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Texas Rangers: Three players who could be first-time All-Stars

By Eric Treuden

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 29: Brock Burke #46 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on April 29, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 29: Brock Burke #46 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on April 29, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Here are three Texas Rangers players who could be first time All-Star Game selections.

Heading into the 2022 regular season, the Texas Rangers had higher expectations than most teams around the league.

After signing both Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to massive contracts, the club appeared to be setting itself up for contention in the very near future. Here we are, just about two months into the season, and the Rangers are in third place in the AL West, seven games back from the Astros already.

With Semien struggling big time and Seager and other newcomer Kole Calhoun doing everything they can to carry the offense, it’s the pitching that has really stepped up for this Rangers team.

With that being said, Calhoun is the likeliest position player to earn his first career All-Star Game selection … but I don’t think he will get the call. Instead, I believe it will be three pitchers on this Rangers staff who will get serious looks.

Who could be a first-time All-Star this season for the Texas Rangers?

#1 – RHP Joe Barlow (closer)

Joe Barlow is in his second full season at the major league level and has continued his dominance from last season and been step-for-step as good as he was in 2021.

Through 16 games this year, Barlow has earned eight saves and has struck out 17 batters in 16 innings. He has also only allowed five batters and surrendered just two home runs.

After beginning this season with a few rough outings and an ERA that got as high as 6.00, Barlow had a stretch of games between April 16 and May 25 in which he did not allow a single earned run and only allowed two hits during that span.

The 26-year-old righty has a repertoire consisting of three pitches; a four-seam fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s (thrown around 33% of the time), a wipeout slider that sits around 87-90 mph (thrown 55 of the time) and a low-80s changeup (thrown around 12% of the time). He is a power pitcher who effectively limits baserunners and the long ball. He could easily earn a spot on the AL All-Star team this year if he keeps this pace up.

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