The Texas Rangers on Monday began creating openings on new manager Skip Schumaker’s staff by opting not to retain catching instructor Bobby Wilson.
Wilson confirmed the decision to The Dallas Morning News.
The fate of the rest of the coaching staff was uncertain, though President of Baseball Operations Chris Young said all finished the season “in good standing” with the organization.
Wilson, who caught parts of two seasons with the Rangers in 2015-16, had been part of the coaching staff since 2021. He had originally been hired to manage in the minor league system the season after his 12-year major league career ended in 2019. But he never got that chance because COVID-19 cancelled the minor league season. Wilson, now 42, spent that season helping to run the Alternate Training Site group and so impressed the Rangers, he was named to the big league staff for 2021. A former catcher, he’d become a favorite of Bruce Bochy.
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Wilson, an expert on receiving technique, began working with Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim in 2021, both of whom went on to become front line major league catchers, All-Stars and Gold Glove winners. Trevino was named to the All-Star team with the New York Yankees in 2022 and won a Gold Glove the same year, after the Rangers traded him during spring training; Heim was the AL’s All-Star starter in 2023 and won the Gold Glove the same season. Heim, however, has regressed across the board the last two seasons and likely won’t return.
The departure of one former Rangers catcher could open the door for the addition of another: Rod Barajas.
Barajas, 50, spent three years with the Rangers from 2004-06 during his 13-year playing career. He served on Schumaker’s staff in Miami in 2023-24 as quality assurance coach, but was let go, along with the rest of Schumaker’s staff after the completion of the 2024 season.
Barajas spent the 2025 season working in the Los Angeles Angels minor league system.
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