Texas Rangers: Nomar Mazara Injury Update

Out since July 20th with a strained right thumb, Nomar Mazara should begin a rehab assignment for the Texas Rangers sometime over the next few days.

Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara has been on the disabled list since July 20th with a right thumb strain. As reported by Dallas Sportsday, Mazara could begin a rehab stint as early as Thursday (8/9). The lefty slugger is back to participating in baseball activities. He has been taking batting practice and playing catch. At this point, it’s simply a matter of getting his thumb back to full strength before he returns to the big league club.

With a record of 49-65 and 23 games back from the division lead, the Rangers are not rushing Mazara back. They’ll wait for him to be 100% healthy so he can finish the year strong.

In the 91 games Mazara has played this season, he is hitting .272 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. Even with missing the past 19 games, he ranks third on the team in home runs and second in RBI. The Texas Rangers season may be lost; however, time missed by the 23-year-old phenom has very much disrupted a potential career year. Then again, Mazara’s career spans only three years to this point. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to put previous years’ numbers to shame as his career lengthens.

The good news is the Rangers aren’t exactly struggling without Mazara. In his absence, the team has gone 9-9 and the offense in particular has averaged 6.5 runs per game. In addition, Texas has indulged in an extended look at #2 prospect Willie Calhoun in left field. Calhoun was called up to take Mazara’s roster spot once he hit the DL. Also with Mazara out, Joey Gallo has proved he can play a quality right field.

Unfortunately and fortunately, that is kind of how the season has gone for the Rangers…great players have gotten hurt, but the players assigned to replace the ones injured have truly done an excellent job.

We’ve finally seen Jurickson Profar spread his wings thanks to consistent playing time. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has not let management send him down ever since being called up at the beginning of the year. And now Willie Calhoun has given us a taste of his talent at the big league level. As long as the injured players come back and return to form, all is good.

The team is without a doubt better when Nomar Mazara is penciled into the lineup. Hopefully he will return within the next 7-10 days. Management will certainly have some positioning decisions to make once he does come back; though, those decisions will be welcomed on account of having a great hitter once again in the lineup on an everyday basis.