Rangers’ Mazara Makes His Case To Stay
ARLINGTON—One month into the career of 21-year-old right fielder Nomar Mazara and most Rangers fans are convinced he should be in the major leagues to stay.
His debut on April 10 was mouth-watering enough, with singles in his first two at-bats and a solo homer in his third. One of the Rangers’ hottest hitters through mid-May, Mazara’s defense proved to be far better than what the Rangers saw this spring, his first in the big league clubhouse.
Mazara ranked among the American League leaders in batting average (.333) and on-base percentage (.392) in April, and the AL selected him as its rookie of the month.
His .852 OPS was the highest in Texas club history by a qualifying rookie in the season’s first month.
Even the player Mazara was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock to replace couldn’t get enough of the youngest player in the majors.
“Oh, man, he’s good,” veteran Shin-Soo Choo said. “He can hit. He’s ready to be in the big leagues. He’s mature. He’s professional. He can handle things.”
But Choo isn’t the general manager. The good news for Jon Daniels is that the Rangers still had time to decide what they would do once Choo, their Opening Day right fielder who is owed $102 million through 2020, is healthy again. That’s because other outfielders, such as Delino DeShields Jr. and Ryan Rua, have minor league options remaining.
Ian Desmond was showing an ability to play center field adequately after signing in late February to play left field. Shifting Mazara to left field to clear room for Choo in right was one possibility the Rangers were considering.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’m going,” said Mazara, who signed out of the Dominican Republic in July 2011 for a then-international record $4.95 million. “It’s not my decision.”
RANGER ROUNDUP
• Round Rock third baseman Joey Gallo will be sidelined up to a month with a left groin injury after an MRI showed a Grade 1 strain. He was batting .254 with seven homers, 16 RBIs, 16 walks and 21 strikeouts in 20 games.
• It was good to be a Payano in the Rangers system over a one-week stretch early this season. Low Class A Hickory righthander Pedro Payano struck out 11 on April 27 in a one-hit shutout and Double-A Frisco lefty Victor Payano struck out a career-high 13 in 62/3 innings on May 4 in a win.
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