Texas Rangers Name New Closer

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said reliever Will Smith would get the majority of the save opportunities going forward.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy made the obvious official on Wednesday, saying left-hander Will Smith will get the "majority" of the save opportunities moving forward. 

The role was previously split between Smith and Jose Leclerc.

Smith notched his club-leading fourth save of the season in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Leclerc has the only other save for the Rangers, who are 5-fot-9 in save chances.

Leclerc has lost two of those save chances and was essentially demoted during the Rangers' last road trip at the Cincinnati Reds. Bochy wanted Leclerc him to work on some control issues. The right-hander has walked at least one batter in four of his 10 appearances. 

Leclerc was up in bullpen on Tuesday while Smith was trying to wrap up the save. Bochy said that Smith was a batter away from being pulled before he recorded the final out. 

Smith was signed as a free agent during Spring Training and had his best season as a closer under Bochy with the San Francisco Giants in 2019. Smith had an All-Star season and finished that year with 34 saves. He closed 37 games for World Series-winning Atlanta Braves in 2021. 

Smith was on the roster of the world champion Houston Astros last season. 

Smith is 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA going into Wednesday's second game against the Diamondbacks. Leclerc is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA. 

The Smith update was reported by The Dallas Morning News.

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