The 2017 Texas Rangers: Where are they now?

2017 Texas Rangers bullpen

Alex Claudio was pitching in his 4th season in Texas in 2017.  In 70 games, including one spot start, Claudio pitched 82.2 innings, had a 4-2 record, a 2.50 ERA, and 11 saves.  Claudio pitched one more season in Texas before he was traded to Milwaukee after the 2018 season.  Claudio pitched two seasons in Milwaukee and the 2021 season for the Los Angeles Angels.   In January, Claudio signed a free agent contract to pitch the 2022 season with the New York Mets.

Tony Barnette was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2017.  In 50 relief appearances, Barnette pitched 57.1 innings, had a record of 2-1, a 5.49 ERA, and two saves.  Barnette pitched one more season in Texas before being granted free agency following the 2018 season.  Barnette made two relief appearance with the Chicago Cubs in 2019 before announcing his retirement in January 2019.  Barnette is currently working in baseball operations and scouting for his former team in Tokyo, Japan.

Matt Bush was in his 2nd season pitching out of the bullpen for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  In 57 games, Bush pitched 52.1 innings, had a record of 3-4, a 3.78 ERA, and 10 saves.  Now 36, Bush  is once again healthy, and will make a bid for a job in the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

After 12 relief appearances as a rookie in 2016, Jose Leclerc became a full-time member of the bullpen in 2017.  In 47 appearances, Leclerc pitched 45.2 innings, had a 2-3 record, 3.94 ERA, and two saves.  Leclerc had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and is expected to return to the Rangers bullpen by mid-season in 2022.

After a late season trade in 2016, Jeremy Jeffress was in his 2nd partial season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Jeffress finished 40.2 innings, had a record of 1-2, and a 5.31 ERA.  Jeffress was traded back to Milwaukee before the 2017 trade deadline.  After leaving Texas, Jeffress pitched parts of three seasons in Milwaukee and one season for the Chicago Cubs.  Jeffress signed with Washington for the 2021 season, but was released during Spring Training.  Jeffress pitched in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball last year and at 34, is currently a free agent.

Keone Kela was in his 3rd season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Kela pitched 38.2 innings, had a record of 4-1, with a 2.79 ERA, and two saves.  Kela pitched part of one more season in Texas before he was traded to Pittsburgh.  Kela pitched parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh before signing as a free agent with San Diego.  Kela was granted free agency after the 2021 season and is currently a free agent.

Sam Dyson was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 17 relief appearances, Dyson pitched 16.2 innings, had a record of 1-6, with a 10.80 ERA.  After his disastrous start to 2017, Dyson was traded to San Francisco in June.  Dyson pitched parts of three seasons with the Giants and was traded to Minnesota before the trade deadline in 2019.  Dyson pitched his final MLB game with the Twins in 2019 and is currently a free agent.

Jake Diekman was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 11 relief appearances, Diekman pitched 10.2 innings, had a record of 0-0, a 2.53 ERA, and one save.  Diekman pitched part of the 2018 season in Texas before being traded to Arizona.  After leaving Texas, Diekman has pitched for three teams including the last three seasons in Oakland.  Now 35, Diekman is currently a free agent.

At 32, Austin Bibens-Dirkx was pitching in his 1st MLB season in 2017.  In 24 games, including six starts, Bibens-Dirkx pitched 69.1 innings, had a record of 5-2, with a 4.67 ERA.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched one more season for the Rangers in 2018.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched parts of 2019 and 2020 with the Texas AAA team in Nashville before pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City in 2021.  He is a current member of Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.

2017 Texas Rangers position players

Robinson Chirinos was the primary catcher for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  Chirinos was in his 5th season with Texas.  In 88 games, Chirinos hit for a .255 AVG, 17 HR, and 38 RBI’s.  Chirinos played one more season in Texas before electing free agency.  Chirinos played the 2019 season in Houston, then returned to split 2020 between Texas and the New York Mets.  In 2021, Chirinos played for the Chicago Cubs.  Chirinos is currently a free agent.

Mike Napoli returned to Texas for his final MLB season in 2017.  Napoli primarily played 1B for the Rangers.  In 124 games, Napoli hit for a .193 AVG, with 29 HR, and 66 RBI’s.  Napoli is currently the quality assurance coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Rougned Odor was the starting 2B for Texas in 2017.  Odor was in his 4th season playing for the Rangers.  Playing all 162 games, Odor hit for a .204 AVG, 30 HR, 75 RBI’s, and 15 SB.  Odor played three more seasons in Texas before being traded to the New York Yankees in April 2021.  In November, the Yankees released Odor and he signed a free agent contract to play with Baltimore in 2022.

