5 Greatest Texas Rangers Hitters of All Time

To non-Rangers fans, Young was a good, but overrated player. Not a great fielder. Middling slugging. Middling on-base abilities. But Texas faithful, he’s an icon, and, buddy, could he swing it.

Young made seven All-Star Games from 2004 to 2011, his prime, and finished top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting twice during that span. He slashed .312/.360/.463 hitting both at the top of the lineup and in the middle while also playing all four infield positions, though mostly at shortstop and third base.

Most notably for Rangers lore, Young served as the bridge from the struggles of the early 2000s into a rebuild and finally as a key cog in the team’s back-to-back World Series appearances of 2010 and 2011.

4. Buddy Bell (1979-1985, 1989)

Bell is similar to Young in that during the time he was in Texas, he was a regular All-Star, putting together four such appearances in his first six seasons with the club after arriving from Cleveland.

He was a rock at third base for those six years, picking up Gold Gloves in each. Even his slash line looks a lot like Young’s: .301/.358/.445.

And he was so beloved locally that the Rangers put him into the franchise’s Hall of Fame in just their second such class back in 2004.

MORE: Ranking the 5 Greatest Texas Rangers Pitchers of All Time

3. Juan Gonzalez (1989-99, 2002-03)

The only Texas Rangers player to even win MVP, Gonzalez did so twice. Once in 1996 and again in 1998. And while performance-enhancing drug allegations have put some gray into his legacy, he still deserves this spot.

Gonzalez’s first full season with the Rangers came in 1991 when he bopped 27 home runs and knocked in 102 that year. In 1992 and 1993, he led the American League in homers with 46 and 43.

And while injuries sapped him a bit in the next two seasons, he returned with a vengeance, picking up the first MVP trophy in ‘96 with a career high 47 jacks and a 1.011 OPS.

He repeated the honor in ‘98 with 50 homers and 157 RBIs. Texas, incidentally, made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history those two seasons.

2. Adrian Beltre (2011-2018)

Young might be the most beloved player in Rangers history if it weren’t for Beltre. The No. 1 player on this list would earn some looks, too, but for sheer adoration, it’s “El Koja.”

Beltre was a good player for his first 13 years in the Majors, but he exploded upon arrival in Arlington in 2011 as a 32-year-old.

Over eight seasons with Texas, Beltre finished top seven in MVP voting three times, three All-Star appearances, two Silver Sluggers, and two Gold Gloves. He finished with 199 homers and 699 RBIs with an .865 OPS by the time he was done having helped the Rangers to the postseason four times.

1. Ivan Rodriguez (1991-2002, 2009)

Thirteen years in Texas, 11 full, the man they called “Pudge” made the All-Star Game 10 times with 10 Gold Gloves, six Silver Sluggers, and one MVP. He’s an easy choice for this spot.

Rodriguez was a different breed behind the plate, redefining the position. His 13 career Gold Gloves at the position are an MLB record. His seven career Silver Sluggers at the position are an American League record.

Arguments that he’s the greatest catcher to ever play are valid. And for our money, correct.