Just one year ago, the Texas Rangers were an afterthought, ending the season with a 68-94 record. They also ranked 19th in team OPS and 21st in team ERA out of 30 teams in 2022. But the team has completely turned a new leaf this season. Texas currently sits at 39-20 and is in first place in the AL West. What has changed between last season and this season? And more importantly, are the Texas Rangers actually for real?
The Rangers hit rock bottom in 2021, losing over 100 games and finishing last in their division. But worst of all, they were five years into a rebuild with no sign of relevance, so General Manager Chris Young knew that he had to make some extensive changes if the team wanted to compete anytime soon. Changes certainly were made. On November 28th, Young signed shortstop Marcus Semien to a 7-year, 179 million-dollar contract. Singing a player that has only recorded one superstar-caliber season for seven years is a risk, but it's a risk that Young was willing to take to get his team back into contention. Just a few days later, Corey Seager was signed by the Rangers for a 10-year deal. Seager is a generational talent and a World Series MVP. These two singings were a step in the right direction, but they weren't done yet, as the Rangers also signed Jon Gray, a starter from the Rockies. There were still plenty of roster holes, but the excitement was starting to build for this team going into the 2022 season.
However, the Rangers flopped in the 2022 season, ending the season with only four more wins than the season prior. Pitching was the main issue for the lackluster season since the team still had little depth in that category. They didn't have enough quality pitchers, especially starters. Jon Gray and Martin Perez were the only bright spots in an otherwise subpar pitching staff. Since pitching was the main focus of improvement, Young got right to work in the offseason, signing starters Andrew Heany, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jacob Degrom. Degrom, when healthy, was a force to be reckoned with on the mound. One of the best flamethrowing pitchers in the game and is also one of the most efficient. Eovaldi and Heany are solid starters as well. The starting rotation was looking much better going into the 2023 season, which is why many thought they would improve this season. But I don't think anyone thought that they would be this good.
The Rangers have the second-best win-loss record in the MLB and have won two-thirds of their games. But what is even more surprising about this Ranger renaissance is that the offense has been the main contributor. The lineup has stayed mostly the same from the 2022 season, but many players have taken their play to another level. Semien has had a career year thus far, ranking top ten for second basemen in nearly every offensive category. Seager has started this extremely hot, with a batting average of .336. He has also transitioned into much more of a contact hitter this season from his previous home run derby caliber seasons. Another key cornerstone in the lineup is Jonah Heim. Heim was merely a backup catcher in his rookie 2022 season, but this year, he's proven himself to be a consistent starter. He's been seeing it like a beachball, as his .316 batting average doesn't lie. The right fielder, Adolis Garcia, has been all-around exceptional at the plate, hitting 15 home runs and ranking 2nd in the league in RBI with 52. The Rangers have arguably the best offense in the game. Now let's take a look at the pitching:
When Jacob Degrom announced that he would be playing for the team, there was some concern about his injury history. Those concerns proved valid, as he ended his season with an elbow injury that will need Tommy John surgery, but Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Martin Perez, and Andrew Heaney have all been solid starters. Even without Degrom, the pitching staff has been of high quality to give the offense a chance of winning.
Now to answer the more important question, "Are the Rangers for real?" While it is still early into the season, this team has shown plenty of promise. They have been able to keep the train rolling without their ace. They also hold the MLB's best point differential, with a staggering 132 differential. It also shouldn't be forgotten that the Rangers rank 1st in a division with the defending champion Astros and the Mariners, who made the playoffs in the season prior. The Astros usually don't hit their stride until later into the season, so a Rangers division win isn't guaranteed. To conclude, the Texas Rangers are definitely for real.
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