Elvis Andrus was the starting SS for the Rangers in 2017.  Andrus was in his 9th season playing with Texas.  Andrus played 158 games and hit for a .297 AVG, with a career best 20 HR, 88 RBI’s, and 25 SB.  Andrus would play three more seasons in Texas before being traded to Oakland.  Andrus played his first season in Oakland in 2021 and will return to play for the A’s in 2022.

Joey Gallo primarily played 3B and 1B for Texas in 2017.  This was Gallo’s third season with Texas, but his 1st full season in MLB.  In 145 games, Gallo hit for a .209 AVG, with 41 HR, 80 RBI’s, and seven SB.  Gallo played parts of four more seasons in Texas before being traded to the New York Yankees before the trade deadline in 2021.

Delino DeShields was the primary LF for the Rangers in 2017.  It was in his 3rd season with Texas.  In 120 games, DeShields hit for a .269 AVG, with six HR, 22 RBI’s, and 29 SB.  DeShields played two more seasons for the Rangers before being traded to Cleveland.  In 2021, DeShields played AAA in the Rangers organization before being purchased by Boston then Cincinnati.  Now 29, DeShields is currently a free agent.

Carlos Gomez primarily played CF for Texas in 2017.  It was his 2nd season playing with the Rangers.  In 105 games, Gomez hit for a .255 AVG, with 17 HR, 51 RBI’s, and 13 SB.  Gomez was granted free agency after the 2017 season.  After leaving Texas, Gomez played one season in Tampa Bay and one season for the New York Mets.  In January 2020, Gomez announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Nomar Mazara was in his 2nd season as the starting RF for the Rangers in 2017.  In 148 games, Mazara hit for a .253 AVG, with 20 HR, and 101 RBI’s, and two SB.  Mazara played two more seasons in Texas before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.  After leaving Texas, Mazara played one season with the White Sox and one season with Detroit.  He is currently a member of the San Diego Padres.

Shin-Soo Choo was the primary DH for Texas in 2017.  It was in his 4th season playing with the Rangers.  In 149 games, Choo hit for a .261 AVG, with 22 HR, 78 RBI’s, and 12 SB.  Choo played three more seasons in Texas before moving back to Korea to play in 2021.  Choo is a current member of the SSG Landers of the KBO.

2017 Texas Rangers DH/bench

Adrian Beltre was playing in his 7th season in Texas in 2017.  Beltre played 65 games at 3B and the remainder of his games at DH.  In 94 game overall, Beltre hit for .312 AVG, 17 HR, and 71 RBI’s.  Beltre played one more season in Texas and retired from MLB after the 2018 season.

Jonathan Lucroy was in his 2nd partial season in Texas in 2017.  Lucroy split catching duties with Chirinos until his trade to Colorado before the trade deadline.  In 77 games, Lucroy hit for a .242 AVG, with four HR and 27 RBI’s.  After his trade to Colorado, Lucroy played four more seasons with five different organizations.  Lucroy is currently a free agent.

Ryan Rua was a backup OF for Texas in 2017.  Rua was in his 4th season playing for the Rangers.  In 63 games, Rua hit for a .217 AVG, with three HR, 12 RBI’s, and two SB.  Rua played his entire five year MLB career with the Rangers, ending in 2018.

Drew Robinson was a rookie with Texas in 2017.  Robinson was a super-utility player with the Rangers.  In 48 games, Robinson hit for a .224 AVG, with six HR, and 13 RBI’s.  Robinson played a similar role with Texas in 2018 and played five games with St. Louis in 2019.  In August 2019, Robinson was released by the Cardinals.  With the 2020 season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson signed with San Francisco and played part of the 2021 season in AAA. In July, Robinson retired as an active player and is currently a mental health advocate in the Giants organization.

Jurickson Profar was playing in his 4th season in Texas in 2017.  In 22 games, Profar hit for a .172 AVG, with five RBI’s, and one SB.  Profar played one more season in Texas before he was traded to Oakland after the 2018 season.  Since leaving Texas, Profar has played three seasons for two different teams and is a current member of the San Diego Padres.