It's time for Ezequiel Duran to take over the Rangers' everyday duties at second base

As we dive into May, we are starting to get a sense of what the Texas Rangers look like best on field day after day and the door might finally be opening for a young utility man to make his mark.

With Josh Smith continuing to struggle, Skip Schumaker recently gave him a few days off to get his head right and implemented Ezequiel Duran as his replacement at second base. And quite frankly, the 26-year-old has done more than plenty to justify that course of action.

Even though Smith returned on Saturday, Texas will place Duran in right field with the absence of Brandon Nimmo but once Nimmo is back. How can Texas justify giving Smith more at-bats over Duran?

Rangers' second base job up for debate one month into season

After dominaiting the compeition during spring training, Smith entered the 2026 regular season with Schumaker's full confidence to take over the second base job following the offeseason trade of Marcus Semien.

One thing has been revealed though. On the defensive side he is no Semien and offensively, they might as well have kept the 35-year-old, who is now in Queens with the Mets. In 85 at-bats, Smith is batting .188 with no home runs, six RBIs and only two doubles. Meanwhile he's struck out 20 times and has managed to record a horrible .512 OPS.

On the other end, Duran has produced in almost every opportunity the Rangers have inserted him into. He's batting .274 with a home run, eight RBIs, five doubles, three stolen bases, .403 slugging percentage and a .741 OPS in 24 games.

He's also shown a liking for high-leverage moments, hitting .429 with a 1.000 OPS, a double and four runs driving in during the ninth inning of ball games.

It's kind of ironic that this is happening to Duran and his main competition is Smith. For the longest time, Smith was the utility man in the Texas lineup with Duran being the odd man out.

Now, Duran is the utility man and quite simply looks to be put in the best position to succeed when is moving all around the diamond wherever the Rangers need him. Already having played him at five different positions (2B, 3B, SS, LF and RF) in the team's first 32 games, his value is unmatched to Schumaker right now.

But the reason why Schumaker might be hesitant is that Duran isn't the most promising second baseman. His true dominant position is either left field or on the the left side of the infield.

Getting the lineup right is equally important at this time of the season. Entering play on Sunday, the Rangers sit a game below .500, but that's still good for second place in the AL West, only a game back of the Athletics.

It's time to right the hot hand and until Smith is able to kick it up and Cody Freeman is able to return from the back injury it's time to I give Duran a realisitic chance.

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