The Dream Lineup for the 2024 Texas Rangers

Eric Nadel said it in his call of the final out that fans are not dreaming the Texas Rangers are World Series champions. Ever since then though it has felt like a dream and I constantly have to look at my hat and remember that the Texas Rangers did win the World Series. While I am in this dream-like state I thought why not dream about what I would like the Texas Rangers lineup to look like in the 2024 season. Lets go crazy with this and just imagine the dream lineup for the Texas Rangers that will help them repeat as World Series champions. This lineup will consist of players that are currently on the roster, players that could be traded for, and players that could be signed as free agents this offseason.

Batting First 2B: Marcus Semien

No surprise here. The AL MVP finalist will remain in my dream lineup. He will continue to hit leadoff, Semien led the league in hits and runs. He had 100 RBIs as a leadoff hitter. He plays excellent defense at second base. He shows up every day and is available to play.

Semien set a major league record this past season with 835 plate appearances in a full season plus postseason. His ability to post-up every day is a significant part of his value. Semien has been in the majors for all or parts of 11 seasons. In that time he has played in 150 or more games seven times. In the 60-game pandemic season he played in 53 games. Semien takes care of his body and puts in the work to be ready to play every day. Semien will of course be a part of this dream lineup and will continue to hit leadoff.

Batting Second SS: Corey Seager

This is the easiest choice of everyone in the infield. Seager is the best offensive shortstop in all of baseball. He will finish in the top three in AL MVP voting and should win it. He did win the World Series MVP, the second of his career. He has put together consecutive 30 home run seasons at shortstop. He was a gold glove finalist this season. He had over a 1.000 OPS this season. He was everything the Rangers thought they were getting when they signed him for 10 years and over 300 million back in 2021.

Seager led the Texas Rangers to their first World Series championship in his second season in Arlington. His steadiness and robot-like qualities are what make him as great as he is. When Seager is in the lineup, he makes everyone around him better. Seager exhibits a patient aggressiveness at the plate. He is in swing mode when he steps in the box, but he also does not chase much. Pitchers cannot throw a lazy strike one to Corey Seager. If they do it may end up well over the fence in right field, just ask Paul Sewald. Even in this dream lineup Seager is likely the best hitter in the lineup. Yes, Seager is in my dream lineup and hitting in his normal number-two hole.

Batting Third 1B: Pete Alonso

This is our first change. I love Nathaniel Lowe and everything he has contributed to this team. His defensive improvement was remarkable this past season as he won his first Gold Glove award. Lowe is also a Silver Slugger award winner back in 2022.

Alonso though gives this lineup an increase in raw power. In 2023 Alonso had 46 home runs for the New York Mets. Since 2019 Alonso has hit 40 or more home runs three times. Alonso would provide serious protection for Seager and force pitchers to have to pitch to him or face Alonso with runners on base. It would be a more difficult decision than when Robbie Grossman was hitting behind Seager in the playoffs this year.

The one concern with Alonso would be the low batting average of .217 this past season, plus an increase in the amount of strikeouts. He also saw his OPS take a dip this past season. Some of that could be attributed to the lack of success the Mets had and injuries that he may have been dealing with. Alonso can come to Texas if they can work out a trade and be a part of this dream Texas Rangers lineup. He can hit third and lead the league in RBIs getting to hit behind Semien and Seager.

Batting fourth DH: Shohei Ohtani

The two-way free agent in my dream signs with Texas and immediately becomes their full time DH. He hits for power and average. He also will add 15-20 stolen bases as well. Ohtani is the best player in baseball and would be an ideal signing for the Texas Rangers.

Ohtani has a competitive spirit that has not been seen much in Anaheim due to the fact that the Angels have not been very good for the last few seasons. I do remember when the Angels were still competitive in June they came into Arlington and took three of four. Ohtani led the way in that series as he had four home runs, eight RBIs, and six hits in the four-game series. Don't discount Ohtani's performance in the World Baseball Classic in March leading Japan all the way to the title in a win over the United States including a strikeout of his teammate Mike Trout to end the game.

