Texas Rangers: Three players who could be first-time All-Stars
By Eric Treuden
#1 – LHP Martín Perez (starting pitcher)
You likely don’t need me to tell you this, but I will anyway: Martín Pérez is going to be an All-Star this year for the first time in his 11-year career.
Pérez, 31, is in his first season back in a Rangers uniform after spending 2012-2018 with the club. After some short and uninspiring stints with the Twins and Red Sox, he is back in Texas and is looking better than ever.
Through nine starts this year, Pérez leads the major leagues in ERA (1.60), ERA+ (243), and HR/9 (0.0). Yes, you read that right. In 56+ innings in 2022, Pérez has not allowed a single home run (through Memorial Day action). He is also one of just seven pitchers to have thrown a complete game so far this season with his dominant shutout of the Houston Astros back on the 20th of May.
Meanwhile, Martín Pérez is just crafting another gem. He's not a different pitcher; my sense is he's a different person. You can sense the peace of mind/conviction/confidence he has.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) May 27, 2022
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In the past, Pérez has shown occasional glimpses of promise with the Rangers, having put up some strong seasons on the mound with the club in 2013 (where he finished sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting), 2016 and 2017. This version of Pérez is a whole new pitcher and he is all but guaranteed to be a representative of the Texas Rangers in this year’s All-Star Game.