Texas Rangers Keep Next-Man-Up Mentality
Losing a player is always tough for a team to overcome, especially when it is an All-Star.
The Texas Rangers lost third-baseman and 2023 All-Star Josh Jung to a hit-by-pitch.
It broke his wrist, and he needed surgery.
Jung had to be replaced on the roster with rookie infielder Justin Foscue, a former Ranger Report Podcast guest. Foscue is a good player, but not Josh Jung.
Last Season to This Season
In 2023, the Rangers had the mentality of being the next man up whenever an injury happened. They wound up winning the World Series.
The team is going with the same theme for 2024. No Josh Jung? No problem.
Josh Smith has stepped in and stepped up at third both defensively and at the plate. Smith is batting .313/.450/.438/.888 with 4 RBI so far.
Justin Foscue got his first MLB hit yesterday off Josh Hader. The Rangers have begun the season with a record of 6-3.
The starting rotation, headed up by Nathan Eovaldi, has been good. They are missing Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle. The pen is without Josh Sborz and Jonathan Hernandez. They keep winning games.
The next man up is real for this team.
The Texas Rangers have a chance to be a better team than they were in 2023 when they won it all. The Astros have started slowly, but I believe they will be better than their current record of 3-7.
Can the Texas Rangers pull off two straight seasons of next man-up?
The early results are promising.
This team has the fight and the will to win. They have already had to overcome the odds to be in first place. Injury is a fact of life for Major League teams. How you deal with those injuries makes the difference.
The Rangers seem to have the will to win no matter which 9 players are on the field. If they can keep that up, it should be another very enjoyable season for Texas Rangers fans.
The next-man-up mentality is what good teams do.
No matter who is out, the team can step up and get the job done.
Photo: Getty Images
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Categorized:Rangers The Ranger Report