SportsDay Rangers, Episode 28: The one with Mark DeRosa

·48 min·4 clips

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa reveals how he built his roster, starting with a first call to Aaron Judge.

The episode opens with hosts Evan Grant and John Blake setting the stage for opening day in 20 days and introducing a special guest, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. They briefly mention Rangers injuries to Josh Jung and Justin Foscue, noting concerns about muscle strains disrupting their rhythm. Roster battles are discussed, with analysis of players like Cam Collier, Aaron Zavala, Tyler Wade, and bullpen candidates Carter Baumler, Peyton Gray, and Trey Supak. The status of Brandon Nimmo and Jacob deGrom's delayed spring training appearances is covered, framed as part of a planned buildup. The main interview with Mark DeRosa begins, focusing on WBC roster construction compared to 2023. DeRosa explains his first calls were to Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, with Corbin Burnes as a 'slow play.' He discusses the challenge of pitcher usage restrictions ('guardrails') and how they led to late-night planning in 2023. DeRosa shares the story of recruiting Clayton Kershaw, who humorously tested his arm by playing catch with his son. He praises his coaching staff, particularly bench coach Michael Young. DeRosa is asked about the Rangers under new manager Skip Schumacher, emphasizing the importance of deGrom and Eovaldi's health and the addition of Brandon Nimmo. He also explains why he chose Roman Anthony over Wyatt Langford for Team USA, citing lineup balance. DeRosa handicaps the WBC field, respecting Japan, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico. The episode shifts to a segment on the Rangers' spring training history, detailing the move from Florida to Surprise, Arizona in 2003. The hosts discuss the facility's upgrades, the growth of Surprise, and travel advantages over Florida. They note Skip Schumacher's new practice of having the team take batting practice on the road to reduce injury risk. The episode concludes with promotional reminders and scheduling notes for upcoming coverage.

As heard by us

Mark DeRosa's roster logic gives Team USA's WBC setup a practical shape.

With the Rangers 20 days from opening the 2026 season in Philadelphia, SportsDay Rangers uses the World Baseball Classic to get at Team USA's roster thinking.

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Why you'd press play

Want Mark DeRosa's practical plan for fitting Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt into Team USA?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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