also been remarkable.
In 134 games during the 2025 season, he recorded 22 home runs and 22 stolen bases, delivering All-Star-caliber performances on both sides of the ball with a 5.6 bWAR, ranking 8th among American League position players.
With Brandon Nimmo joining from the Mets, the outfield lineup has become even more formidable.
The starting rotation is led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, with the Vanderbilt duo of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker handling the back end of the rotation.
The acquisition of MacKenzie Gore has added further depth to the pitching staff, and deGrom has been showing healthy form during Spring Training, raising expectations.
Arizona Diamondbacks Key Players and Roster Analysis
Arizona's offensive core revolves around Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte.
Corbin Carroll achieved the first 30-30 season in Diamondbacks history during the 2025 season, showcasing explosive growth.
He posted 31 home runs, 32 stolen bases, a .259 batting average, and an .884 OPS, while leading all of Major League Baseball in triples (14), demonstrating his combination of speed and power.
| Player | Position | 2025 Key Stats |
| Corbin Carroll | OF | .259/.343/.541, 31HR, 32SB, 6.5 fWAR |
| Ketel Marte | 2B | 3 consecutive seasons with 25+ HR |
| Geraldo Perdomo | SS | wOBA among league leaders |
| Nolan Arenado (Acquired) | 3B | 10x Gold Glove, 8x All-Star |
| Merrill Kelly | SP | Confirmed Opening Day starter |
| Zac Gallen | SP | Returned on 1-year deal |
Ketel Marte has recorded 25 or more home runs for three consecutive seasons, consistently serving as the heart of the lineup, and the organization has completely taken him off the trade block.
The biggest offseason headline was undoubtedly the acquisition of Nolan Arenado.
Boasting an illustrious career with 10 Gold Gloves and 8 All-Star selections, Arenado struggled in the 2025 season (.234, 12HR), but his defensive reliability and experience remain elite.
For the starting rotation, Merrill Kelly has been confirmed as the Opening Day starter, with Zac Gallen slotting in as the number two.
They have a deep rotation with six candidates competing, including Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Ryne Nelson.
However, Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2025 and being expected to miss most of the season remains a concern.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season | Texas | Arizona | Notes |
| 2023 | Series Champions | Series Runners-Up | World Series 4-1 |
| 2025 Regular Season | 2 Wins | 4 Wins | Interleague, 6 games |
| Last 3 Seasons Combined | 9 Wins | 10 Wins | 19 games |
The history between these two teams is truly special.
In the 2023 World Series, Texas defeated Arizona 4 games to 1 to claim the franchise's first-ever championship.
In the 2025 regular season, Arizona won 4 of 6 games to get their revenge.
Although this is a Spring Training game, the symbolic significance of a World Series rematch is sure to draw considerable attention from fans.
Key Players to Watch
Texas - Wyatt Langford
Heading into his second season, Langford is the future of the Texas Rangers.
In the second half of the 2025 season, he showed a breakout with a .252 batting average and .381 on-base percentage, while also recording plus defense in both left field and center field.
Checking his condition and batting form during Spring Training is the biggest point of interest for Rangers fans.
Arizona - Nolan Arenado
All eyes are on Arenado's first Spring Training appearance after being acquired via trade from St. Louis.
Despite a career-worst 2025 season (.234, 12HR), he is looking to bounce back in a new environment.
As an Arizona native with the geographical advantage of being close to home, the question is whether he can regain his true form in a comfortable setting.
He has already made a strong first impression by hitting a home run in his Spring Training debut.
Arizona - Corbin Carroll
As the first player in franchise history to join the 30-30 club, Carroll is aiming for an even bigger leap in the 2026 season.
Having posted a 6.5 fWAR and established himself as one of the league's premier five-tool players, his Spring Training condition is drawing significant attention.
Since he suffered a wrist fracture during the 2025 season, confirming his full health is crucial.
Key Storylines
1. Skip Schumaker's First In-Game Management
All eyes will be on how new Texas manager Skip Schumaker constructs his lineup and manages his players during the early Spring Training games.
As this is a critical period for establishing the team's direction with his new coaching staff, it will be worth paying close attention to batting order placement and defensive position combinations.
In particular, fans are eager to see whether he will slot Brandon Nimmo into the leadoff spot and whether Corey Seager will bat second or third in the new lineup configuration.
2. Evaluating Both Teams' Starting Pitching Competitions
While the top starting pitchers are unlikely to take the mound this early in Spring Training, we can get a look at the pitchers competing for the final rotation spots.
Texas has Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz battling for the fifth starter role, while Arizona's biggest storyline is which of the six rotation candidates will be the odd man out.
3. New Acquisitions' Adjustment
A key storyline to watch is how Texas' Brandon Nimmo and Danny Jansen, along with Arizona's Nolan Arenado, mesh with their new teams.
In particular, fans are eager to see how Arenado will fit in alongside the core lineup of Carroll, Marte, and Perdomo.
Viewing Guide
Spring Training has a different charm compared to the regular season.
Starters typically play only 3 to 5 innings, after which minor league prospects are brought in to showcase their skills.
For Rangers fans, the fun will be in seeing the new lineup construction and player management in Skip Schumaker's first live game at the helm.
For Diamondbacks fans, the main viewing highlights will be seeing Nolan Arenado in his new uniform and checking on Merrill Kelly's health status.
Above all, the symbolic significance of a 2023 World Series rematch means that even though it's Spring Training, it could be a meaningful game for both teams.
Game Prediction
It is difficult to place much significance on the result of an early Spring Training game.
However, with both teams having undergone major roster overhauls, the key focus will be on how well the new players adapt and on team chemistry.
Texas is looking to return to the postseason with a potent lineup featuring Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, and Brandon Nimmo, backed by a starting rotation of deGrom-Eovaldi-Gore.
Arizona aims to restore its competitiveness in the NL West with a core lineup of Carroll-Marte-Arenado and the one-two punch of Kelly-Gallen atop the rotation.
The anticipation is already building for when these two teams meet again during the regular season interleague schedule in 2026.