This Rangers player has quietly emerged as Team MVP in April

It's hard to envision a world where Wyatt Langford is not the Texas Rangers' Most Valuable Player to start the season but one utilityman is making a massive case it should be him.

Josh Smith, 27, is not only providing one of the best consistent bats in the lineup but also Gold Glove caliber defense at not 1, not 2, not 3... but 7 different positions on the field.

The former LSU Tiger, Smith made his MLB Debut in 2022 with the Rangers and up until last year was viewed as a platoon guy, never really hitting his stride. In his first two seasons, Smith only combined for 8 home runs, 31 RBIs, 52 runs and a .191 batting average. The script was flipped upside down with a career year in 2024.

Smith set a career high in games (149), runs (67), hits (135), doubles (30, home runs (13), RBI (62), stolen bases (11), batting average (.258), on-base (.337), slugging (.394) and OPS (.731). He did all this while playing five defensive positions and DH.

To start the year, Smith has the second-highest batting average (.294) and OPS (.818) on the team, he's tied for fourth in hits (20) and first in runs (12) in 23 games. Smith also has an above-average glove at the different positions but thrives at third base.

Smith is perhaps the best players involved in the Rangers 2021 trade that sent Joey Gallo to the New York Yankees. Which is saying something because Gallo had a solid few seasons with Texas but has since fallen off a cliff. The other prospect returns haven't paid off as much, with the second-most successful of the bunch being Ezequiel Duran.

The best thing about Smith is he shines in any moment that he is called on for. He doesn't need to hit in a specific spot in the batting order, he doesn't need to play a certain position. Smith can get the job done wherever and whenever he's needed.

Of course, all of the stats he is second in on the team, the likely MVP Wyatt Langford, ranks first. Which is a rightful recognition since Langford is hitting .344 with an OPS of 1.107 and six home runs. Because of that we can't fully commit to Smith being the team's MVP to start the year but he's definitely emerged as a top candidate.