Grossman, whom the Rangers re-acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a trade early Wednesday, made his 2024 debut as the designated hitter Friday against Colorado.

At some point, Robbie Grossman will get his ring, too.

In the meantime, hey, going from last place to first in the space of one long night (and early morning) and rejoining his regular card game was more than enough.

“You never know what will happen in this game,” said Grossman, whom the Rangers re-acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a trade early Wednesday and who made his 2024 debut as the DH Friday against Colorado’s Austin Gombert. “I’m just fortunate to be here with this group of guys. I’m fortunate to have this chance.”

Fortunate is a good word. Grossman, 34, was on the verge of calling it a career when he didn’t draw much interest over the winter despite a .953 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2023. The rebuilding White Sox, searching for some veteran presence, called him during the last week of spring training, about two weeks before he was going to give up things up. 

He ended up playing three games at Triple-A Charlotte before injuries forced them to call him up earlier than expected. And then he ended up playing 25 games for a team that got off to the third worst start in the majors.

The Rangers, in a bind to find some options against lefties with Evan Carter struggling and Wyatt Langford hurt, offered him an exit ramp. They sent reliever Anthony Hoopi-Tuinetoa to Chicago in the early-morning hours Wednesday to get Grossman, who was in Tampa with the White Sox when the call came. 

He spent 12 hours traveling to get to Oakland where the Rangers were playing a doubleheader later in the day Wednesday. He arrived just before the first game of the doubleheader, but did not play.

The Rangers will likely use Grossman to spell Carter against lefties while Langford recovers from a hamstring injury. In 23 plate appearances against lefties, he was 6 for 18 with four walks and a sacrifice fly entering Friday for an .879 OPS. Though a switch-hitter, Grossman is far more successful against lefties than right-handers. He has an .809 OPS against lefties for his career; .688 against right-handers.

Either way, Grossman was happy to be reunited with the Rangers. He won a World Series in 2023. He needs a little less than 100 days more service to become a 10-year major leaguer. He will be married in November.

And, at some point, he’s going to get a World Series ring, too.

“I’ve seen so many pictures of it,” Grossman said. “You play your whole career for that chance. Those memories will last a lifetime. Right now, it just feels good to be back.”