Texas Rangers: Top Prospect Leody Taveras Recalled, Starts Against A’s

On Monday the Texas Rangers made the move to recall their top OF prospect Leody Taveras with the center fielder set to lead off against Oakland.

The Texas Rangers hinted at a youth movement over the coming days with the club looking to evaluate their top young players over a longer period of time. Once they returned from a quick road trip out west, the club doubled-down on the stance by recalling their top outfield prospect, Leody Taveras. The center fielder made his big league debut on Opening Day as a defensive change late in a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rockies but is now set to get a long-term look in the team’s lineup.

Taveras was immediately inserted into the leadoff spot for the Rangers on Monday night as they open up a four game series against the AL West leading Oakland A’s. The Texas Rangers are in desperate need of a spark as they toil in the midst of an eight-game losing streak that has seen them fall out of a playoff spot and to a 10-17 record. The club will hope Taveras, considered the #3 prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline, can help provide some of that spark starting Monday.

The lineup as a whole for Monday’s contest is quite different that the one many would’ve expected at the start of the season.

The outfield is minus Joey Gallo as he gets a day off which means a trio of Nick Solak, Leody Taveras and Scott Heineman will patrol the outfield grass at Globe Life Field on Monday night. Behind the plate is Jose Trevino who is pushing to become a big league regular while Isiah Kiner-Falefa continues to fill in at shortstop with Elvis Andrus on the 10-day IL.

Robinson Chirinos returns from the IL today and will look to get his season back on track after a rough start to the year for the veteran backstop. He starts at DH tonight with a left-hander on the mound for Oakland.

To bring up Taveras and activate Robinson Chirinos the Rangers had to make a couple of corresponding moves. Reliever Jesse Chavez was placed on the 10-day IL with a left big toe sprain per John Blake while utility-man Rob Refsnyder was designated for assignment. Refsnyder opened the season with Texas with hopes he could help fill the void on the bench left by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Danny Santana who have both secured everyday roles in the lineup.