The 2019 Texas Rangers: Where are they now?

During the month of February, I am going to be posting a series called “Where are they now?”.  In this series, the rosters for the Texas Rangers teams will be investigated.  In the 8th installment, players from the 2019 team will be examined. (All stats used were extracted from baseball-reference.com)

The Texas Rangers improved slightly in 2019.  The Rangers had a record of 78-84, good for third place in the AL West in 2018.  This would be the third of five consecutive losing seasons for the Rangers.

2019 Texas Rangers Starting Pitching

Mike Minor was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2019.  In 32 starts, Minor had a record of 14-10 with a 3.59 ERA.  Minor was traded to Oakland on August 31, 2020 in a deal that brought Texas MILB Player-of-the-Year, Dustin Harris, to the Rangers organization.  Minor had four starts with Oakland in 2020, and then was granted free agency.  Minor returned to Kansas City after the 2020 season and is currently a member of the Royals starting rotation.

Lance Lynn was in his 1st of two seasons in Texas in 2019.  In 33 starts, Lynn had a record of 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA.  After the 2020 season, Lynn was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the deal that brought Dane Dunning to Texas.

Ariel Jurado was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2019.  In 32 games, including 18 starts, Jurado pitched 122.1 innings, and had a record of 7-11 with a 5.81 ERA.  Jurado was traded to the New York Mets in August 2020.  Jurado made one start with the Mets in 2020 before he was granted free agency.

Adrian Sampson was in his 2nd partial season pitching for the Rangers in 2019.  In 35 games, including 15 starts, Sampson pitched 125.1 innings, had a record of 6-8 with a 5.89 ERA.  After the season, Sampson was granted free agency.  Sampson pitched the 2020 season in Korea and signed to pitch in the Chicago Cubs organization in 2021.  Sampson will continue pitching for the Cubs in 2022.

Drew Smyly pitched a part of the 2019 season with Texas.  In 13 games, including nine starts, Smyly pitched 51.1 innings, had a record of 1-5, with an 8.42 ERA.  Smyly was released in June and signed with Philadelphia.  Smyly pitched for San Francisco in 2020 and Atlanta in 2021.  At 32, Smyly is currently a free agent.

Kolby Allard was in his first season pitching for Texas in 2019.  In nine starts, Allard pitched 45.1 innings, had a record of 4-2 with a 4.96 ERA.  Allard is currently a member of the Texas Rangers.

Shelby Miller was in his only season pitching with Texas in 2019.  In 19 games , including eight starts, Miller pitched 44.0 innings, had a record of 1-3, with an 8.59 ERA.  Miller was released from his contract with Texas in July.  Miller opted out of the 2020 season due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.  Miller pitched for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh in 2021.  Now 31, Miller is currently a free agent.

2019 Texas Rangers Bullpen

Jose Leclerc was in his 4th season with the Texas Rangers in 2019.  In 70 appearances, including three spot-starts, Leclerc pitched 68.2 innings, had a 2-4 record, a 4.33 ERA, and 14 saves.  Leclerc made two relief appearances in 2020 before he required Tommy John surgery.  Leclerc missed the entire 2021 season and  is expected to return to the Rangers bullpen by mid-season in 2022.

Jesse Chavez returned to pitch for Texas in 2019.  In 48 games, including nine starts, Chavez pitched 78.0 innings, had a record of 3-5, with a 4.85 ERA, and one save.  Chavez pitched one more season in Texas before he was granted free agency after the 2020 season.  Chavez pitched for Atlanta in 2021.  At 38, Chavez is currently a free agent.

Brett Martin was a rookie pitching for the Rangers in 2019.  In 51 games, including two starts, Martin pitched 62.1 innings, had a record of 2-3, and a 4.76 ERA.  Martin is entering his 4th season with Texas and should be an important part of the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

Shawn Kelley pitched his final MLB season with Texas in 2019.  In 50 relief appearances, Kelley pitched 47.1 innings, had a record of 5-2, and a 4.94 ERA.  Kelley became a free agent after the 2019 season and confirmed his retirement prior to Spring Training in 2021.

