Texas Rangers: 3 Players That Have Overachieved This Season

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It’s early in the season, but some Rangers players have been playing fantastic despite the not ideal start to the year. These three players deserve recognition for their play this season.

Now, before I reveal the three players, let’s breakdown how the Texas Rangers season as gone thus far. As of today, May 13 they currently sit at 17-20 and in 4th place in the American League West. Not a great start, but still time to turn it around.

Lately, the Rangers have been hot with miracle come backs right and left. It’s been absolutely amazing to watch, but it can’t last forever. Eventually this team will come back down to Earth, and they will need their bullpen to stay consistent.

The bullpen has been one of the main reasons for why the Rangers have 20 losses this season. Currently the Rangers are 4 of 12 in save opportunities, and rank 29th in total saves. Only the Miami Marlins with three saves have less this season.

Former closer Sam Dyson has been horrendous with a record of 1-4 with a 11.57 ERA in 12 games with 20 earned runs. Starter A.J. Griffin has less earned runs given up than Dyson this season.

The lack of consistently from Dyson has put the Rangers in a hole, but Jeremy Jeffress and Keone Kela’s 4 ERAs have’t helped anything. The bullpen has been better as a late, but will be a main factor in how the Rangers finish this season.

Lastly, the hitting has struggled for the most part, but there is hope. Players like Jonathan Lucroy and Shin-Soo Choo are beginning to find their groove. It’s a talent roster, but they haven’t performed up to standards just yet.

Joey Gallo

It’s been unbelievable to watch the Joey Gallo era unfold this season. He was promoted due to the Adrian Beltre injury and was expected to be up on the MLB roster for a week or two. Well, it’s been a month and a half and he’s still here.

This season Gallo is hitting .203 with a team leading 12 home runs and 27 RBI in 37 games. He’s walked 16 times this season which is the second most on the team, behind Shin-Soo Choo. Gallo has improved greatly, but still has more room to grow.

Well, the scouting report was right about Gallo. His power is legit and can blast balls well over 400 feet with ease. The strikeout rate is real too, as Gallo has a league leading 54 strikeouts this season.

The former 1st round pick has exceeded the Rangers expectations this season. He’s become a fierce power bat in the middle of the Texas lineup. The team hopes with more experience his strikeout rate will lower, but for now they will gladly take the power numbers.

The Rangers need to acknowledge that Gallo may never become a “superstar” player, but he can still be a productive bat in their lineup. The tremendous power gives the Rangers a feared hitter they can plug into the lineup everyday.

He still has more growing and learning to do, but 23-year-old has been a bright spot for the Rangers this season.

A.J. Griffin

No one, not even the Rangers expected starter A.J. Griffin to be this untouchable. He’s been pitching like an ace this season, and it’s given the Rangers a big boost. The team lost Cole Hamels for at least two months, but Griffin has stepped up in his place.

Through five starts Griffin is 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA with 27 strikeouts and has allowed just eight earned runs. Only Andrew Cashner has a better starter ERA this season with a 2.43, but this lack of command is what knocked him off this list.

This season Griffin looks like a new man, and usually after having Tommy John surgery your performances goes downhill. Well, for some incredible reason Griffin has gotten much better since his elbow surgery.

The biggest problem for Griffin through his career has been the home run ball. He allowed a league leading 36 home runs in 2013, but has pitched much better since then. Through his five starts this season, Griffin has allowed just four home runs.

His ability to keep the ball in the park will be the biggest factor to his success. If Griffin can continue to limit the home run ball then the Rangers could be looking at a three-headed ace once Hamels returns from the disabled list.

Matt Bush

It’s been a small sample size, but relief pitcher Matt Bush has stepped up and locked down a late inning role in Arlington. The horrendous performances by Sam Dyson early in the season forced the Rangers to make a move.

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Entering the 2017 season, Bush had just one career save, but he’s beginning to settle into the role. This season Bush has converted two of his three save opportunities and can hopefully give the Rangers a reliable closer to count on.

Every successful team needs a lock down closer in the 9th inning, and the Rangers hope Bush can be the guy. Last season was his rookie campaign, and he surprised the organization with his lights out stuff.

He finished the season 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA and one save with 61 strikeouts. The 2017 campaign has been even better posting a 1.54 ERA in 11 games with 16 strikeouts. It’s hard to imagine Bush becoming a “superstar” closer like Wade Davis, but the Rangers just need him to be consistent.

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Through his first 11 appearances, batters are hitting just .186 off Bush this season. That is the fourth lowest on the team, and he could just keep getting better. The 31-year-old has taken to the 9th inning role, and the Rangers hope that trend continues.

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