Josh H. Smith

Fantasy News

• Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at 2B in opener

  Rotowire Feb 21, 2026

  Smith started at second base and went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Friday's spring opener against the Royals. After the Rangers traded second baseman Marcus Semien during the offseason, Smith's name was part of the group in line to compete for second base. The super-utility player recently confirmed he's been preparing to play the keystone since Semien's departure. Whether or not he becomes the primary second baseman, at the very least, Smith should be a regular presence in the lineup against right-handers at some position.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Preparing to play second base

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2026

  Smith confirmed Sunday that he's preparing to mainly play second base in 2026 following the trade of Marcus Semien, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports. Smith finished second on the Rangers with 563 plate appearances a season ago, but he didn't have a permanent home at any one position. The super-utility player instead filled in as injuries dictated, logging 46 starts at shortstop, 28 at third base, 23 at first base, 14 in the outfield, 10 at designated hitter and three at second base. He'll carry eligibility at shortstop, third base and first base in most fantasy leagues heading into 2026, and he should also be usable for at keystone quickly if manager Skip Schumaker commits to him as the club's primary second baseman. The Rangers could look to deploy the left-handed-hitting Smith on the strong side of a platoon, as slashed just .206/.277/.224 (47 wRC+) in 121 plate appearances against southpaws last season.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Signs deal for 2026

  Rotowire Jan 8, 2026

  Smith agreed to a one-year, $3.225 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. Smith will end up earning a little more than the $2.5 million that he was projected for in his first year of arbitration eligibility, per Spotrac.com. He's primarily worked as a super-utility player for the Rangers but could find a regular role at second base in 2026 following the offseason departure of Marcus Semien.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: On paternity list

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2025

  The Rangers placed Smith on the paternity list Friday. Smith didn't travel with the team for the Rangers' final series of the regular season as he awaits the birth of his child. Friday's move opens up a spot on the active roster for Donovan Solano, who's been recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. Smith can remain on the paternity list through Sunday's regular-season finale.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Back in lineup

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2025

  Smith (elbow) is starting at shortstop and batting second against the Twins on Wednesday. Smith was held out of Tuesday's series opener due to a left elbow infection, but he has been cleared to play in Wednesday's tilt. He has not recorded a hit in any of his last four games and has gone 11-for-55 (.200) with three steals, six runs and one RBI since Sept. 1.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Taking seat against righty

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2025

  Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. The left-handed-hitting Smith has been a mainstay in the lineup versus right-handed pitching all season, but he'll hit the bench Sunday while the Marlins send righty Eury Perez to the hill. Smith's exit from the lineup comes after he went just 2-for-21 with one walk against six strikeouts over the past six games.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Reaches in all five PA

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2025

  Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI double and two runs scored during Sunday's 9-6 win over the Athletics. Smith drew three walks in addition to his pair of hits Sunday, marking his second game with three walks this season. The 28-year-old hadn't logged multiple hits in 15 straight games, going 10-for-55 (.182) during that stretch. He's slashing .257/.337/.379 in 438 plate appearances during 2025.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Covers second base Monday

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2025

  Smith started at second base and went 0-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Angels. Smith took over at second base with Marcus Semien (foot) on the 10-day injured list and likely done for the rest of the regular season. It was the third start at second base this season for Smith, who wears many gloves for Texas. He's had a rough go of it in August, slashing .197/.274/.250 with four RBI and six runs scored over 23 games this month.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Finds home in right field

  Rotowire Aug 19, 2025

  Smith started in right field and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Royals. Smith has started four consecutive games in right field, a spot that normally is filled by the injured Adolis Garcia (ankle). Smith makes a good living in Texas as a fill-in for injured players regardless of position. He's started games at first base (24), third base (28), shortstop (31) and all three outfield spots (13).

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Logs two hits in win

  Rotowire Aug 12, 2025

  Smith started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Monday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Diamondbacks. Smith doubled to kick off a four-run sixth-inning that brought the Rangers back into the contest. The double was his 20th and the run scored his team-leading 58th through 107 games. Smith has been seeing time in left field with Evan Carter (back) on the IL, but Carter is set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday and could rejoin the club for a road trip in Toronto beginning Friday. That would put Smith back into a useful super-utility role, filling in wherever needed.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Goes deep in win

  Rotowire Jul 27, 2025

  Smith went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and a second run scored in Sunday's 8-1 win over Atlanta. Smith had gone 0-for-9 with three strikeouts over his previous three games. He stretched Texas' lead to 5-1 with his second-inning homer off Bryce Elder, which was Smith's first long ball since July 5 in San Diego. The utility player is up to a .274/.352/.415 slash line with nine homers, 28 RBI, 52 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 17 doubles and one triple over 93 contests. Smith's playing time has faltered a bit with the Rangers facing lefties in four of their last eight games, but he should be a fairly regular presence in the lineup versus right-handers without being strictly platooned.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Early offense in loss

