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Texas Rangers: One bold prediction for every position player

By Travis Koch

ST PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 16: Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers reacts to hitting a three run home run in the eighth inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 16, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 16: Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers reacts to hitting a three run home run in the eighth inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 16, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 12: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #9 of the Texas Rangers follows through on a seventh inning run scoring ground out against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

IKF makes the All-Star team

This seems crazy at first, but hear me out. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a really nice player. He’s rapidly improving behind the plate and he’s a very reliable hitter. It would not be surprising if he hit .290 in the upcoming campaign.

Sure IKF is a nice player, but is he really All-Star worthy? After all, he’s entering his second season and taking on a whole new defensive challenge.

His stats may not blow people away, and they won’t match those of a typical All-Star representative, but look at his catching competition around the AL.

With Salvador Perez out for the year, there is no clear catcing favorite to make the All-Star team. The backstops that stand out are Gary Sanchez (Yankees), Mike Zunino (Rays), Jonathan Lucroy (Angels) and Welington Castillo (White Sox). Three catchers made the American League All-Star team last year. You’re telling me Kiner-Falefa can’t put forth better numbers than two of the four catchers I just mentioned?

Castillo hit .259 with 6 home runs in 49 games in 2018. Zunino hit .201 with 20 homers last year, Sanchez .186 and 16, and Lucroy .241 and 4. There are of course more than two stats that go into an All-Star selection, but you at least get a feel for the type of seasons those players had.

IKF has a fighting chance. The key will be getting enough starts and ABs behind the plate.

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