Texas Rangers: 4 takeaways from an awesomely important weekend
![Jun 27, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Joey Gallo (13) hits a two run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16322917-1-850x560-eb0727d0daa2627bb06c288b9bbf1949.jpg)
![Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16322917-1-430ed5e9b6cbe9bb7077df240cbfc381.jpg)
The Texas Rangers are coming off one of their best weekends of the year, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
With July fast approaching, the organization’s draft and trade deadline plans should start coming into focus, as both major events occur in the upcoming month. The Rangers will of course be picking 2nd in the draft and will be sellers on and around the July 30 trading deadline.
In addition, the 2021 All-Star Game in Colorado is around the bend, with the Rangers likely to send a couple of representatives to the Midsummer Classic.
It’s all coming together for the Texas Rangers, as we begin to say farewell to June and hello to perhaps the most important month of the season for the team. Here are 4 takeaways from an awesome and important last weekend of June.
![Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16324323-9a8614fee35c5324d9e0fb87e07d537f.jpg)
Takeaway #1: Texas Rangers get first sweep in over a month
You won’t see this team achieve many sweeps in 2021, so the few that they’ve managed to pull off this season should be relished.
Sure, the Texas Rangers have a random but definitive ownership of the KC Royals that dates back decades, but hey, a sweep is a sweep.
Runs were scored in droves, the pitching stepped up and the Rangers were able to secure arguably 3 of their most complete team wins this season, never mind the fact that they were also consecutive in nature, which is the cherry on top.
HOW SWEEP IT IS! pic.twitter.com/8wrVgX3wHm
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 27, 2021
Down the Texas Rangers might be in the standings and in baseball overall, but they’re not playing as though they’re completely out of the picture and were rewarded with their first sweep since disposing of the Astros at home in late May.
![Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16317069-4054fb378c9b60bf55383062ce8e8172.jpg)
Takeaway #2: Willie Calhoun gets injured… again
Of course, it can’t truly be a great weekend for the Texas Rangers without some bad news mixed in along the way.
There aren’t many other ways to describe how purely unlucky DH/OF Willie Calhoun is. He might just be the MLB player with the absolute worst injury plight we’ve ever seen.
After fracturing his forearm in Saturday’s win over the Royals, the Rangers placed Calhoun on the 10-day IL, effectively sidelining him through at least the All-Star break, if not much longer.
It’s terribly unfortunate for the 26-year-old, who just can’t seem to catch a break. He has the talent to boot. We just wish it could be displayed more frequently.
The amount of freak injuries Calhoun has suffered in his career just isn’t fair. Wishing a speedy recovery for one of the toughest players we know.
![Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16315768-18b1a6277b35ef9b115c9947c96ed0bc.jpg)
Takeaway #3: Trade deadline assets performed well for the Texas Rangers
This is perhaps the most significant takeaway from the weekend triumph over the KC Royals.
For a team like the Texas Rangers that is going to enter total sell-off mode come July and the trade deadline, they need their best trade pieces to perform well in their final auditions before being shipped off to likely contenders next month.
Well, that definitely went right for the Rangers this past weekend.
First, ace Kyle Gibson (pictured above), tossed a gem on Saturday in an 8-0 Rangers win, going seven shutout innings and striking out 10 while walking just one and allowing two hits. It was a masterpiece and lowered the potential AL All-Star’s ERA to 2.00 on the season. That’s a great look for his trade value come July.
All-star!!!! https://t.co/ho2sLIUyGG
— Isiah Kiner-Falefa (@Isiahkf11) June 26, 2021
On the offensive side, Joey Gallo appears to heating up in a massive way. The slugging right fielder had himself a series, with three homers and seven (!) RBIs over the three games against the Royals. In his last seven games, he has four homers and eight RBIs to go along with an .818 OPS. That’ll play!
Oh, and he’s still a great defender in right field. Think teams will be putting Gallo back on their trade radars this July?
lol joey has hit 1,000+ feet of HRs in less than 24 hours pic.twitter.com/OpuDDWj1TS
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 27, 2021
It also helps that closer Ian Kennedy tossed two scoreless innings in two appearances against his former team over the weekend, enhancing what was already a robust trade value for him.
And keep an eye on reliever Spencer Patton, who has a sparkling 1.13 ERA out of the pen.
![Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F16299107-f6b4216f4ad3eb08cd82baeb2893c1d6.jpg)
Takeaway #4: Adolis Garcia is the lone Texas Rangers’ All-Star finalist
Rangers fans, you did great in the first round of fan voting for the 2021 All-Star game, because OF Adolis “El Bombi” Garcia is officially a finalist at his position in the AL ahead of the big event in Colorado!
🌟 ADVANCED 🌟
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 27, 2021
Sights now set on a 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 nod. pic.twitter.com/u0KzvVn00e
It’s exciting and encouraging news, as Garcia deserves this opportunity so much given his incredible burst onto the scene this season.
Bombi is third in the AL in homers and finished behind only Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Byron Buxton in Phase 1 voting. And with Trout and Buxton expected to sit out this year, it’s possible Garcia could get a starting nod through either Phase 2 voting or through injury replacement.
dark. Next. These 3 Texas Rangers have All-Star resumes
How cool would that be? If you want to see the likely AL Rookie of the Year so far start at the All-Star Game in Colorado, keep that same voting energy from Phase 1 and let’s make it happen!