In crazy Texas Rangers season, here’s why it makes sense to put Leody Taveras on team
Opening Day arrives Friday for the Texas Rangers, who have still have 39 of the 59 players on the summer-camp roster housed at Globe Life Field.
But not all 39 are in the mix for the season-opening 30-man roster.
The number is reduced to 36 after removing right-handed reliever Rafael Montero and left-handed relievers Brett Martin and Joely Rodriguez as they deal with various ailments that will delay their regular-season availability.
It’s looking more and more like catcher Robinson Chirinos and left fielder Willie Calhoun will be on the roster despite injuries that have slowed them the past week.
So that leaves 36 players, but really only 12 who are competing for a roster spot.
One of those is finally coming into his own, albeit still at only 21 years old.
Leody Taveras could grab a roster spot because the skills that made him a coveted international signing in 2015 could help the Rangers win games early on in their coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.
“I don’t think he could push any harder,” manager Chris Woodward said. “He fills so many needs for us. He’s doing everything right. It’s not that he’s lucky doing it, either. I watch the way he works. I watch the way he prepares. I watch his cage work. This isn’t a fluke why he is as good as he is right now.”
Taveras has done a bit — no, a lot — of everything this summer after showing off some of it in February and March in Arizona. He’s an elite defensive player and one of the fastest players on the roster. He switch-hits and, unlike his past few seasons in the minors, has shown a keen eye and some power.
The total package has kept him in the top five on most Rangers prospects lists since agreeing to a $2.1 million signing bonus in 2015 as a 16-year-old. He could be in the Rangers’ outfield mix for the next six seasons before hitting free agency.
But the argument against putting Taveras on the roster is that the team would be better served to start his service-time clock next season, when presumably 162 games will be played.
If the Rangers didn’t call him up until the third week of next season, they could manipulate another year of service time from him.
“It definitely factors in on whether we want to start the clock,” Woodward said. “I’ve asked about it. We’re open to it. If we want to be the best team and he’s the best guy, we are open to that.”
Scott Heineman and Adolis Garcia are also competing, as is Rob Refsnyder. Heineman and Garcia are rookies, albeit with some big-league time, and have spots on the 40-man roster as Taveras does. Refsnyder is in camp on a minor-league deal, but his case is buoyed by an ability to play first base.
The Rangers are looking taking an extended look at Taveras because the expanded roster gives them the luxury over carrying a few specialists. He has two specialties that could be big late in games.
Taveras can run. He claims he’s the fastest player on the team, though in spring training Eli White edged him in a 10-yard sprint. Nevertheless, the Rangers have visions of using Taveras as a pinch runner late in games or in extra innings when the offensive team will start with a runner at second base.
He could also serve as a late-game defensive replacement in left field for Willie Calhoun. Woodward, though, cautions to not overlook what Taveras has done with the bat.
His first at-bat of camp came against Corey Kluber, and resulted in a home run off the two-time American League Cy Young winner. He took closer Jose Leclerc deep Monday to straightaway center field.
Entering Sunday, Taveras had drawn a team-best 13 walks.
Things change in the regular season, but the Rangers are believing what they’re seeing.
“He’s awesome,” Chirinos said. “I’ve seen that kid not only this year, but I remember seeing him at 18 hitting in the same group during spring training. That kid is really special, and I think he’s a big thing for everything this organization is doing. He has the talent. He’s smart. He’s been asking questions. He wants to get better.”
