Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Rangers

 

It looked like a runaway.

The Texas Rangers using the offseason to assemble Corey Kluber, Kyle Gibson, Jordan Lyles, Mike Minor, Lance Lynn and Kolby Allard into the same rotation felt like a challenge to Houston, and a statement that the Rangers would be competing in 2020. With Todd Frazier at third, Gallo, Andrus and Odor ready for prime seasons, and Woodward finally seeming confident, there was no way this team couldn't...have completely underwhelmed.

Kluber getting injured was the first sign of trouble. Then Gibson, Lyles and Minor kept getting killed on the mound. Then Joey Gallo gets hurt midseason, along with Danny Santana. Then Frazier gets traded to the Mets along with the only competent catcher. And by the end, the last-place Rangers basically limped to the finish line. Sad to see, but it illuminated that this team still has a ways to go before it's ready to compete, and signing a bunch of pitchers can't solve everything.

First of all, Corey Kluber, who excited everyone on his first summer camp trials as a Ranger, and looked to be a prime figure into the 2020 season. Then, one inning into his debut as a Ranger, he's pulled, and has an injury that requires him to miss the rest of the season. And just like that, the Rangers just traded a bunch of prospects for exactly one inning. To be fair, it was a good inning, and Corey Kluber still struck out a batter and didn't allow any earned runs. And, for a while, Kluber still had one of the higher ERAs on the team despite only pitching that one inning. But...it was a massive disappointment that started a season full of them for the Rangers.

2021 Prediction: Dear god I really hope somebody signs him. Let's not go for a Brandon Webb situation here, Kluber still has some stuff left. Somebody'll take a chance and he'll be back, albeit in limited form.

Kyle Gibson was coming off a number of strong seasons for the Twins, which made his slump back into mediocrity even more saddening. Despite pitching in 12 games, he still held a 5.35 ERA, with 58 strikeouts and a 2-6 record. Not a great run of things, sadly.

2021 Prediction: A few steps up, though it'll be tough for him to keep his ERA below 4.

Jordan Lyles, post-2019-breakout, sort of reverted back to his usual habits this year, and had a 7.02 ERA in 9 starts, hence a move to the bullpen for September. It was sad to see Lyles hold the highest WHIP of the rotation, with a 1.561.

2021 Prediction: An eventual permanent move to the bullpen, with sharper results.

And then there's Kolby Allard, poised for success after his 2019 debut, then saddled with a 7.75 ERA in 12 games, 8 of which were starts. In Allard's case, the move to the bullpen did help a bit, but...I really hope this is just sophomore slump talk happening, as Allard was so good last year and shouldn't flame out this early.

2021 Prediction: A full season of production, 10 wins and 150 strikeouts, and the respect he deserved in a normal year this year.

2020 was the last year of Shin-Soo Choo's mega-year contract in Arlington, and I'd say the Rangers got their money's worth out of Choo in that time. 7 seasons, nearly 800 games, 771 hits, 355 RBIs, 114 and a .260 average, plus an ASG gig in 2018. Not bad at all for a guy who struggled to make a name for himself in Cleveland. This last season was marred by injury, and he only hit .236 in 33 games, but he still left on a very high note.

2021 Prediction: I don't think anyone is gonna sign him, but if anyone does it'll be a victory lap year.

Ronald Guzman, basically be default at this point, continued to flaunt the starting 1st base position in Arlington. He was limited to 26 games due to injury, but hit .244 with 9 RBIs.

2021 Prediction: Healthier numbers, but will inevitably lose the starting spot to a younger, better player.

Okay, onto a batch of four rookies who made me think that good things might be on the way for the Rangers. The first is relief specialist Jonathan Hernandez, who led the bullpen in innings with 31, strikeouts with 31, and ERA with 2.90. Hernandez was absolutely solid in relief this year, and will be a big part in the 2021 Rangers bullpen.

2021 Prediction: His ERA will go down the second the Rangers foolishly hand him the ninth.

Meanwhile, Kyle Cody was a rare Rangers starter whose ERA didn't balloon. While he didn't kick in as a starter til the last month or so of the season, Cody was still very strong, with a 1.59 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 8 appearances, along with the largest WAR of any pitcher not named Lynn. Definitely a good start for him, even in a crowded, bloated city for starters.

2021 Prediction: Will begin the season in the rotation and keep the gig by keeping his ERA below 3. He and Allard are gonna be a fun tag-team.

Meanwhile, Leody Taveras sprung into the outfield in August and owned centerfield from then on, with a 6 in the fielding column making up for his negative batting numbers. Taveras is just what Texas needed, a speedy, durable defensive outfielder who can hit if pressed. 

2021 Prediction: The average goes up a bit, but those OF numbers are gonna keep him in consideration for a gold glove.

Meanwhile, as the Chirinos trade and injuries to Jose Trevino put the starting catching job in disarray [read: nearly given to Jeff Mathis], Sam Huff was called up. Huff definitely improved on the lack of offensive output, hitting .355 with 11 hits, 4 RBIs and 3 homers in just 10 games. It was a breath of fresh air that pointed towards great things next year.

2021 Prediction: The starting catching gig is his, as are 30 homers and a LARGE shot at Rookie of the Year.

And then, after the Reds cut him before the season...Derek Dietrich dropped into Globe Life Field for 25 games, hit .197 9 RBIs and 5 homers, and didn't do a great deal else because, at this rate, he's not much more than a glorified bench bat and clutch hitter. Again, not much nuance to his season, but the Rangers weren't looking for nuance when they signed him.

2021 Prediction: Similar random signing, similar bench numbers.

Coming Tomorrow- A few extra customs from the AL Champs.