Texas Rangers: The emergence of Nathaniel Lowe as a key building block

The Texas Rangers have a handful of promising plans for the future, even after a dismal 100+ loss season in 2021.

One of those pieces is first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who quietly had one of the more respectable breakout seasons in recent memory for the organization in 2021. The Rangers have struggled to find any consistent success at first base for a *really* long time. The last Texas Ranger to start at first base on three or more consecutive Opening Day rosters was Mark Teixiera, who did so from 2004-2007. From Napoli to Fielder to Moreland to Guzmán, it’s been a shuffling door of temporary holdovers at first.

Finally, it feels like Texas has their first baseman of the future. Nathaniel Lowe is probably never going to be an MVP, and he’s probably never going to be the best hitter in the best iteration of the Texas Rangers while he’s here. But for a guy that was an under-the-radar pickup from Tampa Bay prior to the 2021 season, he had one of the more promising breakout seasons of anyone in baseball last year.

Nathaniel Lowe is the first baseman the Texas Rangers have been seeking ever since Mark Teixeira was traded in 2007

It feels like, in a general sense, that the Rangers have a couple of key guys they absolutely should keep as they rebuild over the short term; guys like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who’s established himself as one of the best fielders in the league and continues to get better at the plate, or guys like Adolis Garcia who can play multiple positions in the outfield and bat flip opponents into submission.

I want to get Nate Lowe into those discussions.

I want to get Rangers fans excited about this guy’s future because I think it’s as bright as it could possibly be. I want to take a look at what worked for him, what didn’t work, and what to look forward to in 2022 and beyond as he anchors the infield of a rebuilding franchise.