3 Texas Rangers who have legitimate All-Star cases right now
It’s getting to be that time of year, y’all! It’s time to send your Texas Rangers to the All-Star game!
After cancelling the 2020 All-Star Game, the Mid-Summer classic returns to MLB this July!
This year’s festivities will occur at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, the home ballpark of the Colorado Rockies. Fan voting for the game officially opens up on June 3rd.
Though it hasn’t been an ideal season for the Texas Rangers (that should’ve been expected in the midst of a rebuild), the team has gotten some standout individual performances from players, including three who we think are deserving of receiving an All-Star berth to represent the team in this year’s game.
Texas Rangers All-Star Case: OF Adolis Garcia
El Bombi is a fairly obvious All-Star case at this point.
Garcia is hitting at an outrageous clip in 2021, and seemingly out of nowhere. He’s tied for the MLB lead in home runs at 16, many of them clutch, and plays stellar defense in center field, giving the Texas Rangers a spark plug they haven’t had in years.
He also is at or near the top of most of the offensive categories in the AL, if not in all of MLB.
Therefore, he’s precisely the type of player that deserves to be recognized on a national stage, to finally show baseball fans everywhere just how talented we know him to be.
He might even be a fun participant at this year’s home run derby!
Fans of the team should be coming out in droves to vote for El Bombi, and not just for the All-Star game. They should be throwing their support behind Garcia’s AL Rookie of the Year case as well.
Texas Rangers All-Star Case: RHP Kyle Gibson
Like Garcia, Texas Rangers’ staff ace Kyle Gibson seems like a pretty good bet to make the AL All-Star team.
Prior to hitting the shelf with a groin injury, the big righty posted a 2.24 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched across 10 starts. His 1.01 WHIP is also fantastic.
That 2.24 ERA also happens to be a top-five figure in the American League, which should surely garner some attention for Midsummer Classic consideration.
The good news is that the 33-year-old will have a chance to build on his All-Star resume even further when he returns from the IL relatively soon.
2021 has been a remarkable comeback season for Gibson after a putrid 2020 with the team. That alone makes him worthy of an All-Star appearance.
Texas Rangers All-Star Case: RHP Ian Kennedy
Would you have believed me if I told you Texas Rangers’ closer Ian Kennedy would be third in the AL in saves by June, along with having an ERA under 2?
Well believe it, because both of these statements are true.
Kennedy has been the definition of a closer for the Rangers in 2021, developing into the team’s reliable ninth-inning option in close games.
Going against the veteran closer’s All-Star case are his counterparts across the AL including the Red Sox’ Matt Barnes, the White Sox’ Liam Hendriks and the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman, all of whom have also been excellent and play for winning teams.
However, Kennedy’s numbers match up pretty well with those players, and getting him on the AL All-Star roster would also boost his trade value, something the Rangers are really banking on by the trade deadline as teams look for relief help.
The 36-year-old has still got it as a closer and should be rewarded with a trip to Denver for the Midsummer Classic.