Can Texas Rangers’ long-term third baseman lack power? Isiah Kiner-Falefa says yes.
Plain and simple, manager Chris Woodward said late Tuesday, his Texas Rangers wouldn’t have beaten the Houston Astros without Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Tie game. Ninth inning. George Springer sends a ball toward the hole between third and shortstop. The winning run is at second base.
Kinfer-Falefa, playing third with Elvis Andrus activated from the injured list and Todd Frazier headed to the New York Mets, dives to snare the hard grounder, stands and throws to first, where Yadiel Rivera tags Springer for the second out.
“It did save the game,” Woodward said.
Kiner-Falefa might have seemed like a flash in the pan in spring training and summer camp, coming out of nowhere with improvements at the plate. It wouldn’t have been the first time a player performed in meaningless games only to wilt away once the games started counting.
But the 25-year-old is showing staying power, as in he is going to stay in the Rangers’ mix of position players going forward. If his bat can match the glove, i.e. if he can hit for more power, he might be around for a while.
“I always felt like I could play at this level,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I think my defense brings something that not everybody has. If I keep playing the way I play and get on base and just score a lot of runs, I think we could go get a bat at a different position.”
Depending on the statistical service, Kiner-Falefa either leads Rangers position players in WAR or is second to Joey Gallo. Right-hander Lance Lynn leads all Rangers in that measurement.
Kiner-Falefa, though, hasn’t done much damage offensively. Yes, that goes for almost every player in the lineup, but the Rangers would like more firepower at a position that typically has more thump than the one homer and .719 OPS Kiner-Falefa had entering Wednesday.
But he and Woodward identified a few third baseman who have stuck at the position while lacking pop, Martin Prado and David Fletcher. That said, Kiner-Falefa knows what he wants to do better for the remainder of the season.
“I need to show more power,” he said. “I put a lot of work in in the weight room in the off-season. I can feel it. My exit velo is higher. I’ve just got to get the ball in the air.”
“The at-bat quality is there. I’m hitting the ball harder. I’m still really happy with where I’m at, but I still have work to do.”
Woodward said that Kiner-Falefa needs to learn how pitchers are attacking him at-bat to at-bat and how to handle various off-speed pitches and fastball from right-handed pitchers.
The way to do that is by gaining experience.
“His bat-to-ball is elite, but he’s got to now understand how to handle all different types of pitching — different spin, different fastballs, left, right,” Woodward said. “Being consistent on a daily basis and learning how to handle the different at-bats is the best way for him to prove he can be out there on a daily basis with a bat in his hands.”
But Kiner-Falefa is getting on base regularly, which others are not and impacting the game defensively, which others are not.
The diving stop to rob Springer was Kiner-Falefa’s second dazzling play of the game. He made a sliding catch in the fifth inning on an Abraham Toro foul popup against the padded wall next to the Rangers’ third-base dugout.
Kiner-Falefa had been playing mostly shortstop while Andrus was out with a lower back issue, and played it well, too. He can play second base, where the Rangers would have a need if they moved on from Rougned Odor.
Odor and his .150 batting average are on the IL with an eye infection. When asked Tuesday for the plan at second base once Odor is healthy, Woodward didn’t even mention Odor.
Entering their game Wednesday against the Astros, the Rangers had 26 games remaining this season and Solak and rookie infielder Anderson Tejeda to evaluate at second base.
For now, Tejeda will play second base against right-handed pitchers and Solak will be in left field. That was the case Wednesday against Astros rookie Cristian Javier.
Solak played second Tuesday against left Framber Valdez while Eli White made his MLB debut in left field as Woodward stacked right bats in the lineup.
Kiner-Falefa is going to play against all comers.
Going forward he could either stick at third or move around in a super utility role. Two of the Rangers’ top prospects are third basemen — Josh Jung and Sherten Apostel — and both are part of the 60-man player pool this season.
At minimum, Kiner-Falefa has proven to the Rangers he belongs in the mix.
“He can be in a lot of different plans for us going forward,” Woodward said. “If we have the option to potentially sign a third baseman or whatever we may have after this year, we can always move him around.”
