Keone Kela will open the season as the Texas Rangers' closers.
Manager Jeff Banister said Kela will get the ball unless he's worked the previous two games. In that case, Kevin Jepsen, a veteran right-hander who was added from Triple A Roud Rock Thursday morning, would close.
"We’d love to be able to establish a closer.. It’s something we’ve been a little challenged with," Banister said. "We’ve made changes in the first or second month all three years."
Banister said he'd prefer to allow a pitcher, in this case Kela, an opportunity to establish his role as the team's closer.