Rangers urged not to panic over slugger’s rough spring

The Texas Rangers are getting a familiar version of Joc Pederson this spring—and if history is any guide, that may not be a bad thing.

Pederson has struggled to produce in the final week of spring training, with a .486 OPS in exhibition games. On the surface, it appears to be a continuation of his already disappointing 2025 season, which called his long-term role in Texas into question.

However, according to Evan Grant from the Dallas Morning News, this is where things usually go wrong for Pederson.

If you look at Pederson's career trends, his production has rarely matched his spring training numbers—and in many cases, it has been the opposite.

In 2024, he had a 1.018 OPS in spring training, but struggled out of the gate and didn't hit his first regular-season homer until May. What happened the year before? After a poor spring, he had one of his best seasons yet. The pattern extends back several seasons: strong springs, uneven years; weak springs, strong rebounds.

Pederson isn't buying into the panic.

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He's been working closely with Justin Viele, his hitting instructor, to improve his launch and power consistency by making his swing more vertical.

The underlying data suggests that there could be progress beneath the surface. Pederson's average exit velocity is 94.2 mph this spring, up from 2025, indicating he's still making quality contact, even if the results haven't yet arrived.

Despite a slow spring and a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Rangers remain confident in Pederson's ability to rebound.

Manager Skip Schumaker has made it clear that the veteran will stay in the lineup, citing his work ethic and experience as reasons for confidence. Chris Young, president of baseball operations, echoed that sentiment, citing Pederson's motivation and track record as key factors in predicting a turnaround.

Still, there's some pressure.

Pederson is entering the final year of his contract, and Texas has other options at designated hitter, including veterans such as Andrew McCutchen and Mark Canha, as well as younger, more versatile players.

For the time being, however, the Rangers are confident in the process.

If history is any indication, Pederson's quiet spring could be the precursor to a much-needed rebound season.