It’s the last day in the sun. More accurately, today is the last in Arizona. Their Grapefruit League schedule ends today. After an off day tomorrow, the Rangers return to The Baseball Shed to play two exhibition games with the Royals Monday and Tuesday, travel on Wednesday, and open the season in chilly Philadelphia on Thursday.

So, what have we learned? Nothing we didn’t already know.

At the beginning of camp, there was a faux competition at second to replace Marcus Semien between Josh Smith, Cody Freeman, Ezequiel Duran, with Sabastian Walcott as a dark horse.

Anyone who thought this would go to anyone other than Josh Smith was fooling themselves. Smith earned the role as the Rangers super utility man the last few years. Even though he didn’t have a set defensive position, he was a fixture in the lineup. He wasn’t going anywhere.

Injuries to Freeman and Walcott put an end to what would have been inevitable anyway.

The biggest surprise in the spring was the singing of Andrew McCutchen to be Joc Pederson insurance after they had signed Mark Canha to be Joc Pederson insurance. 

Spring numbers don’t count for much, but for what it’s worth, McCutchen is batting .533 this spring, with 1.600 OPS. Oddsmakers in Vegas are predicting he won’t hit .533 during the regular season. 

Mark Canha is having a good spring as well, hitting .316 with an .866 OPS. 

So, really, the only surprise coming out of surprise will be how the Rangers handle their designated hitter role, with three candidates. Of course, McCutchen and Canha can play outfield, and Pederson can play first. 

Neither McCutchen nor Canha are on the 40-man roster, so someone will have to come off with either or both make it. 

But on the offensive side, this is really the only unresolved issue. As was determined before camp started, Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford, and Evan Carter will be in the outfield. Jake Burger, Josh Smith, Corey Seager, and Josh Jung will be the infield. And Kyle Higashioka and Danny Jensen will catch.

Who will close? That wasn’t determined. Then again, the Rangers don’t usually figure that out until October.

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Texas vs Arizona, 3:10, 105.3 FM