The sun was shining, the air was warm, and there was a buzz in the air—spring training had officially arrived. And if there’s one person who still gets excited about it like a rookie on his first day, it’s Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. Standing on the perfectly manicured fields, taking in the sounds of baseballs cracking off bats and players shouting to each other, Bochy couldn’t help but reflect on just how much he loves this time of year.
“Those fields are so beautiful when you haven’t seen them for a while,” Bochy said, his voice carrying the weight of decades in the game. “It’s kind of like the first time you ever saw a major league field—just listening to the sounds, the guys talking, and being around them. That excitement never really goes away.”
After more than 30 years managing in the big leagues, you might think the routine would start to feel repetitive. But not for Bochy. Even after taking a three-year break from the dugout before returning to lead the Rangers, his passion hasn’t faded one bit. If anything, stepping away only made him appreciate it more.
“When I came back from retirement after three years, man, I just realized how much I missed it,” he admitted. “The gratitude meter shoots way up. I still have that feeling coming in. You’re grateful and realize you are blessed to be doing what you love to do.”
That doesn’t mean questions about his future aren’t swirling. Bochy, who will turn 70 in April, is in the final year of his contract. But if you’re hoping for some sort of grand announcement about what comes next, don’t hold your breath. He’s not ready to have that conversation—at least not yet.
“Don’t try to read those cards,” Bochy said with a chuckle when asked about his future with the Rangers. He knows the speculation is out there, but he’s not entertaining it right now.
And honestly, the decision seems to be entirely his. Chris Young, the Rangers’ President of Baseball Operations, has made it clear on multiple occasions that he’d love for Bochy to return. But for now, Bochy is just soaking in the moment, fully enjoying the start of another season.
“I know that day is going to come when I’m not doing this,” he said Friday. “But I haven’t thought about it. I mean, I did try it once, but I missed it.”
There’s precedent for managers continuing well into their 70s. Felipe Alou, whom Bochy remains close with, managed through age 71 before stepping away. Alou, who will turn 90 in May, has been out of the daily grind of the game for almost 20 years now. Perhaps Bochy is considering a similar timeline—or maybe not.
It’s worth noting that Bochy’s situation now is different from when he retired from the Giants in 2019. Back then, he was dealing with some health issues—angioplasty, hip surgery, and other concerns that had built up over the years. But since joining the Rangers, his health has been relatively stable. And while his retirement from the Giants coincided with a front-office shake-up—Farhan Zaidi taking over operations—his role in Texas is much more secure, especially with Young, a former player of his, leading the charge.
Back in 2019, Bochy didn’t want his potential retirement to be a distraction. He told the Giants before the season even began so they wouldn’t be burdened with questions about his future.
“I didn’t want to be a distraction,” he said back then. “I didn’t want them wondering about my situation.”
So, if Bochy were planning to step away at the end of this season, would he follow the same playbook? Maybe. But maybe not. Right now, he seems more focused on the season ahead than making any major announcements about the future.
What’s clear, though, is that Bochy still loves the game. Whether it’s his last ride or just another chapter in his legendary career remains to be seen. For now, he’s content just enjoying the smell of fresh-cut grass, the energy of his players, and the simple joy of being back where he belongs.
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