This surprise player could be the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day DH

With recent injuries to Khris Davis and Willie Calhoun, this player has impressed enough to force his way onto the Opening Day roster and starting DH spot.

Chris Woodward has time-and-time again hammered the idea of a competitive camp throughout Texas Rangers‘ spring training.

We’ve seen the first base, third base and center field competitions in full swing, but no one could have predicted we’d have a vacancy at the designated hitter spot.

With Willie Calhoun dealing with a groin injury and Khris Davis out three to four weeks with a quad issue, the Rangers have to find someone to fill the DH hole in the lineup.

You could argue that whoever isn’t starting at first should take the primary DH at-bats, but both Ronald Guzman and Nate Lowe bat left-handed in an already lefty heavy lineup.

Andy Ibáñez has made his case this spring that he should take some of those at-bats, but would the Rangers be willing to take on a struggling defensive player to get more offense?

Jason Martin was having a really nice spring, but was assigned to minor league camp on Wednesday.

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Without throwing another lefty in the lineup, the Texas Rangers should turn to a player that they recently DFA’d.

Adolis Garcia, a big-time right-handed power bat, has had an incredible spring for the Texas Rangers, but has largely flown under the radar because of the competitions and injury struggles.

The brother of former Atlanta Brave third-baseman Adonis Garcia, Adolis was traded to the Rangers from the Cardinals before the 2020 season.

The St. Louis Cardinals had high hopes for Garcia, who was a .266 career minor league hitter with 69 homers to boot.

They had seen enough of Adolis Garcia and designated him for assignment on December 18, 2019. He was a Texas Rangers three days later.

However, after struggling in 2020, the Texas Rangers DFA’d Garcia to make room for Mike Foltynewicz earlier this spring.

Adolis Garcia came into camp as a man on a mission, looking to find his way back to the big leagues some way, somehow.

While at the beginning of spring, he was blocked in the outfield and at the DH spot by the likes of Willie Calhoun and Khris Davis, but as spring injuries popped up, his path to the bigs became much clearer.

Calhoun is slated to start the season on the IL with a groin injury, and won’t be rushed back into lineup. Davis hurt his quad bunting just a few days ago. He is slated to miss almost a month.

So, with a glaring hole in the lineup, Garcia’s case has been made known.

https://twitter.com/aplinckTX/status/1374476022008012807?s=20

Adolis Garcia needs to make the Texas Rangers Opening Day roster

In spring, Garcia has torn the cover off the baseball, hitting .421 with eight hits, two homers and 11 RBIs.

He’s as hot as anyone, if not hotter, in Texas Rangers’ camp and has certainly earned a role on the Opening Day roster, if given the chance.

He has been assigned to minor league camp for now, but with the given injuries, could earn his spot back with just under a week left this spring.

Garcia’s bat, if he stays this hot, could slot nicely behind Joey Gallo, batting cleanup and giving the Rangers’ best power bat plenty of protection.

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The only concern so far with Garcia throughout his career is his inability to consistently put the ball in play.

Over 24 career major league at-bats, Garcia has struck out 11 times. That’s right under 50% of his at-bats ending in strikeouts.

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However, in 19 at-bats this spring, he has only struck out six times.

Yes, that is still above 30% of his at-bats, but look at his power numbers and on-base percentage.

He has eight hits this spring, three doubles, two homers and one walk.

His .421 average is impressive, but a .409 OBP has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Garcia has a career minor league on-base percentage of .308, a full 100 points less than this spring.

It’s definitely a good sight to see if you’re the Texas Rangers.

With spring training’s end right around the corner, Adolis Garcia has done everything in his power to earn a spot on the Rangers’ Opening Day roster.

With the lack of right-handed power in their lineup, Garcia balances the lineup and could provide good protection for Joey Gallo early in the season, until Calhoun and Davis are healthy.

I never expected Adolis Garcia to pop off like he did this spring, but he did and I look forward to hearing his name called on Opening Day.