Texas Rangers: Is Nomar Mazara the franchise’s next perennial All-Star?

Texas Rangers Nomar Mazara is making his case for the 2018 All-Star team. Whether he makes it this year or not, it’s only a matter of time before he makes the All-Star team year after year after year…

2018 MLB All-Star voting comes to an end tomorrow night. The Texas Rangers will have at least one player make it, though, at this point that player is unknown. The Rangers that have the greatest chance to make the Midsummer Classic include Nomar Mazara, Shin-Soo Choo, Adrian Beltre and Keone Kela.

Even if he can’t earn a roster spot this year, you’d have to expect Nomar Mazara to be an American League All-Star by next year at the latest. The 23-year-old has quickly become one of the league’s most consistent hitters. Among AL outfielders, he ranks 12th in batting average (.278), 10th in home runs (15), 5th in RBI (55), and 15th in OPS (.812). To rank that highly across the board in an incredibly talented outfield pool is remarkable, especially at the age of 23.

Whenever Mazara does make his first All-Star appearance, the thought from that point will be how many more appearances will he make? He has the potential to be the Texas Rangers next perennial All-Star. And when I say perennial, I’m referring to historic Rangers like Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.

Hamilton made five consecutive All-Star games as a Ranger (2008-2012). In fact, he was an All-Star each season he played with the Rangers prior to going to the Los Angeles Angels. Hamilton did not make his first All-Star team until the age of 27.

Michael Young strung together six consecutive American League All-Star appearances with the Texas Rangers (2004-2009). His final appearance came in 2011 when he was named the All-Star game MVP in Pittsburgh.

The man to beat, however, is Pudge Rodriguez. Incredibly, Pudge was selected to 10 All-Star games while with the Rangers. His selections were consecutive from 1992 to 2001. He was an All-Star in 10 of his 12 seasons with Texas. Rodriguez holds the record for most Texas Rangers All-Star selections. Young ranks second and Hamilton third.

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Mazara has a long ways to go as he has yet to be selected. But every legendary Texas Ranger started at zero. Nomar Mazara, aka “The Big Chill”, has yet to truly make his presence known MLB-wide. He plays for a mid-market team that is playing below par baseball in 2018. Plus, his type of play wouldn’t necessarily be described as flashy. He goes about his business in a calm, collected way, and he lets his play do the talking.

Much sooner than later, all of Major League Baseball will awaken to Nomar Mazara’s monster power and his cannon of an arm. Frankly, it might take an All-Star appearance for MLB and its fans to take notice.

Mazara has been an absolute joy to watch play for the Texas Rangers. He is the Rangers player with the highest ceiling, he is the future face of the franchise, and he is the franchise’s next best shot at a perennial All-Star.

Next: Texas Rangers Trade Feature: Cole Hamels

Vote Nomar Mazara! Let’s get his streak of All-Star appearances started this year instead of next year.