Texas Rangers: Top 10 biggest busts of the decade
By Travis Koch
Texas Rangers: Top 10 biggest busts of the decade
Delino DeShields
Calling DeShields a bust is perhaps unjust. After all, he played 539 games with the Rangers spanning six years. By all means, he gave it his all on and off the field. At one point, he even kept an in-game notebook on the pitches he saw and the things he did well in the batter’s box.
He was selected 8th overall by the National League Houston Astros in the 2010 draft. Climbing as high as the ‘Stros’ #5 prospect, he was eventually taken third overall as the Rangers’ Rule 5 Draft pick in 2014. Each team clearly saw great potential in him.
Speed was and still is DeShields’ standout tool. For reference, he swiped a miraculous 101 bags in a single minor league season. But his bat could not catch up to his wheels at the major league level.
Texas tried so often to work him in the lineup as a leadoff hitter; however, he never mastered the ability to reach base. He recorded a .310 OBP in 2017 and a .325 OBP in 2019, which is respectable, though he didn’t compensate with power or even a modest batting average.
DeShields never eclipsed 30 stolen bases in a season, nor did he come close to scoring 100 runs in a year. While he was not a liability, he was hardly the regular jolt of electricity Texas hoped for at the top of the batting order.
Like Martin, DeShields failed to take full advantage of his opportunities in center field and therefore forced Texas to cut ties. Given his expectations, I consider Delino DeShields a bust.