On Monday, the Rangers officially named Bruce Bochy as the next manager in franchise history. Bochy will enter his twenty-sixth season managing between the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and now the Texas Rangers.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be putting this jersey on. A big thank you to Ray Davis and Chris Young for making this possible. When you step back from the game for a little bit, that gratitude meter shoots way up when something special like this happens,” Bruce said on Monday. Bochy said he returned because he missed the game, the dugout, the competition, and the team aspect.

So why the Texas Rangers?

“I could see and feel the passion and commitment [Chris Young] has to building a winning culture here and bring winning baseball back to the fans,” Bochy said. “I’m excited to be here and work for this team. When I look [at the Rangers] and the core players, deep system, I got excited. I see tons of potential this year and years beyond.”

Don’t have an exact number but from what I saw some of the training staff, Semien, Lowe, Josh Smith, King, Alexy, Sborz, Donnie Ecker, and front office folks were there. https://t.co/rHoIOUIDSh

— Alex Plinck🏳️‍🌈 (@aplinckTX) October 24, 2022

Bruce Bochy began his MLB career on July 19, 1978, with the Houston Astros. The White Sox originally drafted Bochy in January 1975 but elected to stay at Eastern Florida State College. The Astros swooped in and drafted Bruce that summer, thus creating that small Texas tie between Bruce Bochy and the state.

Bochy’s eyes lit up talking about Globe Life Field. “You can’t have a better place to create this winning culture that CY wants to create and inspire these players to come to work every day to get better. We’re lucky to have this kind of venue.” It was fitting that while the press conference was going on, the rain heavens opened up to the point where it sounded like loud claps throughout the conference.

“I reached out to a lot of executives within the game that I respect who have been successful and got their opinions on this. Almost unanimously, Boch’s name came up in every conversation. Given the relationship, familiarly, what we need, and where we’re headed became clear to me that he was the perfect candidate for this job,” Young said. “Very grateful that it’s worked out.” Bochy also mentioned his family resides in the area, which helps put a pumpkin bowtie on the perfect late October Halloween gift.

One player excited to work with Bruce Bochy is Bay Area native Marcus Semien. Semien grew up a San Francisco Giants fan. “My first year in Oakland in 2015, the Giants were the defending champions. Going into SF and playing against his teams and how well he was doing as manager was not fun. They beat us up pretty bad [but] you see a well-oiled machine with the teams he manages. When you put guys in the roles they thrive in, it’s so much better for the team.” Semien said he didn’t have many conversations with Bruce before the hiring but regularly talked to guys like Brandon Crawford. “This will be new for Boch and I to get to know each other,” Semien said. “Hopefully, Corey and I, the leaders on the ball club, can emulate that.”

Now the Rangers reached an essential part of the winning plateau. Next is gathering the resources, which there’s a lot in the works. Texas looks to be on the prowl in the free-agent market, but there’s also homegrown talent waiting in the minor leagues from all aspects. Ray Davis reiterated one thing in the press conference Monday, it’s not just about winning in 2023, but it’s about winning beyond that. So now let’s sing, “We’re all in this together!” High School Musical Style and get the ship sailing.

Looks good, doesn’t it Rangers fans? #straightuptx pic.twitter.com/thMMAOzKge

— Alex Plinck🏳️‍🌈 (@aplinckTX) October 24, 2022

Housekeeping

Chris Young and Bruce Bochy will continue meeting this week to discuss coaching staff roles. Everyone invited back will come back to the Rangers. As for the vacancies (mostly pitching coach), Young mentioned that they are narrowing down candidates (didn’t specify whom), but the Rangers are looking to have that vacancy filled in the next few weeks. I asked if the Rangers would pursue one main pitching coach and an assistant or keep the co-pitching coach roles like they had the past few seasons. “We’ll probably lean towards a head pitching coach [and] potentially consider an assistant pitching coach,” Young told me. “[We’ll] likely go with one pitching coach in charge.” Young also mentioned that the Rangers continued discussions with Martín Pérez and his agent for a contract extension.

Welcome to Texas, Bruce! https://t.co/rp7lY57Tk4

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 24, 2022