Ryan Rua and Jake Smolinski make the Opening Day roster

Ryan Rua and Jake Smolinski have both been told that they will be on the Texas Rangers' Opening Day roster, according to T.R. Sullivan.

I think we've all been assuming over the past week or so that this was the case, though Carlos Peguero's hot spring had folks talking about him possibly making the cut instead.  Peguero's cooled down, though, and if he does stick on the 25 man roster, it would apparently be in place of Delino DeShields, Jr.

Sullivan indicates that Rua "appears" to have won the starting left field job, and Smolinski will be the fourth outfielder, as well as most likely playing DH against lefties.  Smolinski has also gotten a look at center field, so while he's mostly expected to back up the corner outfield spots, he could also see some time spelling Leonys Martin in center.

Both of these guys are nice success stories for the organization.  Rua was a 17th round draft choice out of Lake Erie College in 2011, an infielder who put himself on the map with a big 2013 season in Hickory.  He built on that success with a solid year in 2014 that saw him split time between AA, AAA and the majors, and has impressed folks with his work ethic and ability to make adjustments as he has moved up the ladder.

Smolinski, meanwhile, was a 2nd round draft pick of the Washington Nationals in 2007, who the Rangers signed as a minor league free agent after the 2013 season.  He had a solid year in 2014 -- like Rua, he played in AA, AAA and the majors -- and survived the offseason 40 man roster purge to win a major league job this spring.

Finally, the Rangers have also announced that Adam Rosales will make the Opening Day roster.  Rosales was supposed to be the team's utility infielder last year, but was sent to the minors after a bad camp.  He made it back to the majors and had a solid 2014 campaign, and will be the team's primary utility infielder this season.