This is going up a little late due to issues related to real life. The Jays have split the series with the Rangers so far 1-1 with the rubber match currently underway.
The Rangers are 27-29, third in the AL West and 4.5 games behind the Mariners in the division.
I reached out to Lone Star Ball and their Site Manager Adam Morris agreed to answer a few questions.
1. The Rangers seemed to hit a rough patch in early May but turned it around lately. What is the feeling of the fans on the current team going forward?
The vibe isn’t good. The Rangers didn’t hit much in 2024, but it was seen as an aberration and the thought was that the offense would be a strength in 2025. That’s not happening, and there’s a general freak out going on among a lot of Rangers fans that the team is getting dominating starting pitching but it is going to waste due to pitiful hitting.
2. Old friend Marcus Semien is having the worst year of his career right now. Any idea what’s happened to him?
I wish I knew. Semien has always been a slow starter, which is what we were chalking this up to a month ago, but things are getting out of hand at this point. His xwOBA of .312 is 80 points higher than his actual wOBA, and in line with what he put up in 2024, so there’s probably an element of bad luck involved. But he’s also going to be 35 in September, and Father Time may simply be catching up with him.
3. A quarter of the way in, how are fans feeling about the Rangers offseason moves? Did they do enough?
The offseason moves are getting mixed reviews, at best. On the plus side, bringing Nathan Eovaldi back — something that was reportedly the team’s top priority in the offseason — looks great right now. And Robert Garcia, acquired from the Nationals for Nathaniel Lowe, has been stellar, and appears to have taken over the closer role. On the other hand, the two big bats added — Joc Pederson and Jake Burger — haven’t hit (Burger even got sent down to AAA for a brief stretch). Smaller moves to improve the offense, such as bringing in Kevin Pillar to play center against lefties and adding Kyle Higashioka to share the catching job, haven’t panned out (Pillar has been DFA’d already). And the quantity over quality approach to rebuilding the bullpen has the team lacking in quality high leverage options, with Luke Jackson, the closer at the start of the season, having now been moved out of that role.
4. Which prospect are Rangers fans most excited for that might debut this year?
Alejandro Osuna would appear to be the guy. He is a high-energy guy who had a great camp and has now been called up to replace Joc Pederson. Although the real answer since you said “might” is probably Sebastian Walcott. He’s just barely 19 years old and probably won’t come up this year, but if he is going strong at the end of the year its not out of the question.
5. Who is your favourite member of the team to watch right now?
Wyatt Langford or Jacob deGrom. Langford because he looks like he’s turning into a legit all-round star, deGrom because he’s Jacob Freaking deGrom.
6. Finally, just a fun little exercise, if you could choose any player who debuted with the Ranger at any point in their history and drop them into this team at their rookie position and with their rookie year numbers, who would it be?
Mike Hargrove. 140 OPS+ with terrific defense at first base. Allows Burger to platoon with Joc (once healthy) at DH and gives the offense a big boost.
Thanks Adam!