Kevin Kouzmanoff is Filling Big Shoes Nicely

Apr 11, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (6) celebrates after scoring to win the game in the twelfth inning against the Houston Astros at Global Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers beat the Astros 1-0 in extra innings. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Kouzmanoff has been asked to do something that is a very difficult task: replace Adrian Beltre for the next few weeks. It is a job that would be tough for almost anyone, bu so far Kevin Kouzmanoff has been up to the challenge.

Big shoes are right, but Adrian Beltre has not been himself all season, committing 3 errors in just 8 games, something that is not seen from Adrian Beltre very often. Kevin Kouzmanoff has not committed any errors yet in four games, and he is hitting .417 on top of that. I would say that Kouz. is doing a pretty darn good job replacing Adrian Beltre so far.

Beltre is one of the premiere third baseman in the game, so don’t get me wrong about Kevin Kouzmanoff: I don’t want him to replace Adrian all season, but he has been more than adequate up to this point. He is probably not going to hit over .400 for the entire stretch he is in for Beltre, and he may even commit an error or two, but he is the right man for the job. Josh Wilson is also having a pretty decent season for the Texas Rangers, but I really like Kouzmanoff at third and Wilson at second, no offense to Donnie Murphy.

Kevin Kouzmanoff has another ten days or so to fill in for Beltre, and if he can continue at anywhere near the pace he has played so far, then the Texas Rangers are not going to miss much of a beat at all at third base, and even if he falls off at some point in the next ten days, then the Texas Rangers will get Beltre back. My money is on Kevin Kouzmanoff continuing to play lights out at third and at the plate.