Texas Rangers: Four reasons to be excited about THIS SEASON

Jurickson Profar

Profar is doing his best to turn a tragic baseball story into a joyful one. After years of setbacks, it appears the former MLB top prospect finally has staying power with the Texas Rangers. He has been among the top candidates in entertaining Rangers to watch in 2018.

Profar has stepped in for Elvis Andrus and has truly done an excellent job. He has not played shortstop like Andrus, but you can’t expect a guy with a history of shoulder injuries to excel at the game’s toughest position. Profar will likely find himself at second base or left field once Andrus does return.

What has been really great is Jurickson Profar’s offensive performance. He puts forth tough at-bat after tough at-bat, he drives the ball gap to gap from each side of the plate, and he produces. As evidence, Profar has driven in 11 runs in his last 7 games played. Ultimately, it’s players like Profar, Kiner-Falefa and Mazara that keep the Texas Rangers from being among the most unwatchable offenses in baseball. That’s okay for making up a third of the lineup on a nightly basis.

Delino DeShields

DeShields is a tough player to figure. At times, he performs as a prototypical leadoff hitter, consistently hitting the ball on the ground or on a line, swiping bases and scoring runs. Though, there are also times when he looks completely helpless as a leadoff hitter.

The Texas Rangers would love some consistency from DeShields at the top of the lineup. The team certainly scores more runs when he is at his best. DeShields at age 25 has as much to prove as any Ranger over the next few years.

He is under team control through 2021 and he has  a few of the organization’s top prospects in waiting. Prospects that project to be ready for their big league debuts around the 2021-2022 seasons. If DeShields wants to stick around, he’ll need to stay healthy and prove his role as the team’s speedy, high on-base leadoff hitter. Three years should be enough time to prove worthy or unworthy.

Mike Minor

The Texas Rangers signed Mike Minor to a 3-year contract this past offseason. They’ve instilled a lot of faith in him by converting him from a relief pitcher to a starting pitcher. Thus far, Minor has impressed. He has not dominated, but he has stood out as a starter that can hold his own and progress as the season progresses.

Mike Minor’s name has already floated around in trade rumors. He’s still relatively young; therefore, the Rangers could move him for some relevant talent if he does post solid numbers by the trade deadline.

Traded or not, Mike Minor will be an anxious watch for the rest of his time as a Texas Ranger.