3 reasons to get excited about the Texas Rangers in 2022
2021 sucked for the Texas Rangers, we’ll just say it.
102 losses last season was a low point in the franchise’s existence, and not something worth repeating again anytime soon.
Fortunately, though, rock bottom is never a permanent status. It’s merely a stepping stone in the pursuit of bigger and better things. And boy have the Rangers done bigger and better things this off-season (before the MLB lockout).
The momentum from the early part of the winter surely looks to carry into 2022, and with it our excitement for another season of Texas Rangers baseball.
Here are three reasons you should be excited for next season.
3 reasons to get excited about the Texas Rangers in 2022
#1- The best middle infield in baseball
I could end it right here, but I won’t.
We knew the Texas Rangers would be active this off-season, but never to the extent that they were before the lockout, as well as what could still be on the way after a deal gets done.
In signing shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien, the Rangers now boast arguably baseball’s best middle infield, with bona-fide superstars at both positions. Seager and Semien bring the lumber to the plate, providing Texas with massive offensive upgrades to a lineup badly in need of run producers.
In the field, they are both solid defenders at worst. But most importantly, each player brings a winning pedigree and years of experience. Semien and Seager are here to change the culture around the Rangers, and both will make their impact felt during their years in Texas in more ways than just on the field.
The 2022 season better start on time, because we don’t want to miss a minute of these two in action.
3 reasons to get excited about the Texas Rangers in 2022
#2- Top prospects will begin making their big league debuts
The big name free agents the Rangers signed this winter won’t be the only new faces in town for 2022.
It’s widely expected that some of Texas’ top prospects will make their big league debuts next season, among them third baseman Josh Jung and starting pitcher Cole Winn, who happen to rank second and third, respectively, on MLB Pipeline’s Rangers Top-30 prospects list.
The farm as a whole rose to the 11th spot in MLB.com’s rankings by the end of 2021, a testament to the emphasis Texas has placed on acquiring and developing young talent during this rebuild.
Jung could potentially win a job right out of spring training, which wouldn’t be surprising given that he had not been injured in 2021, he would’ve been a big leaguer already. The Rangers will likely handle him with caution, though, as they will with Winn.
Even a cautious plan of action would have Jung in the big leagues before the All-Star break in 2022, however. I could see Winn joining him closer to September with a strong carryover performance next season after a great 2021.
Top prospects aren’t the only name of the game though. Don’t sleep on hidden gems like Blaine Crim, for example. There’s lots to like on Texas Rangers’ player development front in 2022.
3 reasons to get excited about the Texas Rangers in 2022
#3- 2022 won’t be a last place season
This may seem like more of a “bold” prediction, but it’s looking as though the Rangers will climb out of the AL West cellar in 2022.
How do we know this? Well, the Oakland A’s are reportedly planning to tear down with high profile pieces such as Matt Olson and Matt Chapman available in trade. Assuming the A’s follow through completely on this plan, there doesn’t seem to be a scenario where they’ll be fielding a better team than Texas in 2022, especially as the Rangers have improved a good amount.
At minimum, this probably solidifies no worse than a fourth place finish. If things break right for the Texas Rangers, though, a third place finish in 2022 isn’t out of the question.
The Angels are always mediocre, and the Mariners, while rising, still have holes of their own and need their prospects to perform up to the levels they are supposed to (we’re not complaining about Jarred Kelenic’s struggles, though!). One of those teams will finish second in 2022 because both are better than the Rangers on paper.
Let’s be perfectly clear, though, the Astros are still the class of the AL West until proven otherwise.
Anything to get out of the division’s basement, though!