Texas Rangers Report Card: Grading the first half of the season

Anyone who’s watched the Texas Rangers play baseball in 2021 knows this team is not very good, but yet somehow better than we thought.

The above statement may sound contradictory, but it’s true. The Rangers did just win a road series in Oakland for the first time since 2016, for example.

Many players on this team have way overperformed their expected production levels, while others have fallen disappointingly short, and combined, these elements have given the 2021 Texas Rangers an intriguing touch to them, despite the 32-49 record through 81 games.

Speaking of 81 games, that’s the halfway point of the season, so let’s take a look at how each of the different groups on this team have fared so far!

Texas Rangers: Grading the Infielders

Infield production has been a mixed bag in 2021.

At first base and shortstop, the Rangers have Nate Lowe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, respectively, and both have lived up to the expectations set for them going into the season. Both have hit well (IKF should be an All-Star and Nate Lowe now has more homers in a Rangers uniform than he did with the Rays) and play solid defense, ensuring the team has two potential cornerstones on their infield.

Nick Solak has been a disappointment at second base, not quite hitting at the level many expected him to after winning the second base job out of camp. In addition, his defense can be suspect and might prompt fans to wonder if the 26-year-old has done enough to cement his spot going forward.

At third base, Texas has been mixing and matching with Brock Holt and Charlie Culberson most of the season, and while both players have had their moments, they’re not to be thought of as more than replacement level fill-ins warming the position for top prospect Josh Jung.

Grade: B-

IKF and Lowe are the reasons I even went this high for the infield. Without them, this would be a totally average group.

Texas Rangers: Grading the Outfield

By far the biggest bright spot group on the roster, the Texas Rangers’ outfield has been a lot of fun to watch in 2021.

What began as a David Dahl, Leody Taveras and Joey Gallo alignment in the field has seen many twists and turns this season, among those being the sudden emergence of “El Bombi”, Adolis Garcia, seemingly out of nowhere.

Eli White has also emerged as a valuable contributor in a second stint with the big league club in 2021 after struggling to begin the year.

And then there’s the constant among them all: the Gold Glover and power hitter in right field, Joey Gallo.

One thing this group does exceptionally well: play defense. And lately, they’ve been hitting too, especially Gallo during a torrid streak.

In fact, two of the most potent bats in the Texas Rangers’ lineup can be found patrolling the greens of the outfield in Joey Gallo and Adolis Garcia. Both players have 20 home runs and OPS’ north of .800.

Garcia and Eli White provide speed on the base paths as well, adding in some more excitement as you watch them play.

Overall, the Texas Rangers’ outfield has been incredibly fun to watch through the first half of the season. Here’s hoping the high level of play continues in the second half!

Grade: A

Texas Rangers: Grading the Starting Rotation

The good news about this rotation? It has a bona fide ace in righty Kyle Gibson.

The bad news? It really lacks otherwise.

Gibson has been the anchor of this starting staff all season, pitching to a 2.00 ERA in 15 starts this season in what has been a total 360 in performance level from where he was in 2020 (an ugly 5.35 ERA). He has become the one reliable member of the rotation through all the ups and downs of this season and could be traded this month as contending teams seek rotation upgrades.

Meanwhile, the other members of the rotation have been mediocre at best. Jordan Lyles and Mike Foltynewicz both have ERAs north of 5, while Dane Dunning has been solid but unspectacular in his first season with the Rangers. The latter has more growing to do, though, so that’s not an indictment on him.

To make matters worse for the starters, prized Japanese free agent acquisition Kohei Arihara is potentially out for the year with a shoulder issue.

Texas has shuffled pieces in and out of this group at various times throughout this season, with Kolby Allard becoming a recent beneficiary of this and pitching well of late. The team also plans to make long reliever John King a starter at some point as well, giving the Rangers some fresh options to work with down the stretch.

As a whole, the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation has been a bust outside of Kyle Gibson, and well, I can’t say I didn’t see that coming entering the season. Let’s see if things change in the second 81 games. The unit gets an average to slightly above average grade because of Gibson’s heroics.

Grade: C/C+