The Texas Rangers are in first place in the American League West with the fourth-best baseball record. Their 653 runs scored and +170.0 run differential are more than anyone this year. Usually, that by itself wouldn’t be anything special. What makes it all so intriguing is the amount of injuries this team has dealt with.
Jacob deGrom is out for the season following Tommy John surgery. Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Seager, Jonah Heim, and Josh Jung all have or will miss significant time this season. Jung injured his thumb most recently during what looked like a routine play. He left the game shortly afterwards. It was later announced that the third baseman would miss the next six weeks due to a broken thumb. Despite the injuries, the Rangers aren’t slowing down, as they’ve won a season-best seven games in a row. They are 21 games over .500, including a three-game lead over the Houston Astros. This year, something feels different.
Rangers Young Talent Filling In The Gaps
Texas is one of those teams that does a great job of building from the inside. The Rangers have a history of drafting and developing young talent, which is why their current depth. Add that with a few successful offseason additions, and the hiring of Bruce Bochy added to the hope that this year could be better than previous ones. Acquiring Max Scherzer, Chris Stratton, and Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline has given the team more stability with their pitching. Both were acquired to be difference-makers. On top of the new additions, the younger position players have also stepped up.
Sam Huff has seen plenty of playing time this year as he’s contributed in times of need. Huff started at catcher against the Chicago White Sox on August 3. He recorded hits in his first three plate appearances in his best season game. He’s been on multiple short stints in the majors this season. Huff and Mitch Garver are splitting catching duties with Heim on the injured list. The Rangers will call up Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Round Rock. He will take the roster spot of Jung. It marks the Major League debut for the 23-year-old. He’s displayed good on-base numbers with his .250/.360/.348 slash line over 398 plate appearances.
What Does The Rest of the Season Look Like
With less than two months to go, the team looks poised to go the distance. There is still a lot of baseball to be played. Only one series with their home-state rivals remains. Texas will catch a break by playing the Oakland Athletics, the worst team in baseball. The San Francisco Giants, however, are only four games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first in the NL West.
The Rangers have 13 teams remaining on the schedule with a combined winning percentage of .490, the ninth-easiest schedule in baseball. However, their final ten games are all against the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners. They must do their best against those teams who are on the outside looking in of the AL Wild Card. The Angels and Mariners could have something to play for at that point. Still, the depth of this team ensures that Rangers fans have plenty of reason to be excited after years of mediocre baseball.
Photo Credit: © Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Players/managers Mentioned:
Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Seager, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung, Bruce Bochy, Max Scherzer, Chris Stratton, Jordan Montgomery, Sam Huff, Mitch Garver, Jonathan Ornelas
