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Texas Rangers five key questions out of spring training

By Stephen Francis

Sep 23, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; The Texas Rangers celebrate after the end of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum the Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 3 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; The Texas Rangers celebrate after the end of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum the Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 3 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre
Sep 16, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Beltre (29) fields a ground ball and looks to throw to first base during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeat the A’s 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1 — Can Adrian Beltre stay healthy?

Prior to Spring Training, Adrian Beltre went down with a calf injury. In fact, it nearly held him out of this season’s World Baseball Classic. And although he’s said he feels fine, it has seemingly taken a toll on him this spring.

Granted, Beltre’s only had 16 plate appearances. But still, he’s yet to get a base hit. While that’s no reason for a panic, it is concerning when a lifetime .286 hitter goes hitless for that long. It also doesn’t help things that he earned just one hit in a similar number of plate appearances during the World Baseball Classic.

Of course, we have to consider that these are spring training at bats. Cactus League games are generally more about finding timing and rhythm while getting back into a regular routine. But again, a spring like this is fairly uncharacteristic for Beltre.

In his previous 11 spring trainings, he’s batted no lower than .146. What’s further alarming is that he finished that season with his lowest batting average as a Texas Ranger.

In 2015, he missed 19 games and hit .287. While most Major League Baseball hitters would kill for an average like that, he’d never hit below .296 with Texas prior to that season.

Yet in very Beltre-like fashion, he still finished seventh in American League Most Valuable Player voting that year. That’s probably because he batted .318 after the All-Star break and was a key piece in the Rangers’ late-season surge. So, it’s possible there’s nothing to worry about, yet. But we should still keep a cautious watch. After all, he turns 38 in just a few weeks and is not getting any younger.

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