Ranking potential 2022 All-Stars representing the Texas Rangers
A lot of money was invested in this season’s Texas Rangers roster: a whopping grand total of $500+ million went on the ledgers of owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson. And while the Rangers won the off-season, the results have not been quite as good as people might have expected over two months into the 2022 season.
They aren’t too terrible either though, as Texas finds themselves right in the mix for one of the three AL Wild Card spots for now.
A roughly average team (which is what the Texas Rangers are at the moment) won’t produce many All-Stars at the end of the day, but the one (or ones) who could be representing the Rangers in Los Angeles in July aren’t necessarily the ones you would’ve expected heading into 2022.
Fan balloting has officially opened for the Midsummer Classic (vote now for your Rangers!), so let’s rank the potential Texas Rangers representatives to Dodger Stadium next month.
Ranking potential Texas Rangers 2022 All-Stars
A near-lock: Martin Perez
Martin Perez. What else needs to be said?
He’s having an unbelievable season as the de-facto ace of the Texas Rangers’ 2022 rotation, with a 1.56 ERA in 11 starts. Coming off an AL Pitcher of the Month accolade in May, Perez is nearly a lock to represent the Rangers in Los Angeles next month.
Fans don’t vote for pitchers, but it would be hard for me to believe Perez isn’t going to be selected for the AL roster given that he’s been one of the league’s best to this point.
A once-top prospect in the Rangers’ organization, Perez is certainly pitching like that in his return to Texas. He’s a new man and should crack the All-Star team for the first time in his 11-year career.
Ranking potential Texas Rangers 2022 All-Stars
In the mix: Jonah Heim, Nathaniel Lowe, Joe Barlow, Brock Burke, Adolis Garcia
Of this group, Heim would be the most likely All-Star given his .792 OPS and seven home runs, both of which rank among the league leaders at the catcher position.
The only catcher with more long balls in the AL is Toronto’s Danny Jansen and he’s also the only catcher in the AL who’s been flat-out better overall than Heim this season. With enough fan voting, I could see Heim making the All-Star team as a reserve.
As for the others, Lowe is having a solid year, but solid isn’t usually enough to win the day with fan voting. Barlow and Burke are pitchers and therefore aren’t selected by fans, but have both been reliable enough to merit consideration for the AL roster for their performances out of the bullpen.
Garcia was a 2021 All-Star, but has not been as good in 2022, making it unlikely he gains a second-consecutive appearance, though it’s of course possible.
Ranking potential Texas Rangers 2022 All-Stars
Unlikely: Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jon Gray, Mitch Garver, Kole Calhoun
Would you look at that? The list of names above nearly comprises the major acquisitions made by the Texas Rangers prior to the 2022 season. And none of them are going to be All-Stars in 2022.
Disappointing? I suppose so, especially when it comes to the money Seager and Semien both received. The middle infielders are struggling overall at the plate, though the latter has been heating up of late. Still, the valiant effort won’t be nearly enough.
When both are at their best, Seager and Semien are easy All-Stars, and we hope to witness a return to that form for both in 2023.
As for Gray, Garver and Calhoun, it’s been much of the same as Semien and Seager: just underwhelming. None of these players deserve to represent the Rangers at Dodger Stadium next month.