Texas Rangers: Which key pieces can settle the search for offense?
By Travis Koch
The Texas Rangers offense is off to a rough start to a short season. Which bats need to step up to ensure a quick turnaround?
Globe Life Field shined brightly throughout MLB’s opening weekend, though the hosts did not. Losers of two of three to the Colorado Rockies, the Texas Rangers scored only five runs over 27 innings. They amassed few scoring threats and had just one player cross home plate via home run – that being Joey Gallo, unsurprisingly.
Such a poor offensive start raises concerns, especially when the struggles came against a Rockies’ staff that ranked 29th in ERA a year ago.
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The hope is the Rangers need to knock off the rust from an extra-long layoff. And perhaps they’re not yet fully acclimated to their new park, which is vaster and therefore less auspicious to offensive success.
The fear, on the other hand, is that their coalesce of bats just isn’t as talented or capable as years past.
How does the Texas Rangers offense come together?
First and foremost, who are the guarantees? Looking around the division, the Angels have Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, the Athletics have Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien, and the Astros have George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Michael Brantley. Those teams know they will get strong seasons from those players.
Who can the Rangers rely on wholeheartedly for a strong season? Likely Joey Gallo, but a lack of protection in the lineup and the pressure of carrying an offense could complicate his natural ability.
Surrounding him are players who are either past their prime or still trying to get a feel for the big leagues.
31-year-old Elvis Andrus remains in his prime. He put some good swings on the ball despite not seeing many positive results in the opening series. The Rangers desperately need a proficient run-scoring, high-OBP season from him, much like his robust first half of 2019. What they cannot have is a repeat of his feeble second half, in which he hit .242 with a .283 OBP.
Shin-Soo Choo and Todd Frazier can provide stability through veteran at-bats and splashes of power. It’s far-fetched, however, to claim either as a standout hitter at this stage in their careers.
The Texas Rangers offense needs two things: (1) maintained success from Danny Santana and (2) breakout performances from a pair of up-and-comers.