Chris Martin was in his 2nd and final season in Texas in 2019.  In 38 relief appearances, Martin pitched 38.0 innings, had a record of 0-2, a 3.08 ERA, and four saves.  Martin was traded to Atlanta prior to the trade deadline in 2019 for current Rangers pitcher Kolby Allard.  Martin pitched the last two seasons for Atlanta and is currently a free agent.

Jeffrey Springs was in his 2nd partial season at the MLB level in 2019.  In 25 relief appearances, Springs pitched 32.1 innings, had a record of 4-1, and a 6.40 ERA.  Prior to Spring Training in 2020, Springs was traded to Boston.  Boston traded Springs to Tampa Bay before Spring Training in 2021.  Today, Springs continues to be a member of the Rays bullpen.

Rafael Montero was in his 1st season in Texas in 2019.  In 22 relief appearances, Montero pitched 29.0 innings, had a record of 2-0, and a 2.48 ERA.  Montero pitched one more year in Texas before being traded to Seattle.  At the 2021 trade deadline, Seattle traded Montero to Houston.  Montero is currently a member of the Astros.

Emmanuel Clase was a rookie relief pitcher with Texas in 2019.  In 21 games, including one start, Clase pitched 23.1 innings, had a record of 2-3, with a 2.31 ERA, and one save.  Clase was part of the trade that brought Corey Kluber to Texas for the 2020 season.  Clase is currently the closer for the Cleveland Guardians.

2019 Texas Rangers Position Players

Jeff Mathis was the primary catcher for Texas in 2019.  Mathis was in his first of two seasons for the Rangers.  In 86 games, Mathis hit for a .158 AVG, with two HR, 12 RBI’s, and one SB.  Mathis was granted free agency after the 2020 season.  Mathis played AAA in the Atlanta organization last year, and was recalled for three games with the Braves.  At almost 39, Mathis is currently a free agent.

Ronald Guzman was the primary 1B for Texas in 2019.  In 87 games, Guzman hit for a .219 AVG, with 10 HR, 36 RBI’s, and one SB.  Guzman played parts of two more seasons for the Rangers.  Guzman was granted free agency after the 2021 season.

Rougned Odor was the starting 2B for Texas in 2019.  Odor was in his 6th season playing for the Rangers.  In 145 games, Odor hit for a .205 AVG, 30 HR, 93 RBI’s, and 11 SB.  Odor played one more season 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 2019.  Andrus was in his 11th season playing with Texas.  Andrus played 147 games and hit for a .275 AVG, with 12 HR, 72 RBI’s, and 31 SB.  Andrus would play one more season 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.

Asdrubal Cabrera started the season as the primary replacement at 3B for Adrian Beltre.  In 93 games, Cabrera hit for a .235 AVG, with 12 HR, 51 RBI’s, and four SB.  Cabrera was released by the Rangers in August.  Cabrera quickly signed with Washington and played for the Nationals until the end of the 2020 season.  At 35, Cabrera played for Arizona and Cincinnati in 2021.  Cabrera is currently a free agent.

Willie Calhoun was the primary LF for Texas in 2019.  It was Calhoun’s 3rd season with the Rangers.  In a career best 83 games, Calhoun hit for a .269 AVG, with 21 HR and 48 RBI’s.  In 2022, Calhoun will be entering his 6th season playing MLB with Texas.

Delino DeShields was the primary CF for the Rangers in 2019.  Deshields was playing in his 5th season with Texas.  In 118 games, DeShields hit for a .249 AVG, with four HR, 32 RBI’s, and 24 SB.  After the 2019 season, DeShields was traded to Cleveland as part of the trade for Corey Kluber.  In 2021, DeShields played AAA in the Rangers organization before being purchased by Boston then Cincinnati.  Now 29, DeShields is currently a free agent.

Nomar Mazara was in his 4th season as the starting RF for the Rangers in 2019.  In 116 games, Mazara hit for a .268 AVG, with 19 HR, and 66 RBI’s, and four SB.  After the 2019 season, Mazara  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 2019.  It was in his 6th season playing with the Rangers.  In 151 games, Choo hit for a .265 AVG, with 24 HR, 61 RBI’s, and 15 SB.  Choo played one more season in Texas before moving back to Korea to play in 2021.  Choo is a current member of the SSG Landers of the KBO.