Texas Rangers News: Time was up on Leody Taveras’ big league stint

To say that 2021 has been rough on young center fielder Leody Taveras might be understating just how dire things were getting for him.

And the Texas Rangers‘ latest round of roster moves on Monday prior to their home series against the Los Angeles Angels only reinforced this reality.

While Taveras’ option to the Alternate Site won’t shock anyone, it’s unfortunate and represents regression rather than progression for the 22-year-old dynamo.

The roster move isn’t an indictment on Taveras’ talent. He’s still got as much talent as anyone in the organization.

Rather, it’s a sign that more development is necessary in order to advance his career. That’ll often be the case with someone of his young age and relative inexperience.

Leody Taveras needs more development if he wants to remain part of the Texas Rangers long term.

On the season to date, Taveras was slashing .087/.160/.247 in 46 at-bats, with just one run driven in and two stolen bases.

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Never mind that the Texas Rangers are rebuilding, those numbers won’t do you any favors regardless of the team you’re playing for. It’s still the major leagues, after all.

The Alternate Site will hopefully be effective in letting the 22-year-old center fielder continue his development and reach (if not exceed) the level of potential he showed in his first big league stint with Texas in 2020 (.308 OBP, .703 OPS in 119 at-bats).

Hyeon-jong Yang will make his Texas Rangers debut.

Replacing Taveras on the big league roster is Korean LHP Hyeon-jong Yang, whom the Rangers signed to a minor-league deal in February with an invite to spring training.

Yang started out strong in camp, but wound up finishing with a 5.40 ERA and 10 strikeouts across 10 spring innings.

He’ll likely be deployed as a lefty reliever out of the bullpen, or potentially as another tandem option behind one of Texas’ right-handed starters.

Ronald Guzman to the long-term IL for the Texas Rangers.

As for the final piece, Ronald Guzman hits the 60-day IL, which we sadly saw coming after his brutal knee injury suffered in Tampa Bay. Best wishes to him on a speedy recovery!