In a disappointing season for the Texas Rangers, the team’s offensive struggles are glaring, highlighted by a combined .650 OPS that ranks near the bottom of Major League Baseball. Second baseman Marcus Semien, currently in the fourth year of a lucrative seven-year, $175 million deal, is among those facing challenges. Despite being a consistent performer with 20 or more home runs in each of the past four seasons, Semien’s production has dwindled significantly this year, as he has managed just three home runs along with a disappointing .176 batting average and .230 slugging percentage.
However, there is a potential silver lining for the Rangers and Semien. Advanced statistics suggest that he has faced considerable misfortune this season, as evidenced by his position among the league’s unluckiest hitters. Specifically, he holds the fifth-highest discrepancy between slugging percentage and expected slugging percentage (xSLG) among qualified players, indicating that better outcomes may be on the horizon.
An uptick in Semien’s performance could play a crucial role in helping Texas gain ground in an American League West that remains competitive, presenting an opportunity for a turnaround. With the potential for improvement, fans may still hold out hope for a revitalized performance from this talented infielder.