The 2021 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 the10th  and final installment, players from the 2021 team will be examined. (All stats used were extracted from baseball-reference.com)

For the second consecutive season, the Texas Rangers had one of the worst records in baseball.  The Rangers went 60-102, the first time the team had lost more than 100 games since 1973.    This would be the 5th five consecutive losing season for the Rangers.

2021 Texas Rangers: Starting Pitching

Jordan Lyles was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2021.  In 32 games, including 30 starts, Lyles pitched 180.0 innings, had a record of 10-13 with a 5.15 ERA.  Lyles is currently a free agent.

Mike Foltynewicz was in his 1st season with the Rangers in 2021.  In 28 games, including 24 starts, Foltynewicz pitched 139.0 innings, had a 2-12 record, and a 5.44 ERA. Foltynewicz is currently a free agent.

Kolby Allard was in his 4th season pitching for Texas in 2021.  In 32 games, including 17 starts, Allard pitched 124.2 innings, had a record of 3-12, with a 5.41 ERA.  Allard is currently a member of the Texas Rangers pitching staff.

Dane Dunning was in his 1st season with the Rangers in 2021.  In 27 games, including 25 starts, Dunning pitched 117.2 innings, had a record of 5-10, with a 4.51 ERA.  Dunning is currently a member of the Texas Rangers pitching staff.

Kyle Gibson was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2021.  In 19 starts, Gibson pitched 113.0 innings, had a record of 6-3, and a 2.87 ERA.  Gibson was traded to Philadelphia at the trade deadline.  Gibson is currently a member of the Phillies starting rotation.

Taylor Hearn split 2021 between the starting rotation and the bullpen for the Rangers.  In 42 appearances, including 11 starts, Hearn pitched 104.1 innings, had a record of 6-6, and a 4.66 ERA.  Hearn will be given every opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation in 2022.

Kohei Arihara was in his 1st season pitching in the Rangers starting rotation.  In 10 starts, Arihara pitched 40.2 innings, had a record of 2-4, with a 6.64 ERA.  Arihara finished the season pitching in AAA and was removed from the Rangers 40-man roster.  Arihara remains with the Rangers organization for the 2022 season.

2021 Texas Rangers: Bullpen

Ian Kennedy started his only season with Texas as the Rangers closer in 2021.  In 32 games, Kennedy pitched 32.1 innings, had a record of 0-0, with a 2.51 ERA, and 16 saves.  Kennedy was traded to Philadelphia prior to the trade deadline.  In November, Kennedy was granted free agency and is still a free agent.

Brett Martin was in his 3rd season in the Rangers bullpen in 2021.  In 66 games, Martin pitched 62.1 innings, had a record of 4-4, and a 3.18 ERA.  Martin is entering his 4th season with Texas and should be an important part of the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

Josh Sborz was in his 1st season in the Texas bullpen in 2021.  In 63 games, Sborz pitched 59.0 innings, had a record of 4-3, with a 3.97 ERA.  Sborz is entering his 2nd season with Texas and should be an important part of the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

Spencer Patton was pitching in his 3rd season with the Rangers in 2021.  In 42 relief appearances, Patton pitched 42.1 innings, had a record of 2-2, with a 3.83 ERA.  In 2022, Patton continues to  be a member of the Rangers bullpen.

John King was in his 2nd season in the Rangers bullpen in 2021.  In 27 relief appearances, King pitched 46.0 innings, had a record of 7-5, with a 3.52 ERA.  King required surgery for Thoracic outlet syndrome and missed the last two months of the 2021 season.  King should be ready to resume regular pitching duties for the Rangers in 2022.

Dennis Santana was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last June.  In 39 releif appearances with Texas, Santana pitched 39.2 innings, had a record of 2-4, with a 3.63 ERA.  Moving forward, Santana should be an important part of the Texas bullpen.

Hyeon-jong Yang split the 2021 season between the Texas starting rotaion, bullpen, and also had a long stint in AAA.  In 12 games, including four MLB starts, Yang had a record of 2-4, in 54.0 innings, and had a 5.60 ERA.  Yang was granted free agency after the season and is currently a member of the Kia Tigers in the KBO.

