State of the Texas Rangers’ 2022 40-man roster at the MLB Lockout

State of the Texas Rangers’ 40-man roster: Infielders

The infield is pretty much set after Marcus Semien and Corey Seager were added as free agents.  Isiah Kiner-Falefa will most likely move back to 3B, a position where he won a Gold Glove in 2020.  Nathaniel Lowe will be given every opportunity to start the season at 1B.  Five infielders will likely spend Spring Training trying to impress enough in order to make the Rangers as a utility infielder.  Josh Jung is not on the 40-man roster, but may figure into the plans at 3B with an exceptional spring.  This would cause several internal movements but, for now, I have Jung starting the year at AAA.

Nathaniel Lowe played 157 games, primarily at 1B for Texas last year.  He hit for a .264 AVG, 18 HR and 72 RBI.  Lowe made $575,000 last year and is pre-arbitration eligible prior to 2022.  Lowe is under team control until 2026.

Marcus Semien played all 162 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year.  Semien will be the starting 2B for the Rangers in 2022.  In 2021, Semien hit for a .265 AVG, 45 HR, 102 RBI, and 15 SB with Toronto.  Semien recently signed a 7-year/$175M contract that will keep him in Texas through the 2028 season.

Corey Seager played 95 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.  Seager will be the starting SS for the Rangers in 2022.  In 2021 Seager hit for a .306 AVG, 16 HR and 57 RBI with Los Angeles.  Seager recently signed a 10-year/$325M contract that will keep him in Texas through the 2031 season.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa played 158 games, primarily at SS for Texas last year.  In 2022, Kiner-Falefa will move back to 3B, a position where he won a Gold Glove in 2020.  In 2021, Kiner-Falefa hit for a .271 AVG, 18 HR and 72 RBI.  In 2022, Kiner-Falefa will make $4.9M and can file to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

Andy Ibanez played 76 games with Texas in 2021.  In 2021, Ibanez played all infield positions except SS for the Rangers.  In 2021, Ibanez hit for a .277 AVG, 7 HR, 25 RBI.  Ibanez is under team control until after the 2027 season.  His salary for 2022 is TBD because he is not yet arbitration eligible.

Nick Solak played 127 games with Texas last year.  In 2021, Solak primarily played 2B, but, with the Semien signing, it is likely that Solak will be a super-utility player.  In 2021, Solak hit for a .242 AVG, 11 HR, 49 RBI, and 7 SB.  Solak is under team control until 2026 and his salary for 2022 is TBD because he is not yet arbitration eligible.

Yonny Hernandez played 43 games with Texas last year.  In 2021, Hernandez played all infield positions except 1B.  In 2021, Hernandez hit for a .217 AVG, 0 HR, 6 RBI, and 11 SB.  Hernandez is under team control until at least 2028 and his salary for 2022 is TBD because he is not yet arbitration eligible.

Sherten Apostel played at three MILB levels in the Texas organization last year.  In 2020, Apostel played 7 games with Texas where he hit for a .100 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI.  Apostel is under team control until after the 2027 season.  His salary for 2022 is TBD because he is not yet arbitration eligible.

Ezequiel Duran was recently added to the Rangers 40-man roster so that they could protect him from the Rule 5 draft.  Duran was acquired from the New York Yankees as part of the Joey Gallo trade.  In 2021, Duran played for two teams at the A+ level where he hit for a .267 AVG, 19 HR, 79 RBI, and 19 SB.  Duran is under team control until at least 2028 and his salary for 2022 is TBD because he is not yet arbitration eligible.