The Texas Rangers returned 19 players from last year’s 68-94 team and are off to their best start in 11 years.
Over that span, several other players have moved on to different clubs. Here are the former Rangers still playing in the Major Leagues and how they are performing so far in 2023.
Kyle Gibson, starting pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
5-3, 4.27 ERA, 41 strikeouts, 1.36 WHIP
Gibson spent the 2020 season and part of the 2021 season in Texas before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline. The veteran started this season in Baltimore 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA but has lost three of his last four decisions.
Jake Diekman, relief pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
0-1, 7.20 ERA, 13 strikeouts, 1.80 WHIP
Diekman was traded to Texas in 2015 as part of the deal that landed Cole Hamels from Philadelphia. In 2018, the Rangers traded Diekman to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle of a two-game series between the two teams. Since then, he has been a part of the Kansas City, Oakland, Boston, Chicago, and Tampa Bay bullpens.
Corey Kluber, starting pitcher, Boston Red Sox
2-6, 6.26 ERA, 34 strikeouts, 1.54 WHIP
After nine seasons with Cleveland, the Rangers acquired the former Cy Young Award winner in December 2019. He only made one start before tearing a muscle in his shoulder and ended up with the Yankees for the 2021 season. He won 10 games for Tampa Bay last season but has had a difficult start in Boston.
Jose Trevino, catcher, New York Yankees
.219 BA, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .598 OPS
Trevino was traded to New York last April and made his first All-Star team. He has not put up the same production yet this season and was placed on the injured list earlier this week.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, infielder, New York Yankees
.198 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 steals, .560 OPS
Kiner-Falefa spent four seasons with the Rangers while playing a variety of positions. He was shipped off to the Twins in a trade that brought Mitch Garver to Texas, and Minnesota flipped him to New York before he played a single game.
Willie Calhoun, outfielder/designated hitter, New York Yankees
.224 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI. .663 OPS
Calhoun was part of the return from the Dodgers for Yu Darvish. He was a highly-touted prospect but never quite lived up to his potential in Texas and was traded to San Francisco last June. He signed with the Yankees in the offseason but began the season in Triple-A before being called up.
Joey Gallo, first baseman, Minnesota Twins
.211 BA, 11 HR, 23 RBI, .906 OPS
Gallo has been best known for his immense power throughout his career. He quickly made his way through the Rangers’ farm system and hit 145 home runs with two All-Star selections in seven years with the team. He was traded to the Yankees for four prospects, including Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran. Minnesota signed him as a free agent this offseason.
Lance Lynn, starting pitcher, Chicago White Sox
3-5, 6.28 ERA, 67 strikeouts, 1.47 WHIP
After stints with St. Louis, Minnesota, and the Yankees, Lynn spent two years with the Rangers and won 16 games in 2019. He was named an American League All-Star for the Chicago White Sox in 2021 and is in his third season with the club.
Elvis Andrus, infielder, Chicago White Sox
.201 BA, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 5 steals, .534 OPS
Andrus was a mainstay at shortstop in Texas for 12 years, collecting the third-most hits, the third-most runs scored, second-most triples, and most stolen bases in franchise history. The Rangers traded Andrus to Oakland in February 2021, and he signed with Chicago following his release last August.
Matt Moore, pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
3-1, 1.50 ERA, 21 strikeouts, 0.79 WHIP
Moore put himself on the map with four great seasons in Tampa Bay but has battled injuries ever since. He had two stints with the Rangers, compiling a 3-8 record in 12 starts in 2018 and posting a 1.95 ERA on 63 appearances out of the bullpen last year. He has continued that success out of the bullpen with the Angels.
Tommy Hunter, relief pitcher, New York Mets
0-0, 6.87 ERA, 15 strikeouts, 1.36 WHIP
Hunter began his career with the Rangers before finding a spot in the bullpen with the Baltimore Orioles. He has bounced around the league a couple of times and is now in his third season with the Mets.
Yu Darvish, starting pitcher, San Diego Padres
2-3, 3.56 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 1.13 WHIP
The Rangers signed Darvish from Japan in 2012, and he helped cement a deep pitching staff. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2017 trade deadline before spending time at the front of the rotation with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.
Nelson Cruz, designated hitter, San Diego Padres
.247 BA, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 1 steal, .677 OPS
Thanks to his unmatched power, Cruz was one of the most well-known players on the American League pennant-contending teams of the previous decade. Now 42 years old, Cruz is not the player he once was, but he can still provide plenty of power and is approaching 500 career home runs.
Rougned Odor, utility, San Diego Padres
.175 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .564 OPS
Odor is probably best known for his scuffle with Blue Jays’ outfielder Jose Bautista at second base in 2016. The second baseman displayed his power with three seasons of over 30 home runs but has yet to replicate those numbers since leaving Texas.
David Dahl, outfielder, San Diego Padres
.111 BA, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .556 OPS
The Rangers signed Dahl to a one-year deal in December 2020 after four seasons in Colorado. Dahl played 63 games that year and missed all of last season with a rib injury. He is currently hitting .111 with one home run in nine at-bats for the Padres.
Jurickson Profar, outfielder, Colorado Rockies
.248 BA, 5 HR, 17 RBI, .731 OPS
Profar was a well-regarded prospect as a shortstop for Texas and spent five seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in December 2018. Oakland later sent him to San Diego, and he signed with Colorado as an outfielder this offseason.
Andy Ibanez, infielder, Detroit Tigers
.203 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .567 OPS
Ibanez began the season with the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo and was called up on April 29th as outfield Kerry Carpenter hit the injured list. Since then, Ibanez has been a consistent presence in the Detroit lineup as second and third baseman.
Jordan Lyles, starting pitcher, Kansas City Royals
0-8, 7.15 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 1.34 WHIP
Lyles was a starter for the Rangers in 2020 and 2021, posting an 11-19 record with an ERA well above five. He has spent the last two seasons between Baltimore and Kansas City and has yet to win a game in 10 starts this year.
Drew Smyly, starting pitcher, Chicago Cubs
4-1, 2.86 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 0.93 WHIP
Smyly spent part of the 2019 season with the Rangers, going 1-5 in nine starts. He has bounced around the league as a low-end starter throughout his career and is putting up one of his best seasons with the Cubs.
Jeffrey Springs, starting pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
2-0, 0.56 ERA, 24 strikeouts, 0.50 WHIP
Springs was a reliever with the Rangers in 2018 and 2019. He spent 2020 with Boston before going to Tampa, where he became a starter. However, the 30-year-old suffered an elbow injury after two starts this season and will have Tom John surgery, sidelining him until at least next season.
Nick Martinez, relief pitcher, San Diego Padres
2-1, 2.68 ERA, 35 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP
Martinez began his career as a starter for Texas in 2014 but later transitioned to the bullpen. He spent four years with the Rangers and has found a role in his two years in San Diego.
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