Former Gators Shortstop Figueroa Thriving in New Role in Rangers’ Front Office
SURPRISE, Ariz. — For former Florida Gators and Major League Baseball infielder Cole Figueroa, the path from the field to the front office wasn’t just about changing uniforms, it was about rethinking how baseball is experienced.
Figueroa, who played shortstop for UF from 2007-08, spent three years in the majors for three different teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates — after originally being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB Draft.
But when his playing career ended in Tampa in 2016, Figueroa transitioned to the organization’s front office as an assistant of baseball development. From there, he became the assistant director of hitting development from 2018-2021, eventually rising to the director of baseball operations from 2021-2024.
“They’ve figured out a way to not spend a lot of money, and still have a top-five farm system every year,” Figueroa said about Tampa. “I think that kind of ingenuity forced me to really hone in on that side of it.”
In his current role as the assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers, he navigates team logistics and roster mechanics. Despite trading cleats for computers, Figueroa’s post-playing career required a complete adjustment.
“One of the biggest culture shocks is understanding communication, and emails and Slack,” Figueroa, 37, said. “You go from being a player, especially at the big league level, where everything is kind of taken care of for you. All of a sudden, you’re kind of back to ground zero.”
Although less visible to fans, Figueroa keeps operations running behind the scenes. He oversees the Rangers’s 40-man roster and all of the intricacies and the moving parts: the trades, the acquisitions, the designations-for-assignments. Working with the travel secretary and clubhouse manager, he ensures the team runs smoothly.
Figueroa relies, in part, on his former stint in the majors as a source of credibility in the clubhouse. However, he acknowledged his job requires continuous self-awareness.
“There’s a comfort level when you go into a clubhouse, and people know that you played,” he said. “I think there’s a little bit of a trust factor … but that can also work against you, too. There’s a thought that maybe you know more than you do, and you have to learn to unlearn some things.”
But he isn’t unlearning everything. Figueroa’s mix of player and managerial experience puts him in a rare position to advise Texas’ decision making. He’s seen both sides of the fence, and understands how to balance the view of the athlete and the grander organization.
Now, that equilibrium is aiding the Texas front office.
“Cole just has such a unique perspective, one his experience coming from Tampa, and some of the ideas and thoughts,” Rangers general manager Chris Young said. “But he’s got a great balance of a player’s perspective, a manageable perspective, and he’s just so good with people. So he’s been a wonderful addition.”
One constant in Figueroa’s career, both as a player and in the front office, has been his Gator pride. Figueroa finished his final collegiate season with a .350 batting average, leading the team in homers (nine), RBIs (57) and total bases (119).
He said he still feels the connection long after leaving Gainesville.
“I think the best part about it is, if you say you went to Florida, and you see someone else who went to Florida, even if you didn’t necessarily play with them or know them that well, there’s just an immediate bond there.”
That relationship extends into the Rangers’ clubhouse. In 2023, Texas drafted Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford fourth overall in the first round, where he quickly rose through the ranks in the farm system. Last year, the 23-year-old made his big league debut on Opening Day.
“We got Wyatt Langford in the locker room, who just got drafted. Dane Dunning went to Florida for a little bit,” Figueroa said. “So there’s always a connection.”
More CJCxARZ Spring Training Coverage:
* Wyatt Langford Looking to Take Next Step After Big Rookie Year
* Dane Dunning on Winning a World Series, His Time With UF
* Man vs. Machine: MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike Spring Experiment Shows Game’s Evolution
Category: Cactus League, Gators in the Pros, Texas Rangers
Tagged: Cactus League Cole Figueroa Gators in the Pros MLB Spring Training Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers
