Both left fielder Wyatt Langford and third baseman Josh Jung — two key pieces of the Rangers’ present and future — independently described Ecker’s dismissal as a surprise. It’s the first in-season staff change that either of them have been apart of during their young major league careers.

The Texas Rangers announced Monday that they have hired former All-Star Bret Boone as their new hitting coach. Team president Chris Young also told reporters that the team intends to call up outfielder Evan Carter.

Former big league infielder Bret Boone has been hired as a hitting coach for the Texas Rangers, who are last in the American League in runs scored.