PHILADELPHIA — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said before Thursday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen’s Bank Park that catcher Danny Jansen will get “more starts” behind the plate than catcher Kyle Higashioka early in the season.
Schumaker estimated that Jansen, who started Thursday’s game vs. Phillies left-hander Christopher Sanchez, could start six of the team’s first 10 games.
“It’s tough to say it’s an even split,” Schumaker said, “and I shouldn’t say bulk, but I think he’ll have more starts the next 10 days or so, and I thought it was important for him to also get the opener. He did such a good job with the pitching staff.”
Jansen, whom the Rangers signed to a two-year contract this winter, started 82 games split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers last season. Higashioka started 68 games at catcher in his first year with the Rangers last season and has never started more than 77 in a single campaign.
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Schumaker acknowledged that Higashioka’s health is one of the factors that led to the decision. The 35-year-old battled a back injury in spring training and got just 24 at bats in Cactus League play. He was limited last season with a number of soft tissue injuries.
“If I can keep all this group healthy, and that’s the goal for all 162, I think that gives us the best shot,” said Schumaker, who also confirmed that Higashioka is 100% healthy now. “Part of that is having Higgy available for 162.”
Schumaker said that plans can change, and that both catchers will “play a lot,” but added that Jansen has “owned the position” since he arrived. The 30-year-old — whose career .726 OPS is more than 30 points better than Higashioka’s — slashed .194/.297/.419 in 12 spring exhibitions. He’s 2 for 5 with a walk all time against Sanchez while Higashioka is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.
“I just feel like he’s the right guy, right now, to start opening day,” Schumaker said.
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