Texas Rangers reveal their future plans; is 2022 the new benchmark?

This has been a telling week for the Texas Rangers. Given what we’ve learned about their future plans, is 2022 the year to anticipate?

The Texas Rangers used this week to tip their hand on their future plans. Despite not dealing nine-year veteran Lance Lynn at the trade deadline, they did swap experience for youth by trading Mike Minor, Todd Frazier, and Robinson Chirinos for prospects. Also, General Manager Jon Daniels stated in a radio interview with 105.3 The Fan his expectation that next season’s payroll will be lower than 2020’s.

What do these occurrences tell us?

The Rangers intend to take a full-on organic approach, relying on homegrown talent and prospect acquisitions to illuminate a new path to success. Such a strategy may scream “REBUILD,” though that’s not entirely what it is.

Texas has been rebuilding since they dealt Yu Darvish to the Dodgers in exchange for Willie Calhoun and A.J. Alexy. That was in 2017. In the following years, the Rangers traded Cole Hamels, Keone Kela, Jake Diekman, Jurickson Profar, Chris Martin, Nomar Mazara, and Pete Fairbanks – all for prospects. They’ve signed a few established players along the way, but only at team-friendly prices.

Players from those trades are beginning to show for the Rangers. Nick Solak, acquired for Fairbanks, is playing every day, and currently leads the team in OBP and total bases. Eli White, acquired for Profar, made his major league debut on Tuesday. Taylor Hearn, who came over as part of the Kela trade, has tossed eight innings out of the bullpen. And Kolby Allard, acquired for Martin, has pitched well since taking over for an injured Corey Kluber.

Regarding homegrown talent, Leody Taveras, Jonathan Hernandez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jose Trevino, and Anderson Tejeda have impressed in varied opportunities for the Texas Rangers this season.

There are plenty more prospects on the way, as most of Texas’ gaudy youth remain in the developmental stages.

Josh Jung, the Rangers’ 1st round draft pick in 2019 and current top prospect, should join the club by 2022. Jung hasn’t yet made it past Single-A; however, he projects as a quick call up given his already-refined skillset.

The organization’s #2 prospect, Sam Huff, should arrive in the major leagues by 2022 as well. The 22-year-old catcher demolished two levels of A-ball last season, tallying 28 home runs and a .845 OPS.

Sherten Apostel is Texas’ next best offensive talent awaiting a call to the big leagues. The 21-year-old ranks as the team’s #10 prospect. He knocked 19 home runs and slugged .470 between Hickory and Down East in 2019.

All three players are currently training at the Texas Rangers’ alternative site. Depending on how deep into the prospect funnel the Rangers want to go over the next month, there’s a possibility Jung, Huff, and Apostel play for the big club this season.

Texas Rangers

Though, this season hails in comparison to the next couple, specifically 2022, when their strategy could come full circle. Imagine the following lineup two years from now:

1. Leody Taveras CF
2. Nick Solak 2B
3. Josh Jung 3B
4. Joey Gallo RF
5. Sam Huff C
6. Sherten Apostel 1B
7. Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
8. Willie Calhoun DH
9. Steele Walker/Anderson Tejeda LF

That’s a remarkably young bunch of bats. Gallo would be the elder at 28 years of age. Five of those players could be starting or continuing their rookie campaigns. Regardless, that would be a thrilling group to watch.

Sure, plenty of growing pains would ensue from a long line of inexperience, and it’s overly-ambitious to believe that lineup would get the Rangers to the playoffs. But that wouldn’t be its purpose, at least not in year one.

Year one would be about building camaraderie and establishing unity. If the team struggles, then it struggles together. If the team thrives, then it thrives together. Expectations would be minimal, which would allow players to play freely and learn without feeling their job is at risk. The Texas Rangers would create a culture of optimism.

From a production standpoint, the Rangers would have a tremendous defense. Taveras would embark on a Gold Glove in center field. His arm, and Gallo’s in right field would scare opponents from taking the extra base. Kiner-Falefa and Jung would make up a rangy, athletic left side of the infield, and Huff would show off his agility and strong arm behind the plate. As the Rangers’ backstop of the future, Huff would also form an early foundation for curating a pitching staff.

Hitting is difficult to predict. While the adjustment curve between the minor leagues and major leagues is severe, the Texas Rangers expect their top prospects’ exceptional tools to prevail.

Possessing pronounced gap-to-gap power and ball-to-barrel capabilities, Josh Jung projects as a pure big league hitter. He should find a home atop the Rangers’ lineup for years to come. Texas is floored by the pop of Sam Huff and Sherten Apostel; Huff’s power rates 60 on the 20-80 grading scale and Apostel’s rates 55. Get ready to witness jaw-dropping exit velocities when they make it to the bigs.

With tremendous speed and a strong command of the strike zone, Taveras projects as a prototypical leadoff hitter. He’s a switch-hitter who has the build to become a 20-20 player.

Add the efficiency of Solak and Kiner-Falefa to the mix, the power and presence of Joey Gallo, and a few other high-potential bats, and the Texas Rangers’ future offense looks quite promising.

The organization will need to remain committed to their plan, about hitting and pitching. Development, frugality, and fit should be their primary concerns for the next two years. Talent is here and on the way. The rebuild is ongoing, but the reset should occur in 2022.