I think Texas signing Ohtani would be the best thing for his career and for the Rangers. It would allow him to really experience a winning culture and allow him to be a part of a winning team and not be the only reason why the team win. Ohtani even as just a hitter can come here and join this dream lineup. He can come hit. 300, have 30-40 home runs, and drive in 100 in this lineup. In this dream lineup Ohtani will DH and hit cleanup.

Batting fifth RF: Adolis Garcia

I have to include El Bombi. He is not the best right fielder in the game. He still has holes in his swing. He strikes out too much. With the game on the line I want Garcia at the plate. He came through time and time again in the postseason. The three-run home run in game five of the ALCS, the grand slam in game six of the ALCS, the two home runs in game seven of the ALCS. Garcia followed it up with this home run in game one of the World Series.

Garcia for that home run alone can be in my dream lineup. He continues to be the heart and soul of the Texas Rangers. When he went down in the World Series he became their inspiration to win it all. I hope that he stays in Texas for as long as he wants to be here. Garcia will play right field in this dream lineup and hit fifth.

Batting seventh C: Jonah Heim

Why change something that has clearly worked. Heim is one of the best offensive and defensive catchers in all of baseball. He just won his first gold glove. He had several critical base hits in the postseason run and has the trust of every pitcher on the staff. I am not changing anything at catcher.

Heim is really starting to come into his own the last two seasons. He spent several years toiling in the minors. He finally got his shot with Texas and is not throwing it away. He is not just a place holder in the lineup. He is a producer. He had a .375 batting average with runners in scoring position. That included nine home runs and 84 RBIs. His ability at 6'4 to get the bat through the zone as quick as he does really can make it difficult for pitchers. He can reach out to the edge of the plate and still make solid contact and his swing allows him to spray the ball to all fields.

Heim with his defensive prowess and ability to come through with runners on base will be in my dream lineup. He will play catcher as often as he can and will hit seventh.

Batting eighth 3B: Josh Jung

The All-Star starter at third base in his rookie season is in my dream lineup. He does strike out too often for my liking, but he hits with power, he drives runners in, and puts the work in to get better every day. He strives to be the best defensively at third base and offensively.

Jung still has so much room to get better. His ceiling likely will see him be a 30-home run per season player, striking out much less, and hitting for a much higher batting average. In 2023 it feels like he was only scratching the surface of how good he can be. Yet, even with that said he still hit .266, with 23 home runs, and 70 RBIs. That is with Jung missing a majority of the second half of the season with a broken thumb.

Jung can be in my dream lineup any day as I know that he will work every day to become the best version of himself that he can be. He will not stop until he gets there and even then he will continue to try and improve. Jung will be in the lineup, playing third, and hitting eighth.

Batting ninth LF: Evan Carter

The rookie sensation who stood out among players much more experienced than him is in my dream outfield as the left fielder. He made several excellent plays throughout the postseason including the catch at the wall that led to Jose Altuve being doubled off in game one of the ALCS. He had more doubles in a postseason than anyone in baseball history with nine. He did this all while having just turned 21 and barely any games played above Double-A. His ceiling is astronomically high. His pitch recognition ability is already among the best in all of baseball. The one flaw he has is his struggles against left-handed pitchers.

Carter is one of the rare top prospects who actually lives up to the billing. He was rated as a top 10 prospect for much of the 2023 season and was Texas' top overall prospect for the entire season. If not for Garcia's patellar tendon injury suffered in September there is a good chance that Carter is not called up at all. It was a unfortunate injury for Garcia that had a fortunate outcome for the Texas Rangers. Carter immediately came up and made a difference.

Carter played in 23 games in the regular seaon and finished with a .306 batting average, five home runs, 12 RBIs, and a 1.058 OPS. Then he just continued to play well throughout the postseason. He worked his way from ninth in the lineup, to fifth, to third, and even hit cleanup in the World Series. Bochy immediately trusted the 21-year phenom. Of course I will trust Carter as well and he will be in the dream lineup, playing left field, and hitting ninth.

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