Jharel Cotton was in his 1st year in the Texas bullpen in 2021.  In 23 games, Cotton had a record of 2-0, with a 3.52 ERA.  At the end of the season, Cotton was granted free agency.  Cotton signed a contract with Minnesota and will be a member of the Twins bullpen in 2022.

Joe Barlow was a rookie relief pitcher with Texas in 2021.  Barlow took over as the closer after Ian Kennedy was traded to Philadelphia.  In 31 games, Barlow had a record of 0-2, with a 1.55 ERA, and 11 saves.  Barlow will be an important member of the Texas bullpen in 2022.

Joely Rodriguez was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2021.  In 31 relief appearances, Rodriguez pitched 27.1 innings, had a record of1-3, and a 5.93 ERA.  Rodriguez started the 2021 season with the Rangers before he was shipped to the New York Yankees with Joey Gallo.  Rodriguez is currently a member of the Yankees bullpen.

Brett de Geus started the season in the Texas bullpen after he was acquired in the 2021 rule 5 draft.  In 19 relief appearances, de Geus had a record of 0-0, with an 8.44 ERA.  Texas placed de Geus on waivers in June and he was selected by Arizona.  In 2022, de Geus will continue to be a member of the Diamondabcks organization.

Demarcus Evans was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2021.  In 25 releif appearances, Evans pitched 26.1 innings, had a record of 0-2, with a 5.13 ERA.  Evans has a chance to be an important member of the Texas bullpen in 2022.

Wes Benjamin was in his 2nd season with the Rangers in 2021.  In 13 games, including two spot starts, Benjamin pitched 22.2 innings, had a record of 0-2, with a 8.74 ERA.  Benjamin split the 2021 season between the Rangers and AAA.  Benjamin was designated for assignment and was removed from the Texas 40-man roster.  Benjamin remains with the Rangers organization to start the 2022 season.

2021 Texas Rangers Bench

Jonah Heim split catching duties with Trevino in 2021.  In 82 games, Heim hit for a .196 AVG, with 10 HR, 32 RBI’s, and three SB.  Heim will likely continue to platoon at catcher in 2022.

Andy Ibanez was a utility infielder for the Rangers in 2021.  In 76 games, Ibanez hit for a .277 AVG, with seven HR and 25 RBI’s.  Ibanez will likely be a full-time utility infielder for the Rangers in 2022.

Charlie Culberson was a super-utility player for the Rangers in 2021.  Culberson played every position except CF and C for Texas.  In 90 games, Culberson hit for a .243 AVG, with five HR, 22 RBI’s, and seven SB.  After the season, Culberson was granted free agency and currently remains a free agent.

David Dahl primarily played LF for Texas until he was released in August.  In 63 games, Dahl hit for a .210 AVG, with four HR, 18 RBI’s, and two SB.  Dahl signed a contract to play in the Milwaukee organization for the remainder of 2021 and is still a member of the Brewers.

Eli White split time between the Rangers OF and AAA in 2021.  In 64 games, White hit for a .177 AVG, with six HR, 15 RBI’s, and four SB.  White will likely be a reserve OF for the Rangers in 2022.

DJ Peters was picked up off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2021.  Peters primarily played in the OF for Texas.  In 52 games, Peters hit for a .198 AVG, with 12 HR, 34 RBI, and two SB.  Texas released Peters in December and he continues to be a free agent.

Leody Taveras split the 2021 season between AAA and the Rangers OF.  In 49 games, Taveras hit for a .161 AVG, with three HR, nine RBI’s, and 10 SB.  Taveras will be entering his 3rd season in Texas in 2022.

Yonny Hernandez was a backup infielder for Texas in 2021.  In 43 games, Hernandez hit for a .217 AVG, with six RBI’s, and 11 SB.  Hernadez will likely remain in a reserve INF role with Texas in 2022.

Jason Martin split the 2021 season between AAA and the Texas OF.  In 58 games, Martin hit for a .208 AVG, with six HR, 17 RBI’s, and three SB.  After the season, Martin was granted free agency and is currently a free agent.