Texas Rangers open spring in Surprise with Eovaldi on the mound

The texas rangers begin their spring training slate in Surprise, Ariz., facing the Kansas City Royals at Billy Parker Stadium with RHP Nathan Eovaldi scheduled to start and first pitch set for 2: 05 p. m. central time.

Texas Rangers lineup for Surprise opener

New manager Skip Schumaker will lead the club in the spring opener after the team shed a large percentage of last year’s roster, including the future Hall of Fame manager who had been part of their World Series run. RHP Nathan Eovaldi will take the bump first for Texas against RHP Stephen Kolek for the Royals; Cole Winn, Gavin Collyer, Trey Supak and Peyton Gray are expected to follow Eovaldi in the early innings of the exhibition.

Eovaldi's recent season and recovery

Eovaldi enters the spring coming off a season in which he went 11-3 with a 1. 73 ERA across 22 games and 130 innings, striking out 129 with 21 walks and a 0. 854 WHIP. He missed more than two months due to injuries and had offseason sports hernia surgery before camp.

Broadcast, injuries and the next game

There is no TV or radio for Friday’s opener at Billy Parker Stadium; the Royals may provide a radio broadcast, otherwise fans will need to follow Gameday. The club will be without SS Sebastian Walcott for spring training — he is expected to have elbow surgery and will miss most of the 2026 season — and non-roster P Nabil Crismatt has been ruled out of spring training after suffering an elbow injury in camp.

The texas rangers will play their second spring game on Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., when they visit the Chicago Cubs; 105. 3 The Fan is scheduled to carry that game. Friday’s start in Surprise marks the club’s first game since September and sets the stage for early position battles and roster looks across the Cactus League schedule.