What can the Texas Rangers expect from Leody Taveras?

Taveras provides game-changing speed for the Texas Rangers.

Let’s be real, Leody Taveras’ speed is off the charts good.

When looking at his projections on the 20-80 grading scale, MLB.com has him listed at a 60.

Doesn’t seem great, right? Wrong.

According to Baseball Savant, Taveras actually ranks within the 96th percentile of all baserunners in the major leagues.

Now do you believe the speed?

For good measure, he also ranked 22nd among all active major leaguers in sprint speed with a recorded 29.1 feet per second average.

One prime example of Taveras’ speed coming into play was on September 16, when the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were tied at zero heading into the ninth inning.

Not only did Kyle Gibson throw a complete game shutout, but Taveras ripped a ball down the first base line that was bobbled by Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel.

Gurriel was maybe four feet off of first base when he mishandled the ball, but Taveras’ speed forced him to misjudge the play and he reached base.

That miscue by Gurriel won the Rangers the game when Joey Gallo doubled Taveras in two batters later.

That is the game-changing speed the Rangers need at the top of the order, and the spacious Globe Life Field outfield.