Rangers' culture gets a surprising shoutout via MacKenzie Gore's recruitment of Trevor Williams

On top of being one of the best pitchers for the Texas Rangers over the past month-and-a-half, MacKenzie Gore has been an ace recruiter on behalf of the organization since coming to Arlington in a massive deal that saw five Texas farmhands go to the Nationals.

New right-handed reliever Trevor Williams, Gore's teammate in Washington, who was DFA'd August 30, made it very clear that the lefty fireballer lobbied hard to get him to come to Texas. Despite all the talk to the contrary, Gore had nothing but good things to say about the team and the state of Texas, and it played a big part in why the salty, versatile veteran decided to accept the Rangers' contract offer.

People have had plenty to say about the culture of the Rangers clubhouse in the years following the amazing 2023 World Championship run

A lot has been said about how the Rangers' locker room had become splintered, with factions forming, leading to the team having poor chemistry. Disgruntled after being DFA'd last season, Kevin Pillar didn't mince words when he said he was surprised at how fractured the team was after witnessing their amazing, galvanized run as their road heroics brought the first World Series banner to Texas.

Others have claimed that Arlington wasn't an appealing destination for free agents because they were not willing to spend money like some of the top contenders. Or that the team, as currently constructed, lacked any tangible identity - that they had completely lost their 2023 mojo.

Some of the fanbase, along with people inside the organization, have bemoaned Ray Davis and Chris Young's lack of aggression in acquiring difference-making assets that could have put this playoff bubble roster firmly into the postseason conversation.

Well, none of that seemed to make its way to Gore, as he was glowing about his new home. Williams said that the southpaw was desperately trying to get him to Globe Life Field, saying, "All year, MacKenzie has been blowing up my phone about how great Texas is and this organization.”

Gore's glowing review of his new home and new teammates was enough to lure a very nice addition this late in the season. Williams had a rough first outing, but you have to expect a little rust, as he pitched only 17 innings for the Nats after coming back from internal brace surgery. He registered an impressive 2.65 ERA in the brief stint.

He may not be a league winner, but with injuries hampering Cole Winn and Peyton Gray, any proven right-handed relief help can't hurt. Williams works with an assortment of off-speed pitches - all at 90 mph and below. He is a pitch-maker, and when he is on, he is very tough to barrel up. The Rangers have MacKenzie Gore to thank for getting in his friend's ear and really selling this team and the organization as a whole.

Hopefully, he can return to his 2024 form when he notched a tidy 2.03 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 66.2 innings with a 2.5 bWAR. He has been both a starter and a reliever, so he is perfectly suited to go two or three innings if needed. The Rangers don't have that kind of long reliever since Cal Quantrill earned a spot in the starting rotation. The team has just 22 games left to either overtake the Astros for the AL West title or earn the final wild-card spot.

This could also serve as an audition of sorts for Williams to return to the Rangers next season. If he enjoys his time here as much as Gore has, he might be willing to come back, given he earns that opportunity.

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