  Rotowire Jul 7, 2025

  Smith went 1-for-3 with a run scored in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Padres. Smith led off the game with a single and came home on a Corey Seager double to give the Rangers an early lead. It was the second straight game that Smith had a hand in giving Texas an early lead -- he homered to lead off Saturday's win. In 44 games as the team's leadoff hitter, Smith is slashing .284/.350/.448. His 42 runs scored in 77 games tops the Rangers.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Returns to starting nine

  Rotowire Jun 20, 2025

  Smith (hamstring) is batting leadoff and playing DH on Friday against Pittsburgh. Smith was held out of the lineup for three consecutive games due to left hamstring soreness, but he's been cleared to DH on Friday. The Rangers could look to ease Smith back into work in the field. He logged a hit in seven straight games before sustaining the injury, going 13-for-31 (.419) with two homers during that stretch.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Available off bench Thursday

  Rotowire Jun 19, 2025

  Smith (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals, but manager Bruce Bochy said that Smith will be available off the bench as a pinch hitter, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. Smith's tight left hamstring will keep him out of the lineup for a third straight game could still be causing him some complications when he runs and plays the field, but the Rangers remain confident that the 27-year-old will avoid a trip to the injured list. In fact, Bochy added that he expects Smith to be ready to rejoin the starting nine during this weekend's series in Pittsburgh, though it wouldn't be surprising if Smith was used as a designated hitter initially. Smith has been a bright spot in a middling season for the Rangers, slashing .288/.357/.443 with seven home runs and eight stolen bases over 245 plate appearances while making starts at every position except pitcher and catcher.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Likely to avoid IL

  Rotowire Jun 18, 2025

  The Rangers don't believe Smith will need to go on the injured list after suffering from left hamstring tightness during Sunday's 2-1 win over the White Sox, MLB.com reports. Smith missed Tuesday's series-opening loss to the Royals while recovering from the hamstring injury and could miss a couple more games, but the Rangers belive the super-utility player will be ready to return by the weekend. In Tuesday's contest, Smith ceded his spot in the lineup to rookie Alejandro Ozuna, who served as Texas' designated hitter.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Multi-hit streak continues

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2025

  Smith went 2-for-5 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 3-1 win over the White Sox. Smith led off innings in his first three plate appearances and scored runs in all three. The two-hit effort extended a multi-hit streak to five games, during which he's gone 10-for-23 with two walks, two doubles, two homers, four RBI and seven runs scored. The versatile Smith has served as the DH, shortstop, first baseman and third baseman over his last six starts.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Heating up in June

  Rotowire Jun 13, 2025

  Smith started at shortstop and went 2-for-5 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's 16-3 win over Minnesota. Smith homered to lead off the game, setting up the Rangers to score 16 runs for the second time in the series. He has multiple hits in four straight contests and six in 10 games during the month of June, during which he's gone 15-for-42 (.357) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, two steals and seven runs. The versatile Smith will be in the lineup whenever the Rangers face a right-hander, either to give Corey Seager a breather at shortstop as he did Thursday, or at first base in place of Jake Burger, who has been deployed at designated hitter four times in the last seven contests.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Three hits, home run in win

  Rotowire Jun 1, 2025

  Smith went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, a stolen base and four total RBI in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Cardinals. Smith got the Rangers on the board in the second inning with a two-run double, putting Texas ahead 2-1, before bookending the scoring with a homer off Roddery Munoz in the eighth. The long ball was his fifth of the year and extended the lead to 8-1. It was the first multi-hit game since May 14 for the 27-year-old Smith -- he'd gone just 5-for-45 (.111) with a .313 OPS in 13 contests prior to Sunday. Overall, Smith is slashing .269/.340/.409 with 20 runs scored, 16 RBI and seven stolen bases through 192 plate appearances this season.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Bowing out of lineup Thursday

  Rotowire May 22, 2025

  Smith is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees. The left-handed-hitting Smith started at shortstop and batted ninth in Wednesday's 4-3 loss while left-hander Ryan Yarbrough took the hill for the Yankees, but Smith will check out of the lineup for the series finale with New York sending another southpaw (Carlos Rodon) to the bump. Ezequiel Duran will spell Smith at shortstop.

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• Rangers' Josh Smith: Makes return to lineup

  Rotowire May 14, 2025

  Smith (back) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Rockies. Smith had missed the Rangers' last two games while tending to a sore lower back, but the team had labeled him as day-to-day and never expressed much concern that he would require a stint on the injured list. The super-utility man had made his previous two starts at first base before his brief absence, but he'll likely see the bulk of his reps at shortstop for the foreseeable future after the Rangers placed Corey Seager (hamstring) back on the IL on Tuesday. Smith took over as the everyday leadoff man earlier this month and should continue to maintain those duties while he's gotten on base at a .389 clip through his first 36 games of the season.

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