Leody Taveras has been Texas Rangers’ most exciting player. He may become their best.
The expectation of a young roster and a shrunken payroll don’t lend themselves for an an eventful offseason, but that’s where the Texas Rangers are headed once their 2020 season ends next weekend.
General manager Jon Daniels might find a trade, though the return is likely to be prospects or young big-leaguers rather than an All-Star who is the missing piece for a championship run.
Even spring training and Opening Day won’t arrive with the typical enthusiasm.
But as the Rangers begin finalizing their plans to go home, they have something to be excited about.
Leody Taveras can play, and his first five weeks as an everyday MLB player have only scratched the surface of what could be that tops out with multiple All-Star appearances and at minimum includes annual consideration for a Gold Glove.
“You should be excited about a guy like that,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I think of all the guys, he stands out to me just because of the poise, the way he plays the game, the energy he plays with, the commitment, the work he does off the field, and then when he gets in the batter’s box he’s a competitor, man. He doesn’t like to fail. He doesn’t like to lose.”
Complicating matters on Taveras’ ceiling is that he didn’t do a lot of what he’s doing now in the minors. There were times when he coasted in the minors, perhaps needing more of a challenge than what was being offered in A ball or Double A.
The Rangers hadn’t seen the power that Taveras has shown. He’s hitting the ball harder, and his foundation at the plate is indicative of an above-average player.
If he continues on this development track, he could be a switch-hitting George Springer. Some don’t see that much power coming — Springer has seasons with 34 and 39 homers for the Houston Astros — but Woodward wouldn’t be surprised if it comes for Taveras.
“I just don’t think it’s going to happen right away,” Woodward said. “There’s plenty of strength there. There’s plenty of consistency in the swing. Both sides. I think he’s a smart enough kid. He’s a really intelligent kid that makes adjustments with his swing, and he’s got a really, really good strike zone and he values that.
“Those are things I keep harping on, but it’s so important as a young hitter to have to be able to be consistent. He tends not to overswing. When he tries to stay under control, he’s going to put a lot more balls forward.”
Taveras just turned 22 on Sept. 8, so he’s going to get stronger. But even if he tops out at 10 home runs, the Rangers still would have a nice player because of the defense.
He would have more pop than Billy Hamilton without much of a speed deficit, and the same pop and a tad more speed that Ender Inciarte.
Hamilton has never won a Gold Glove but covers immense ground in center field. Inciarte has pocketed three Gold Gloves.
While Taveras’ bat remains uncertain, including whether he will bat leadoff next season, the Rangers are sold on the elite defense.
“Absolutely,” Woodward said.
But if the power does come, to where he’s hitting 20 or 30 homers with an OPS above .800 in the leadoff spot, the Rangers would have an All-Star who could help transform them into a contender again.
That’s exciting.
“You can just see the raw tools there. He puts the bat on the ball, he runs really well, he’s great defensively, he loves playing the field, he has a really strong arm for a center field,” right fielder Joey Gallo said. “He’s that prototypical center-field build that you look at and you’re like, ‘Wow.’ In two, three, four years, this guy is going to grow into what I think is one of the best center fielders in baseball.”
