3 moves we’re glad the Texas Rangers made in 2021

2021 is a year Texas Rangers fans will be more than happy to leave behind. Besides it being another pandemic-ridden year, it was one of the worst in the history of the franchise, as they would lose 102 games.

But even in a year as anti-climactic as 2021 was for the Rangers, there were still some great moves made by the organization. Some of them could even be long-lasting in terms of their effects, and that’s important because you have to start somewhere in a quest to build back up to contender status.

Here are three we’re glad the Texas Rangers made this past season.

3 moves we’re glad the Texas Rangers made in 2021

Calling up Adolis Garcia

This one goes without saying: Adolis Garcia was the best thing to happen to the 2021 Texas Rangers.

Initially an injury replacement for Ronald Guzman, Garcia arrived on the scene and prompted to tear it up, winning Rookie of the Month honors in May and earning an All-Star selection in July.

Ultimately, Garcia was snubbed as an AL Rookie of the Year finalist, but still had a memorable debut season full of defensive gems and dramatic home runs, every single one of which we cherished.

It was really unfortunate that Garcia’s emergence came at the cost of Guzman, who had looked really strong in spring training and was primed to make a case of his own, but such were the circumstances and El Bombi made the most of his opportunity.

Garcia already has his spot on the 2022 team secured, and he’ll be surrounded by better talent this time around, but it was really him that made the 2021 season a little more bearable for Rangers fans.

Drafting Jack Leiter with the No. 2 overall pick

If Adolis Garcia was the best thing to happen to the big league team, then Jack Leiter was the best thing to happen to the minor league system in 2021 (with all due respect, Cole Winn!).

Drafting the Vanderbilt ace second overall was a moment of pure elation for Rangers fans everywhere. Leiter was the consensus best pitcher available in the draft, and it was shocking when the Pittsburgh Pirates passed up on him in favor of catcher Henry Davis first overall. A Pirate loss was a Ranger gain.

Leiter brings more upside from a pitcher in the Rangers farm system than one has in a long time. There’s real excitement about his potential and what he has a chance to be, to the point where he’s already the top-ranked prospect in the pipeline, leapfrogging Josh Jung, without having pitched a pro inning.

Not only does Leiter have big league pedigree in his DNA (Al Leiter was his father), he’s a winner and an alpha personality on the mound. And now he’s a Texas Ranger, where he’ll be one of many beacons of hope to come as the franchise starts to emerge from a rebuild.