Texas Rangers Top 10: Best players of 2020
By Taylor Dunn
8. Leody Taveras
Key stat: 8 stolen bases in 33 games / only Leody in MLB history
You like fun? Leody is your new favorite Texas Ranger. If you have followed the Rangers closely over the past few years, you have likely heard the name Leody Tavares. Signed as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, the Rangers have viewed the-now-22-year-old as the center fielder of the future.
Tavares did not hesitate to show fans his talent, showing us tremendous defense in center field, elite speed on the bases, and some pop in his bat.
Serving as the Ranger’s leadoff hitter, Tavares provided a much needed spark to the lineup. He needs more big league at bats to round into the compete hitter he will hopefully be. While he did strike out at a high rate, he showed the ability to hit the ball hard and he may be the fastest player in all of baseball. Every time he gets on base, he’s a threat.
Leody is a lot of fun to watch and regarded to be a cornerstone piece for the Ranger’s future.
7. Joey Gallo
Key stat: 10 HRs / Gold Glove winner
It’s no secret that Joey Gallo did not have a great year offensively. After posting MVP-numbers in 2019 before landing on the IL for the most of the year, Joey took a big step back in 2020. Some fans are giving him, along with many other high profile players, a pass because a weird season and no Spring Training. Others, well, aren’t being so nice.
Joey is only a career .208 hitter. Yet, he’s registered two 40 homerun seasons. He’s just as likely to hit it out-of-the-park than he is to hit a single, collecting 122 singles in his career to his 120 homeruns. He is definitely one of more fasciniating hitters, perhaps in MLB history.
He only hit .181 in 2020. He struck out a lot and didn’t walk as much. But, he still co-lead the team in long balls with 10 and played the arguably the best defense of any outfielder in the game.
Joey did not have a great year with the bat. But, he is still a key piece of this team moving forward. Let’s hope we see much more of a 2019 version of Gallo in 2021.