List of Texas Rangers Injuries Grows

The Texas Rangers announced Wednesday that Shin-Soo Choo would be added to the DL. The team also announced that Prince Fielder was added to the DL as well. Both players were expected to have major roles in leading the Rangers offense this year. Unfortunately, they have done just the opposite.

Fielder and Choo Injured

Fielder’s injury is like the injury that caused him to have surgery, and miss most of the 2014 season. According to T.R. Sullivan, Fielder will be seeking a second opinion on Friday. Sullivan also quoted Jon Daniels as saying, “He told others he has been trying to fight through it, I don’t know how long. If he has the surgery, I expect him to be out for the year. We’ll see what happens Friday.”

The Rangers planned on Fielder to play a huge role in a potent Rangers offense this year. Unfortunately, for the Rangers he has done much of the opposite. It has been quite obvious that Fielder has been struggling this season. His numbers have taken a huge dip, and are even lower than his numbers from the 2014 season. Fielder is currently signed through the 2020 season. The Rangers can only hope now that if he doesn’t need surgery he can rest, and come back healthy for a playoff run. Yet, if he does have the surgery the Rangers will have to wait until next season to see how he will bounce back.

Shin-Soo Choo is making his third stint to the DL. After battling a couple of nagging leg injuries earlier in the season. Choo is now battling lower back inflammation. Choo has been underwhelming this season. He has only played in thirty-three games this season because of his injuries. Choo is also signed through the 2020 season. The team expects him to be back after a short 15-day stay on the DL. The only question after that will be can he stay off the DL.

The Rangers have called up Hanser Alberto and Delino DeShields. Both players have big league experience. Fans can expect them to be able to play their role filling in for the injured players. Even though the Rangers called up them both it is unlikely they will receive significant playing time. DeShields will join an outfield that is already loaded with Ryan Rua, Nomar Mazara, and Ian Desmond. Whereas, Alberto will fill in as a bench player just to fill a roster spot.

There are also some winners and losers with the injury news out of Arlington, Texas on Wednesday. Jurickson Profar benefited the most out of Fielder’s possible season ending injury. Profar will now move into a role as an everyday player. He will get most of Fielder’s at bats, and a full load at first-base where he has shined this season. Another player that benefited with the news was Joey Gallo. He now moves in the number one slot as a player to be dealt at the trade deadline. This could allow him to finally get a legitimate shot at the big leagues.

The losers from the Fielder injury are all the teams that were going to make a run at Profar. Daniels has stated that he is not going to change the organization’s trade deadline plans. Profar is off the market plain and simple. I would be surprised to see him go. Daniels had to say something to the press in an attempt to show losing Prince did not rattle the team.

Losing Fielder and Choo, isn’t as big of a deal as it could have been five years ago. It is still yet another bump in what has been a tumultuous drop in the standings over the last month. The Rangers are looking for answers anyway they can right now. With any luck, Daniels will be able to swing a deadline deal that will shock everyone. Fans are still hoping the Rangers can turn the season back around.

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