ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers finished the first half of the season unexpectedly under .500. At 46-50, they’re stewing in third place in the American League West, four games behind the Houston Astros and five games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners.
At times throughout the first half, it didn’t feel like it, but the AL West is still a very winnable division for the Rangers, which should prompt general manager Chris Young and ownership to act as buyers at the July 30 trade deadline, assuming Texas gets off to a good start to the second half in the coming weeks.
This year’s team still hasn’t hit its stride, especially at the plate. The goal, though, with so many pitchers on the injured list, was to hang around and be in a position to make a run at the division again. In a relatively weak division, the Rangers have done just that, if just barely. It is important to note that they would not be in that position without the help of some key players, even as others have slumped throughout the campaign.
With that in mind, let’s hand out some completely made-up awards per my own issuance of a criteria that is completely of my own opinion:
First Half Top Hitter – Josh Smith
The Texas Rangers’ offense has been nothing short of miserable this season. Coming off a season in which they led the American League in nearly every single major category, the drop-off for Texas has been remarkable. The Rangers finished the season in 2023 with a .263/.337/.452 slash. At the break this season, Texas owns a .241/.311/.382 line. The clear difference in production has been the difference between leading the division and facing an uphill climb in the second half.
The main issues have been problems hitting the fastball, problems hitting with runners on, problems hitting for power, and problems building momentum. The key contributors to this offense, an offense that saw virtually zero turnovers from last season, have failed to produce at the levels that they did last year.
Even so, it’s easy to find an offensive stand-out in Josh Smith. Smith is having a breakout season all over but has been the Rangers’ best and most consistent hitter, finishing the first half with a .293/.392/.469 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs. This after appearing in zero games in the World Series last fall and starting the season as the 26th man on the bench on the 26-man roster.
The power might be the most surprising from the 26-year-old, as he never had more than nine home runs in any given season of his playing career. Now, however, as he’s gone from fill-in for Josh Jung at third base to No. 3 hitter in the lineup, Smith has carried the lineup on his shoulders.
Honorable Mentions: Corey Seager, Nathaniel Lowe
First Half Cy Young – Jose Urena
It would be easy to give this award to a starter like Nathan Eovaldi, who has the team’s best ERA at 2.97 as one of the league’s best starters, or closer Kirby Yates, who has saved 16 games with a 1.05 ERA. Yates pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game and Eovaldi remains the rotation’s top option.
Instead, I tend to give this award to the pitcher who stepped up for the team when it needed them the most. Think 2023 Dane Dunning. For that, I put this award on Jose Urena’s mantle.
Urena has appeared in 23 games and pitched to a 3.13 ERA but that doesn’t show what he’s done to keep the pitching staff as a whole in working order. Urena, a journeyman who was signed as an unheralded free agent coming from the Chicago White Sox, was tasked with starting six games for the club at the start of May when injuries took their toll and answered the call admirably.
In those six games, the starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter again posted a 2.84 ERA over 31 ⅔ innings. At a time when Texas could have fielded an entire rotation from the injured list, Urena filled the gap and then some as the summer started. The Dominican right-hander made the rest of his appearances in long or middle relief, often acting as the bridge from starter to Yates in the late innings.
Honorable Mentions: Nathan Eovaldi, Kirby Yates
First Half Gold Glove – Josh Smith
When we handed out these first-half awards last year, it was third baseman Josh Jung who was honored. Jung lasted just four games this season before he hit the injured list with a broken wrist. At that point, expectations were very low for his replacement, Josh Smith.
Smith was a benchwarmer last year, playing in 90 games, manning second base, shortstop, third base and left field. This season, Smith played in 90 games in the first half alone. He hasn’t played perfect defense, but he has more than held up the responsibilities of taking over full-time at the hot corner in Jung’s stead.
On a team with several defensive standouts all across the diamond, putting someone used to sitting on the bench in a difficult position at third base could spell disaster for most teams. Smith, who had played in more games at third than any other position, has looked natural out there.
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Semien, Corey Seager
First Half MVP – Josh Smith
Being both the team’s best hitter and the first-half Gold Glove winner certainly makes this an easy choice, even if it’s one that no one saw coming when the defending champs took the field on Opening Day, a game in which Smith was not even in the lineup.
It can be easy to forget that Smith was a 2019 2nd-round pick by the New York Yankees. It can be even easier to forget that Smith was the Rangers’ seventh ranked prospect going into 2022. Smith’s path from there to here as the team’s best player for a half has been about as labyrinthine as you could imagine.
Smith was part of the spoils in the trade that sent Joey Gallo to the Yankees, one of former GM Jon Daniels’ last big decisions. After working his way onto the team but without a clear everyday role, Smith has outperformed all of his teammates, including perennial league MVP candidates Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, both of whom were named to the All-Star roster while Smith was not.
Smith was on the ballot, having played the majority of the first half of the season at third base, but was passed repeatedly for players who statistically had not been better players than Smith in 2024. It’s a shame that Smith wasn’t able to join the AL in the Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field but I imagine he wouldn’t trade it for being able to establish himself as a big leaguer this season.
Smith has certainly been a welcome surprise for the Rangers as they’ve worked through several of their usual stars having career-worst years at the plate. Furthermore, Smith has played his way into making manager Bruce Bochy’s job very difficult when Jung returns. Will Smith move to the outfield to play every day or will Jung DH until his wrist is fully healthy? Those are questions for the second half.
Reinforcements are around the corner but the clock is already ticking for the Rangers to make their ascension to stay in the hunt. The second half kicks off against the dangerous Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Do you agree with the first-half awards for the Rangers? Share your thoughts with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
