What began as an open competition has now become one of the Texas Rangers’ defining offseason success stories. Josh Smith has officially earned the role of the team’s everyday second baseman, solidifying himself as Marcus Semien’s successor after a standout spring performance and a renewed focus on endurance and consistency.
The decision comes weeks after the Rangers traded former All-Star Marcus Semien to the Mets in a straight-up deal for outfielder Brandon Nimmo, a move that reshaped both the infield and outfield picture for 2026. Nimmo joined Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter to form a newly fortified outfield, leaving second base as the club’s most significant unanswered question heading into camp.
That question has now been answered — emphatically.
“Smitty won it. He earned every bit of it,” said president of baseball operations Chris Young. “We challenged him to show he could produce for a full season, and from Day 1 of camp he showed he was ready to take that step.”
Throughout Spring Training, Smith displayed improved durability, sharper at-bats, and a steadier mental approach — key areas the Rangers emphasized after his past two seasons showed strong first halves followed by steep late-season drop-offs.
2024
• First half: .293/.392/.469
• Second half: .215/.265/.300
2025
• First half: .277/.353/.416
• Second half: .208/.306/.286
New manager Skip Schumaker credited Smith for addressing both the physical and mental grind of a full 162-game schedule. “He refused to be labeled a first-half player,” Schumaker said. “He trained to finish strong, and that showed every day. He looks like a guy ready for the workload.”
Smith also strengthened his case with elite defensive versatility, but it was his consistent spring offense that ultimately locked down the job. He enters the season not as a utilityman — but as a key everyday starter.
Young said the Rangers believe Smith’s breakthrough is only the beginning. “We’ve always known he’s a really good player,” Young said. “This spring he proved he can be that guy from April to October.”
Josh Smith now steps into one of the most important infield roles on a Rangers team looking to return to contention — and this time, the job is his.
