‘Winning Players Finish Strong’: Chris Young’s Message to the Rangers in the Season’s Final Week
ARLINGTON, Texas — As the Texas Rangers enter the final week of a challenging season, general manager Chris Young isn’t simply waiting for the offseason to begin. He’s watching every inning, every pitch, and every at-bat with a sharp eye, challenging his players to close the year the same way a championship team would.
“Winning players finish strong,” Young said before the Rangers opened their last homestand. “It’s about pride, professionalism, and showing what you’re made of when the standings might not matter as much. That’s what separates winning organizations.”
The Rangers, who have endured an inconsistent campaign marked by injuries and streaky offense, find themselves playing for more than just numbers in the standings. For Young, the final games are about identity. After last year’s high of winning the World Series, the follow-up season tested their depth and resilience. Key injuries to core players disrupted momentum. The bullpen wavered. Yet Young sees opportunity amid the adversity.
“You learn a lot about a team when the easy motivation is gone,” he said. “This is when character shows.”
Manager Bruce Bochy echoed the sentiment. “Chris wants to see fight,” Bochy said. “So do I. This week tells us a lot about who we are and who we can count on next year.”
The Rangers’ clubhouse understands the stakes. Veteran shortstop Corey Seager noted that even without a playoff berth on the line, players are auditioning for future roles. “You can’t just mail it in,” Seager said. “Every game matters if you care about being part of a winning culture.”
For younger players, this final stretch provides a proving ground. Prospects and recent call-ups have a rare chance to show they can thrive against major-league competition when the season’s grind is at its toughest. “You want to show you belong,” rookie outfielder Evan Carter said. “That doesn’t stop because it’s September.”
The Rangers have responded with competitive baseball despite the disappointment of missing the postseason. In their first three games of the homestand, they showcased aggressive baserunning and crisp defense—traits that defined their championship run a year ago. The crowd at Globe Life Field still roars with every clutch hit, a reminder of the standard that Young insists must remain high.
Young, a former major league pitcher, knows the mental and physical toll of a long season. His challenge to his players comes not from a place of criticism, but from belief that culture is built daily. “Fans remember effort,” he said. “They remember the players who keep pushing. That’s the foundation of winning teams.”
As the Rangers wrap up their schedule, the GM’s words hang over the dugout like a rallying cry. Finish strong. Play with purpose. Show the league—and themselves—that the identity of a champion does not fade with one frustrating season.
For a franchise that tasted ultimate glory just a year ago, these final games may not decide a playoff spot, but they could shape the team’s mindset for 2026. In baseball, culture carries from one season to the next. Chris Young knows it, and he expects his players to prove they do too.
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