Texas Rangers: Recapping Cole Hamels’ 2017 season

Cole Hamels 2017 was quite a surprise. No doubt, the Texas Rangers are very surprised with how 2017 for Hamels. However, it’s safe to say it sort of went similar to 2016. In Hamels’ case, 2017 wasn’t very good. His future in Arlington is certainly a mystery at this point.

Hamels was on a mission this season. A mission to bounce back from his dreadful collapse last season and to prove to the Texas Rangers that he still has it. Hamels is not the same pitcher he was during his days in Philadelphia. He may be past his prime now. It’s even being suggested that he’s no longer an ace.

Hamels, 33, has pitched 2 and a half seasons in a Rangers uniform. While the Rangers have seen him do well in the regular season, he’s yet to win a playoff game for Texas.

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At the end of April, Hamels was 2-0 in five starts. In early May, Hamels found himself on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right oblique muscle, forcing to miss nearly two months. Upon his return, he picked up right where he left off.

By the time August had gone by, Hamels was 9-2. He would go 2-4 for the remainder of the year, finishing 11-6. Much like last year, Hamels sunk a little at the end of the year. He finished this season 11-6, striking out 105 batters, and with a 4.20 ERA.

The Rangers, unfortunately, missed the playoffs, so Hamels was fortunate enough to not have to worry about another bad playoff outing. However, it’d have been great to see Hamels attempt to rectify his 2016 playoff bout against Toronto that didn’t go well.

Hamels will be 34 when Spring Training begins next year. There’s no telling whether or not he’ll be traded. At the moment, anything can happen. If Texas decides to keep him for 2018, the best thing to do is hope he has a strong Spring and pitches well and stays healthy.