Texas Rangers Weekly Report: Injury news piles on in Week 2

Apr 12, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Ronald Guzman (11) reacts after suffering an apparent injury during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Guzman left the game after the play. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Ronald Guzman (11) reacts after suffering an apparent injury during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Guzman left the game after the play. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers had their high and low moments in week 2 of baseball.

The bad news is the Rangers took a hit in the injury column losing a couple of key players for a majority of the season.

However, good news also came to Texas in the form of elite player performances and a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Texas Rangers: Who’s Hot

Taylor Hearn

Hearn looks like he’s starting to heat up some in the second week of the season.  Hearn came in for starter Kyle Gibson and threw 7 strikeouts in 3 innings and allowed only one hit and one run.

That is the kind of pitching we need when the starters get tired. Hopefully, we see more of that for the remainder of the season from him.

Mike Foltynewicz

Foltynewicz’s pitching is so hot right now, I’m surprised he isn’t the Human Torch out there on the mound. On April 11th vs the San Diego Padres, he went 7 innings and only allowed two hits and only allowed one run.

The Atlanta Braves right now are kicking themselves in the butt for letting Foltynewicz leave Atlanta right now.

Dane Dunning

Dunning looks like the real deal for the Texas Rangers. After another solid start Tuesday at Tampa Bay, he’s now had two starts like that in a row.

The future looks bright for him in Arlington.

Charlie Culberson

Charlie Culberson had an amazing series at the plate in Tampa Bay, with six hits in 11 at-bats, including a couple homers. He’s really benefitting from extra playing time with Brock Holt currently sidelined with an injury.

Texas Rangers: Who’s Not Hot

Matt Bush

Bush is going to be out for the next 12 weeks with a right flexor muscle strain. I personally feel bad for him with all the injuries he’s gone through with the Rangers. I feel like the Rangers are going to start looking for his replacement for next season.

Jonathan Hernandez 

Hernandez was most likely going to be the closer if he came back this season. The Rangers announced that he is going to be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

While it’s hard to hear that such a young promising pitcher will be out for the remainder of the season, Texas Ranger fans will have many more years watching Hernandez pitch in the organization.

Ronald Guzman

You hate to see promising players leave on the medical cart and that’s what happened to Guzman. After having a promising Spring Training to keep his job, Guzman injured himself in Tampa going after a routine fly ball.

Hopefully, the injury isn’t as serious as it looked and Guzman can return to the Rangers later this year.

Upcoming schedule

April 16-18 at home VS the Baltimore Orioles

April 19-21 on the road VS the Los Angeles Angels

Schedule