The Texas Rangers announced Sunday they relieved offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker of his duties. The move came hours after the team's 8-1 victory over Seattle.
The club cited offensive struggles as the reason for the change. The Rangers entered Sunday's game last in Major League Baseball in run production, averaging 3.09 runs per game. Their .636 OPS ranked 27th, nearly 70 points below the league average.
This performance represents a drop from previous seasons. The Rangers offense ranked 18th in runs scored and 23rd in OPS last year. In 2023, the team featured a robust offense on the way to the franchise's first World Series title.
Rangers President of Baseball Operations Chris Young said in a statement, "After lengthy discussions and deliberations, we feel now is the appropriate time to provide our hitters with a new voice as we pursue goals of winning the division and reaching the postseason."
Young acknowledged Donnie Ecker's role in the club's 2023 World Series championship. "We are extremely grateful to Donnie for all that he has accomplished here with the Rangers, including his role in the club’s 2023 World Series championship," Young said.
The team did not immediately name a replacement or detail the new structure for the hitting staff. The Rangers said the structure will be addressed in the coming days before departing for a road trip to Boston.
The dismissal follows a period of offensive adjustments by the team. Over the past three weeks, the Rangers tried different tactics, including dropping Marcus Semien from the leadoff spot and Adolis GarcÃa from cleanup. The club also optioned Jake Burger, an offseason acquisition, to Triple-A. Struggling players like Joc Pederson were also noted in recent reports.
Despite the offensive woes, the Rangers held an 18-18 record due in large part to strong starting pitching early in the season.
Young concluded his statement saying, "We wish him the best."
