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.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

The Texas Rangers’ starting shortstop is having a good season as he looks to stick around in 2022

After a gold-glove worthy 2020 season at third base, Kiner-Falefa has enjoyed a 2021 campaign at shortstop, good enough for a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 4.0. The 26-year-old has made the case to be the team’s most proficient lead-off hitter moving forward.

Over the last 30 days, the shortstop’s average is .319, with a BB:K ratio of 9:14 — his defensive value has only been an added bonus during the final month of the season.

On September 12, the Rangers had the opportunity to throw a wrench into the Oakland Athletics wild-card hopes in the Bay Area — it was an opportunity that Kiner-Falefa surely embraced. The native of Honolulu, HI had three hits, while driving in two runs to propel the Rangers to not only a 4-3 victory, but also a series win in Oakland.

The shortstop has acted as the catalyst for Texas’ lineup throughout the final month of the campaign. Even though the team’s record may not be where Woodward wants it to be, Kiner-Falefa is a vital part to the club moulding an identity for themselves into a new Rangers era, starting in 2022 and beyond.

Kiner-Falefa is sixth among MLB shortstops in hits since the beginning of September, only behind the likes of Bo Bichette, Javier Baez, and Trea Turner.

Nathaniel Lowe

First base is Nathaniel Lowe’s to lose on the 2022 Texas Rangers, and even beyond

What may be most impressive about Lowe since the start of September is his plate discipline. The first baseman has struck out 18 times, while drawing an impressive 15 walks. His .388 OBP over the last 30 days has made him a difficult out for Texas opponents in September, including the contending ones like the Athletics and the New York Yankees.

Lowe’s 12 RBI’s in September ranks second on the team only behind former Dodgers farmhand D.J Peters, and his 25 hits is second behind the aforementioned Kiner-Falefa.

The 26-year-old has a WAR of 2.2 in 2021. But in September, the first baseman has particularly made the decision an easy one for the Rangers’ brass moving forward — Lowe can be trusted to remain a mainstay on the roster.

On September 18 against the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox, Lowe had two hits in four plate appearances. His .877 OPS over the last 30 days ranks 10th among MLB first baseman.