The 2023 season is officially a week old and the Texas Rangers have looked phenomenal. Texas sits at a 5-2 record tied for first place in the AL West and many things have been much improved from last season.
Since the season is still young, many baseball fans like to overreact to what they’ve seen in the first week. Since overreacting is fun (especially when your team is playing well) I figured that I’d give it a try. Here are Five Texas Rangers’ overreactions one week in 2023.
The Rangers Offense is Elite – By the end of the first weekend, every overreaction noticed how elite the Rangers’ offense was. Texas put up 29 runs in the first series against the Phillies. They struggled a little bit in their series with the Orioles scoring just 7 runs in three games and being held to just one hit and one walk in their series-opening 2-0 loss. Overall, the Rangers’ offense has been firing on all cylinders and should continue to do so throughout the season.
Dane Dunning and Cole Ragans are spectacular in the pen – When the Rangers went on a starting pitching splurge this offseason, Dane Dunning and Cole Ragans were pushed down the depth chart. Dunning and Ragans have been money in their new roles out of the pen this season. The two young stars have combined to pitch 9 innings this season and neither has given up a run. If the two young arms can keep this up throughout the season, Texas will have two multi-inning options that should make this Rangers bullpen better than expected this season.
Josh Jung Rookie of the Year? – Early on this season, Rangers rookie 3rd baseman Josh Jung has been killing it at the plate. Jung is hitting .318 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. One of those homers was a second-inning shot of Bailey Falter on Sunday Night baseball which ended up being a game-winner. Not to mention Jung’s defense which was often considered the weakest part of his game has been much improved in 2023. If Jung can continue his success on both sides of the ball, it only makes the Rangers that much better.
The Bullpen is really good – Coming into the Rangers’ first road series of the year against the Cubs, the Texas Bullpen has fired 21 straight scoreless innings. Bruce Bochy is an elite manager who certainly knows how to manage the Texas pen but his players haven’t been so bad either. Late-innings guys like Jonathan Hernandez, Will Smith, and Jose Leclerc have been money out of the back end shutting down multiple games for the Rangers. Multi-inning players like Dane Dunning, Brock Burke, and Cole Ragans have also provided length when Texas has needed it. If the Rangers bullpen keeps this up throughout the season, this is a pretty complete team.
