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Texas Rangers: Make or break year for these three players

By Travis Koch |
GOODYEAR, AZ - MARCH 02: Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers delivers a first inning pitch against the Cleveland Indians during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 2, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, AZ - MARCH 02: Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers delivers a first inning pitch against the Cleveland Indians during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 2, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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A number of Texas Rangers will be fighting hard for a roster spot this spring. At least three of them are running out of chances to prove worthy of one.

The offseason is an encouraging time for all major league baseball players. It’s a time of optimism and isolated improvement. No slumps, negative statistics, or pressure to bog anyone down. Some players, however, must approach their offseason more urgently than others. Those are the players at risk of a bench role or being sent to the minor leagues once spring training is a wrap.

For the 2019 Texas Rangers, three players are running out of time to prove their value to the team. If they can’t make strides in the coming months, the organization may lose faith, taking each player out of favor down the line.

We’re looking at a four-year big leaguer, the #1 organizational prospect from 2016, and the #2 prospect from last offseason. It may seem odd to deem 2019 a make or break year for such young players, but the Rangers– a team looking to return to relevance by 2020–can’t wait around forever for these guys to tap into their potential.

Let’s detail each player…

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers stands on the field after he lines out with a runner on base to end the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers stands on the field after he lines out with a runner on base to end the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Delino DeShields

Last season was not a good one for DeShields. He’s the fastest player on the team, yet he reached base only 31% of the time and scored only 52 runs. His struggles at the plate held him to only 20 stolen bases as well.

DeShields’ game-changing speed will always intrigue coaching staffs. But the weapon doesn’t do him much good if he can’t reach base.

The 26-year-old is expected to compete with another 26-year-old for the starting center field role in 2019. Texas’ #24 prospect, Scott Heineman, will enter camp with much anticipation from Texas Rangers’ nation. He performed in stellar fashion at Triple-A a season ago, slashing .295/.355/.429 with 11 home runs and 20 doubles.

With DeShields taking a giant step back last season, his fourth with the big league club, it may be time for some new blood in center field. If not Heineman, perhaps someone else. Texas is reportedly showing interest in free agent Adam Jones, so that’s a possibility to monitor as well.

Even if Delino wins the job out of spring training, that doesn’t designate him the full-time center fielder. His play will be under a microscope; the Rangers won’t be afraid to replace him if he’s not performing.

Plus, competition will only get steeper. At some point over the next two seasons, top prospect Leody Taveras will be making his debut in CF for the Texas Rangers. Therefore, the time is now for Delino DeShields to prove his worth to the team. Any indications of his 2018 season will have him on the pine.

ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 25: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 25, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 25: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 25, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Willie Calhoun

236 games at Triple-A and 48 in MLB the past two years and Calhoun is still on the outside, looking in. He’s limited defensively, and it just so happens the positions he can play are held down by Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara and Shin-Soo Choo.

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He’s certainly a victim of circumstance; however, he’s done very little to help his own case. Calhoun has been playing out of shape, he has not performed at the plate, and he’s even been benched for not hustling. Essentially, everything the Texas Rangers want to see from an emerging young talent, Willie Calhoun has not put on display.

With additional, and perhaps superior talent trekking through the minors, Calhoun’s Texas Rangers window is shrinking rather quickly. If he wants to finally stay on the big league scene, he better step on the gas pedal early this spring and not let off.

Given the talent ahead of and behind the 24-year-old, it’s going to take high-level productivity from him to receive consistent playing time this season and seasons to come. Thus, if Calhoun does not perform at a high level, he may begin to trickle down the Rangers’ list of major league candidates.

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 05: Relief pitcher Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning at Safeco Field on September 5, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 05: Relief pitcher Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning at Safeco Field on September 5, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Yohander Mendez

As hinted in the opening, Mendez was deemed the Texas Rangers’ #1 prospect just three seasons ago. He was a talented left-handed pitching prospect whom Texas foresaw contributing greatly towards the top of the rotation for years to come.

Today, the Rangers aren’t exactly sure what his ceiling is. Mendez has not progressed at the rate the organization hoped he would, as evidenced by his 6.28 ERA over 43 innings in three separate big league stints.

He seemed to have taken a step forward at the end of the 2018 season. Though, even in his quality outings, he struggled to log innings. In fact, Mendez pitched more than five innings in only one of his eight outings a season ago.

23 years old, the lefty is still very young. Surely he’ll have a number of chances this year to prove worthy of a role on the Texas staff. But the Rangers MUST see progress. Mendez is projecting as somewhat of a Martin Perez at the moment. He doesn’t quite have the power arm that Perez has, but he’s struggling in the area of command like Perez was. And where is Martin Perez now? Not with the Texas Rangers.

Next. Rangers expressing interest in reliever, Adam Ottavino. dark

There’s a ton of pitching talent headed upward in the minor leagues. It’d be great for Yohander Mendez if he took advantage of his head start by solidifying a role on the major league squad before many of the prospect arms get their opportunities to.

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