There is no doubt the 2012 Texas Rangers will be well placed to score runs. They've a great lineup and no real weak spot in the batting order. If you would like more details on how we think this team will end up, have a look at our complete 2012 Texas Rangers predictions.
Projected Lineup
Mike Napoli (Catcher) - Napoli put together a fantastic 2011 season on each side of the ball. His was top quality on defense and he had a career season offensively. He ended up batting a solid .320 with 30 HRs and 75 RBI in just 113 games. It'll be tough for him to replicate those stats in 2012, but he figures to make a big impact for Texas and be one of the best all round catchers in the MLB.
Mitch Moreland (First Base) - Early in the year, Moreland was looking like he was on his way to a breakthrough year after batting .300 with seven HRs in his first 160 ABs, but he was not in a position to keep up his hitting and struggled at the end of the year. He ended the season with a .259 average to go along with 16 HRs and 51 RBI. He's still pretty young, as he just turned 27, so some people predict a breakout season to finally occur for him in 2012.
Ian Kinsler (Second Base) - After a below average performance in 2010, he rebounded back in 2011 to have a similar season to the one during his breakout season in 2009. The 29-year-old batted just .255, but made up for it with 32 HRs, 77 RBI, and 30 robbed bases. He is still in the prime phase of his career, so expect similar if not better production in 2012.
Elvis Andrus (Shortstop) - Andrus put together a career year in his 3rd season in the majors. The Rangers are hoping this ultra-talented 23-year-old can continue his solid play in 2012. His average of .279, 96 runs, 60 RBI and 37 steals were all career bests for this gifted youngster coming along on his very own.
Adrian Beltre (3rd Base) - Although Beltre is clearly getting up there in age (he's 32), he has a few good seasons left in him. He played in 124 games in his first season with Texas, posting excellent stats when he was on the diamond. He helped strengthen the squad on the defensive end, and his offense didn't take a massive dip, as he batted .296 with 32 HRs and 105 RBI.
Josh Hamilton (Left Field) - Injuries kept Hamilton from duplicating his MVP numbers from 2010, but he was still a force on offense when he was in the lineup. He batted .298 with 25 HRs and 94 RBI in just 121 games. Texas will make an effort to keep him healthy by moving him to left field. If it is working, expect that he will be in the thick of it in the AL MVP race in 2012.
Craig Gentry (Center Field) - Despite not being excellent on the offensive end, Gentry is a defensive maestro on the field, so it is like he will have the edge in the battle for the field job this spring. His value lies on defense, as he just hit .271 with one home run and 13 RBI in 133 at-bats last year. But with all the offensive firepower this team has, as long as Gentry plays well defensively, he may be able to keep his job in center field.
Nelson Cruz (Right Field) - It is quite displeasing that Cruz cannot stay fit for a full year, because the guy is a beast on the plate. He was restricted to just 124 games last season, but still managed to hit 29 HRs with 87 RBI. The Rangers hope this is the season Cruz can enjoy health, so they can eventually appraise what they have in the man over the course of a full year.
Michael Young (Designated Hitter) - In spite of not especially liking the situation he was put in after being moved to DH, he didn't appeared fazed and had another impressive performance last year. He finished the year with a career-high .338 average with 11 home runs and 106 RBI. He'll likely not return to his power form from 2 years ago, when he was a 20-plus home run hitter, but he's still one of the greatest hitters in the game.
Projected Lineup
Mike Napoli (Catcher) - Napoli put together a fantastic 2011 season on each side of the ball. His was top quality on defense and he had a career season offensively. He ended up batting a solid .320 with 30 HRs and 75 RBI in just 113 games. It'll be tough for him to replicate those stats in 2012, but he figures to make a big impact for Texas and be one of the best all round catchers in the MLB.
Mitch Moreland (First Base) - Early in the year, Moreland was looking like he was on his way to a breakthrough year after batting .300 with seven HRs in his first 160 ABs, but he was not in a position to keep up his hitting and struggled at the end of the year. He ended the season with a .259 average to go along with 16 HRs and 51 RBI. He's still pretty young, as he just turned 27, so some people predict a breakout season to finally occur for him in 2012.
Ian Kinsler (Second Base) - After a below average performance in 2010, he rebounded back in 2011 to have a similar season to the one during his breakout season in 2009. The 29-year-old batted just .255, but made up for it with 32 HRs, 77 RBI, and 30 robbed bases. He is still in the prime phase of his career, so expect similar if not better production in 2012.
Elvis Andrus (Shortstop) - Andrus put together a career year in his 3rd season in the majors. The Rangers are hoping this ultra-talented 23-year-old can continue his solid play in 2012. His average of .279, 96 runs, 60 RBI and 37 steals were all career bests for this gifted youngster coming along on his very own.
Adrian Beltre (3rd Base) - Although Beltre is clearly getting up there in age (he's 32), he has a few good seasons left in him. He played in 124 games in his first season with Texas, posting excellent stats when he was on the diamond. He helped strengthen the squad on the defensive end, and his offense didn't take a massive dip, as he batted .296 with 32 HRs and 105 RBI.
Josh Hamilton (Left Field) - Injuries kept Hamilton from duplicating his MVP numbers from 2010, but he was still a force on offense when he was in the lineup. He batted .298 with 25 HRs and 94 RBI in just 121 games. Texas will make an effort to keep him healthy by moving him to left field. If it is working, expect that he will be in the thick of it in the AL MVP race in 2012.
Craig Gentry (Center Field) - Despite not being excellent on the offensive end, Gentry is a defensive maestro on the field, so it is like he will have the edge in the battle for the field job this spring. His value lies on defense, as he just hit .271 with one home run and 13 RBI in 133 at-bats last year. But with all the offensive firepower this team has, as long as Gentry plays well defensively, he may be able to keep his job in center field.
Nelson Cruz (Right Field) - It is quite displeasing that Cruz cannot stay fit for a full year, because the guy is a beast on the plate. He was restricted to just 124 games last season, but still managed to hit 29 HRs with 87 RBI. The Rangers hope this is the season Cruz can enjoy health, so they can eventually appraise what they have in the man over the course of a full year.
Michael Young (Designated Hitter) - In spite of not especially liking the situation he was put in after being moved to DH, he didn't appeared fazed and had another impressive performance last year. He finished the year with a career-high .338 average with 11 home runs and 106 RBI. He'll likely not return to his power form from 2 years ago, when he was a 20-plus home run hitter, but he's still one of the greatest hitters in the game.
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