Rangers Skipper Hints That Best Version of Joc Pederson Could Come When He Returns

The Texas Rangers now find themselves in an interesting spot.

With their offense starting to heat up, their 53-50 record puts them just 1.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. They have a great chance to make the playoffs if their lineup can sustain its recent form and the pitching staff continues to be one of the best in the league, which could lend the ultra-aggressive Chris Young to become active ahead of the trade deadline.

More News: Rangers Agree to Terms With Plethora of Their 2025 MLB Draft Selections

What he might go after isn't clear.

Another bat wouldn't hurt, but the Rangers are expected to get Joc Pederson back soon after he recovers from his broken hand.

Texas fans might not be willing to put their eggs in the Pederson basket when looking for an offensive spark, and it's hard to blame them.

He's been atrocious this season, putting up career-worst numbers with a .131/.269/.238 slash line and just two homers and six RBI across 46 games.

More News: Rangers Slugger Joc Pederson Ready to Start Injury Rehab Assignment

However, Bruch Bochy hinted that the best might be around the corner for Pederson.

"I will say, he's been looking real good," the skipper stated, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required).

The fanbase might be operating on a "see it to believe it basis," but Bochy's statement at least is a good sign that Pederson could return to his baseline at the very worst in 2025.

He's not even a year removed from slashing .275/.393/.515 with a career-high wRC+ of 152 and 23 home runs and 64 RBI across 132 games.

If Pederson can just get back to just the league average wRC+ mark of 100 instead of the abysmal figure of 52 he currently owns, then that would go a long way to boost this Rangers offense whenever he's in the lineup.

More News: Regression to the Mean Is a Double-Edged Sword for Rangers in Second Half

Will his impending return prevent Young from going after a bat?

That's not clear.

But Bochy has liked what he's seen from Pederson thus far as he's been rehabbing, so if Texas doesn't add another hitter before the trade deadline, then the lefty slugger will have a chance to prove he wasn't a complete bust of an offseason signing.

For more Rangers news, head over to Rangers On SI.