Back-Up Options For Rangers All-Star Catcher Jonah Heim

Mitch Garver's departure to Seattle in the offseason opened the hole behind Heim.

The Rangers' non-roster catchers in camp include switch-hitter Andrew Knapp, Matt Whatley, and left-hitting Jose Godoy and Liam Hicks (Bats left)

"By the end of spring, they should know, especially what their stuff is," Wilson said. But he wants more than that from his catchers. "To get on a true friendship or personal relationship level, it can be a little bit challenging, especially early on, just because there are so many guys. I think you have to be in the fire with guys at times to really learn their personality. But we're trying to expedite the learning curve here and get them on the same page as fast as possible."

So far, so good for Knizner, 29. He knows pitching coach Mike Maddux from Maddux's time coaching the Cardinals, and he knows Rangers hitting coach Donnie Ecker from Low-A in 2017.

"I learned a lot from Mad Dog [Maddux] in regards to scouting the opposition and developing the gameplan," Knizner said. "And how to work with the pitching staff, so that's been good in the sense of transitioning to a new staff where I don't know anybody."

As for how real the backup competition really is, Wilson explained it this way:

"I think there's always competition. I think competition is always a good thing. I don't think anybody is necessarily safe in this game," he said. "You have to have that mentality when you stay hungry and you don't get complacent."

As a former catcher himself, Wilson reminds his catchers they're always competing for a job, even if it's not with their current team.

"At this point in time, we're about winning and whatever pieces give us the best opportunity to win," he said. "The one thing I want to make sure they know they're competing to win a job. There are 29 other teams as well that are always looking, especially at that position. I guess that's a roundabout way to answer: There's always competition, and nobody should feel safe.".