It's not a bad “welcome home” present.
The Texas Rangers are scheduled to play the Seattle Mariners in a three-game midweek series, and before Tuesday's game they took the opportunity to honor former Rangers catcher/DH and member of the 2023 championship team, Mitch Garber.
The Rangers presented Garver, who signed a two-year contract with the Mariners in December, with a World Series championship ring in front of the Globe Life Field crowd before Tuesday's game.
“Being a free agent, I didn't get to experience everything after the World Series,” Garber said. “I'm going to use this as a chance to turn the page. I saw the banner. I got the ring. Now I can focus on my new team. I love what he's done for me. I mean, it's just a lot of mixed emotions. I can't wait to get back to playing baseball.”
Garver, 33, spent two seasons with the Rangers in 2022-23. He didn't produce much in 2022 due to injuries, but in 2023 he showed exactly what he was promised when he signed with the Rangers: a big right-handed hitter, a patient eye, and an all-out bat. Garber hit .270/.370/.500 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs for Texas in 2024.
But what Ranger fans will probably remember most, and why he was so well received at Tuesday night's ring ceremony, are some of the big hits along the way in the 2023 postseason, including Including when he hit the run that ultimately won the game. The Rangers defeated the Diamondbacks in Game 5 of the championship game, then scored a grand slam in Game 2 of the ALDS vs. Baltimore to break things up and return the Rangers to Arlington with a 2-0 series lead.
The grand slam contributed significantly to the Rangers' undefeated road record through the 2023 postseason, which is etched into the world championship ring Garber received on Tuesday.
Garber's Rangers teammates received their rings before Opening Day in late March. Rangers fans will likely be watching when Austin Hedges returns to Arlington with the Cleveland Guardians on May 13, when Martin Perez returns to the Pittsburgh Pirates in August, and when Jordan Montgomery joins the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. Expect a similar ceremony on May 13th when they return for the rematch. May 28th.
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