The 2023 World Series featured a highly improbable matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (21) celebrates with third baseman Josh Jung after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Surprise Stadium on Sunday,

Corey Seager’s first spring home run was a whopper. He hit it off Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Blake Walston, pushed it opposite field and gave the Texas Rangers

It came as no great surprise that the Texas Rangers did not repeat as World Series champions last season. Nothing against the local squad, but no major league team has done it this century. To finish the season with a losing record (78-84) was one thing.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Corey Seager ’s first spring home run was a whopper. He hit it off of Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Blake Walston, pushed it opposite field and gave the Texas Rangers a two-run lead in the fourth inning of Sunday’s exhibition at Surprise Stadium. It had to have been the biggest home run he’d ever hit against the Diamondbacks.

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 31: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers fields the ball during Game Four of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 31, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images ...

The Arizona Diamondbacks gear up for the 2025 MLB season with several new faces, headlined by Corbin Burnes and Josh Naylor. After missing the playoffs in 2024, several young players look to use spring training to make the Opening Day roster.

Seager boosted his spring training batting average to .214 with an OPS of 696 before he gave up his spot in the lineup and the field to the organization’s No. 1 prospect in Sebastian Walcott. Walston gave up four runs in two innings of relief.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are confident they can reach the postseason this year after missing last year because of a tiebreaker.

The groundwork for Joc Pederson becoming a Texas Ranger was laid last September, when Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young sat with Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen.

The offseason had some fireworks for the Diamondbacks with the signings of Corbin Burnes and Josh Naylor. Despite that, oddsmakers aren’t yet sold on the team.