The late-season performances of 3 core Texas Rangers

It’s never ideal for a team (the Texas Rangers) to play the role of spoiler during any given season. But when that’s the case, it’s best to make the most of it.

And as the Texas Rangers approach their first 100-loss season since 1973, being the team who can potentially spoil the playoff hopes of a contending team is just an added bonus to the opportunities that many young players have received in the late goings of 2021.

Chris Woodward’s club is set to finish the campaign with sets against the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians — two teams not destined for October baseball. But throughout the month of September, the Rangers have encountered a number of playoff-hopeful squads.

With the focus on auditioning a number of fresh faces within the team’s system during the second half of 2021, there’s no better way to get a feel of the big-leagues when playing on a rebuilding team than to play the role of spoiler.

Texas Rangers have embraced playing spoiler

Some teams with a record as underwhelming as today’s Rangers may have folded by the time the calendar flipped to August. Some may have even decided to vent their frustration with the team’s performance publicly.

But not Woodward’s Rangers.

“For these guys to come together and keep consistently grinding every night has been awesome to watch,” Texas’ manager told reporters on September 12.

Since September 1, the Rangers are 11-14. But at this point, the team’s record may be the least relevant piece of data to look at.

Instead, the output of Texas’ key players moving forward is what should be the focus for both the team’s faithful and front office alike.

Let’s take a look at the late-season performances from three Texas Rangers who are bound to be building blocks heading into the 2022 campaign.