Texas Rangers: The 2022 Opening Day dream lineup

Texas Rangers will spend money to improve the on-field product.

The Texas Rangers are in the middle of a complete rebuild of the team.  Prospects have been moving through the system, and many of the top prospects are getting close.

The ownership group, led by Ray Davis, has indicated that management can spend retail value on free agents.  In other words, the Rangers will add free agents, but they are not to over-spend in order to add talent.

Two horrible seasons in a row, a new stadium, plenty of top tier prospects, and money to spend, can send any loyal Rangers fan into a frenzy regarding the possibility of a much improved team in 2022.

Here is the team I would like to see take the field on Opening Day in 2022 (my dream lineup, if you will) .

Batting 1st – Starling Marte – CF (R)

Starling Marte will be a free agent after the World Series.  Even though Marte is 33, he still has speed to burn and can get on base at the top of the order.

In 2021, Marte had a .310 AVG and led MLB with 47 SB.  He also had the 7th best OBP (.383) in the majors.

Marte just completed an 8-year contract with Oakland where he was paid $12.5M in 2021.

In 2021, the Rangers didn’t have an every day solution in CF.  Leody Taveras played just over half the games in CF and currently, he is not the answer.  He he exceptional defensively, but must improve in every offensive category.

The signing of Marte makes sense until the Rangers can find a long term solution for the top of the order.

Contract: 3 yr, $45M (2022-24)

Batting 2nd – Trevor Story – SS (R)

The Texas Rangers will push hard to convince Trevor Story to sign a long term contract to move back home.  Story is from Irving, TX and at 28, will be looking for a long-term contract.

In 2021, Story completed his 6th season in Colorado.  Even though the numbers were down offensively, he still collected 34 (2B), 24 (HR), 75 (RBI), and 20 (SB).

For his career, Story has a lifetime average of .272 with an OBP of .340.  He has also collected 158 HR, 450 RBI and 100 SB.

Story would be an excellent addition to the top of the order in 2022.

Contract: 6 yr, $150M (2022-27)

Batting 3rd – Nathaniel Lowe – 1B (L)

Out of all the returning Rangers, Nathaniel Lowe had the best OBP (.357).  Since only two players on this roster hit left-handed, I placed Lowe 3rd in the batting order in order to break up all of the right-handed hitters ahead of him.

Lowe had 24 doubles and 18 home runs in 2021.  He also scored 75 runs.  He can make contact and drive in runs from the #2 spot in the order.

Lowe just finished his first full season in MLB and at 26, should continue to improve his offensive totals in 2022.

Batting 4th for the Texas Rangers – Adolis Garcia – RF (R)

Adolis Garcia was on my radar prior to Spring Training in 2021.  With a strong spring, Garcia should have made the Rangers Opening Day Roster.  Garcia was called up to the Rangers for good in April and the rest is history.

He was the AL Player of the Week in April and AL Rookie of the Month in May.  At 28, Garcia is also an AL Rookie of the Year candidate.

Garcia is the most well-rounded player on the Rangers.  He hits for power 31 (HR) and 26 (2B), has speed 16 (SB), and is terrific defensively.  He is also versatile, as he can play every position in the outfield.

Expect Garcia to continue to provide energy on and off the field, hit for power and play great defense in 2022.

Batting 5th – Kris Bryant – LF (R)

Texas has had interest in adding Kris Bryant for several years.  After the World Series, Bryant becomes a free agent and at almost 30, this will probably be Bryant’s last big payday.

In 2021, Bryant was traded by the Chicago Cubs to San Francisco.  For the season, Bryant hit for a .265 (AVG), 32 (2B), 25 (HR), 73 (RBI), and 10 (SB).

During his seven year career, Bryant has a .278 (AVG), 167 (HR), 487 (RBI).

Bryant would be an excellent addition to hit in the middle of the order and play LF for the Rangers in 2022 and beyond.

Contract: 5 yr, $125M (2022-26)

Batting 6th – Josh Jung – 3B (R)

Josh Jung is the prize position player in the Texas prospect pool.  Currently, it is my belief that the Rangers have Jung penciled in to start the season in MLB with Texas.

Jung has only played 122 career MILB games so, there is no rush to move him into the big leagues.  The Rangers do have an opening at 3B and if it wasn’t for an injury during Spring Training in 2021, Jung may have played for the Rangers when the rosters expanded in September.

For his MILB career, Jung has hit for a .322 (AVG), 21 (HR), 89 (RBI), and a .394 (OBP).

I see Jung making the Opening Day Roster and batting 6th for the Rangers.

Batting 7th for your Texas Rangers – Willie Calhoun – DH (L)

Willie Calhoun endured another injury plagued season in Texas.  In 2021, Calhoun only played in 75 games for the Rangers.

I am giving Calhoun one last chance to make an impact in the Rangers lineup.  If he stays healthy, Calhoun has the potential to be an impact bat for the Rangers.

Calhoun has now played parts of five seasons of MLB with Texas.  In 235 career games, Calhoun has a .247 (AVG), 31 (HR) and 101 (RBI).

For now, I have Calhoun as the full-time DH and hitting 7th in the order.

Batting 8th – Sam Huff – C (R)

In 2020, Sam Huff looked like the catcher of the future with Texas.  During the pandemic-shortened season, Huff played 10 games with Texas and hit three home runs.

In 2021, an injury during Spring Training, derailed the idea of Huff catching at any level this year. While rehabbing his left hamstring, Huff primarily played 1B/DH at three different MILB levels.

In 61 games, Huff hit for a .246 (AVG), 16 (HR), and 36 (RBI).

During the 2021 Arizona Fall League, Huff started six games at catcher.  If he is healthy in 2022, Huff will share catching duties with Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim.

Huff can also play 1B and DH, so expect Huff to be a full-time player with the Texas Rangers and bat 8th next year.

Batting 9th – Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B (R)

For the last two years Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been used at the top of the batting order with Texas.

This batting order shows no disrespect to Kiner-Falefa.  With the signings of Marte, Story and Bryant, it is my opinion that Kiner-Falefa would be an excellent hitter in the #9 position.

Kiner-Falefa would ave protection by hitting just ahead of Marte, Story, Lowe and Garcia in this proposed Rangers batting order.

Batting Order/Position/2021 Stats

• 1- Starling Marte – CF – .310, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 47 SB (Oakland, MLB)
• 2- Trevor Story – SS – .251, 24 HR, 75 RBI, 20 SB (Colorado, MLB)
• 3- Nathaniel Lowe -1B – .266, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 8 SB
• 4- Adolis Garcia – RF – .244, 31 HR, 90 RBI, 16 SB
• 5- Kris Bryant – LF – .265, 25 HR, 73 RBI, 10 SB (CHC/SFG, MLB)
• 6- Josh Jung – 3B – .326, 19 HR, 61 RBI, 2 SB (AA/AAA)
• 7- Willie Calhoun – DH – .253, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB
• 8- Sam Huff – C – .246, 16 HR, 36 RBI, 0 SB (ROK/AA/AAA)
• 9- Isiah Kiner Falefa– 2B – .273, 8 HR, 53 RBI, 20 SB

Bench: Jose Trevino (C), Jonah Heim (C), Andy Ibanez (INF), DJ Peters (OF)

This lineup would be a big improvement over the lineup that finished the 2021 season for the Rangers.  This lineup would be lethal because they would hit more home runs, score more runs and steal more bases than previous years.