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Best 9 Texas Rangers home runs of 2023

The 2023 Rangers were characterized by their explosive offense. Many home runs were hit this season and I wanted to highlight some that had extra significance to Rangers fans.

By Jacob Stubbs |
World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers - Game One
World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers - Game One / Stacy Revere/GettyImages
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The 2023 Rangers were a high-flying offense. They scored 10 or more runs a staggering 26 times during the 2023 regular season. Those high-scoring outings were often made possible by the Rangers' propensity for the long ball. They were tied for third in total home runs during the regular season with the Twins at 233, only trailing the Braves and Dodgers. Many of those home runs were significant, but there are a few Rangers fans will never forget. Let us go on a journey reliving these memorable home runs from the 2023 season.

The Best Texas Rangers regular season home runs

Our first stop takes us to Houston for a July regular season game between the future ALCS combatants. The first home run I wanted to highlight will be pointed back to for years to come. The home run that lit the torch for a fiery in-state rivalry. That would be Adolis Garcia's grand slam from July 26th in Houston. Tensions were high all game due to the banter between Marcus Semien and Martin Maldonado. So when Garcia launched a ball onto the train track in left field off Seth Martinez for a grand slam in the fifth inning to make the game 13-3, Semien let Maldonado know about it. Benches soon cleared resulting in a rare Marcus Semien ejection. This home run let the Astros know the Rangers meant business and laid the groundwork for an epic ALCS.

The next home run also comes from the man known as "El Bombi". The Rangers were in Game 3 of a home series against the Twins and had been struggling mightily. Adolis Garcia had been in a rather long slump and the frustration could be seen in every at-bat. So when he stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 9th and sent a no-doubter out to left field to end the game, Rangers fans all shared the relief Garcia expressed at the plate. This home run was an example of the team's resilience and would carry with them through the playoffs.

Best Texas Rangers home runs in the ALDS

The next stop on our journey of memorable home runs takes us to the ALDS. The Rangers were fresh off a sweep of the Rays in Tampa. They were up 1-0 in the series against the Orioles after a close, low-scoring Game 1. Then Mitch Garver hit a grand slam to left field to blow Game 2 open. It was 9-2 Rangers as a result and this home run was the first indication that this team might have a special postseason run in store. This home run put the Rangers in position to sweep the one-seed Orioles.

In the clinching game of the ALDS, Nate Lowe tugged at all of our heartstrings with his 6th-inning home run. It came to light before the Rays series that Lowe's mother, Wendy, was battling brain cancer. Nate had been slumping late in the regular season and into the playoffs. This story illuminated what could have been causing those struggles. So when he sent one out over the right-center field wall, the relief and elation in his reaction were special to see.

Best Texas Rangers home runs in the ALCS

Texas swept Baltimore and moved on to the ALCS against the rival Houston Astros. That is where our next stop on our journey takes us is to the ALCS. The next home run on the list came in Game 6 of the ALCS. This home run flies a little under the radar due to the one that will follow it, but Mitch Garver's tying home run in the 2nd inning of this game was crucial. The Rangers were fresh off losing three straight to the Astros at home and were now trailing a series for the first time all postseason. The morale was low for Rangers fans, it seemed that Houston getting one win at home was all too likely with the momentum they had gained. Garver tied the game up after the Astros took an early lead and showed the Rangers would not be going down without a fight.

Later in that same game, El Bombi gave an encore to his grand slam from July. Of course there is much backstory to this home run. Bryan Abreu put a fastball in between Adolis Garcia's shoulder blades in Game 5 and Garcia whipped around to Maldonado to let him know he didn't believe it was an accident. Unfortunately, Jose Altuve went on to hit a go-ahead home run in the 9th of that game that sent the series back to Houston with the Astros having all the momentum.

Following the drama of Game 5, Garcia was booed at every at-bat of Game 6. Up until his fourth at-bat it seemed like it was definitely in his head. He had struck out four times, swinging for the fences in an attempt to make a statement each time. In his fifth at-bat, he made his statement. He sent Astros fans for the exits and the ALCS to Game 7.

His two-homer game in Game 7 to follow is an honorable mention for me, but his grand slam in Game 6 is what felt like swung the momentum back the Rangers way.

The Best Texas Rangers home runs in the World Series

These next two home runs are arguably the two biggest in Rangers franchise history. Corey Seager's monstrous blast in the bottom of the ninth in Game 1 of the World Series signaled a new age for the Rangers. Having been down since the middle of the game, the Rangers were looking for some ninth-inning heroics. Seager's game-tying home run off Paul Sewald in the bottom of the ninth was one of my most exhilarating moments as a Rangers fan. I knew they could win the whole thing after Seager hit this home run.

That home run of course made possible yet another from Adolis Garcia. As Joe Davis said, "And the legend grows!" as El Bombi sent a walk-off home run opposite field to bring Game 1 home for the Rangers. This home run gave Adolis the all-time single postseason RBI record surpassing what David Freese did in 2011. It also cemented Garcia as a Rangers legend. I don't think any Ranger fan will forget how truly incredible he was during this postseason run.

To bring this "Best of" to a close, I have to highlight Marcus Semien's home run in the 9th inning of Game 5 of the World Series. The Rangers captain had his struggles during the postseason, but he came alive in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series. His home run was the dagger. As I watched that ball fly out to left center field, I knew they had done it. Semien's reaction rounding first all but confirmed it. With that game-sealing home run, the Rangers championship drought was over.

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