Alejandro Osuna didn’t follow up his eye-catching 2025 spring training with the kind of immediate runway he probably wanted in Texas, but the numbers he put together once the regular season settled in say plenty about where he fits.
He opened the year outside the Rangers’ big league picture, then finished it on the roster with a very different look at the plate. After hitting just .212/.313/.278 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 151 at-bats, his line climbed to .260/.349/.304 with a home run and 25 RBI.
Osuna still doesn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for league leaders in 2026, but the underlying indicators point the same direction. The Rangers have reason to believe he belongs in the 2027 mix.
Two Statcast-related numbers jump out even without a full set of percentile rankings on his page: his whiff rate and his chase rate. His whiff rate sat at 17.5%, and his strikeout rate was 15.9%, numbers that would have placed him among the top 80 percent in baseball if he had qualified.
The conventional stats back that up. Osuna struck out just 37 times in 204 at-bats, showing real plate discipline. He also proved to be a strong answer against left-handed pitching.
The left-handed hitter posted a .311/.367/.311 line against lefties and hit .245/.344/.302 against right-handers.
That kind of profile matters as Texas continues leaning toward an identity built around getting on base. Osuna doesn’t bring the same power as the other outfielders who finished the season on the 26-man roster, but his ability to reach base against pitching from both sides is moving into elite territory.
Among Rangers hitters, only third baseman Josh Jung, at .365, finished with a better on-base percentage overall, whether qualified or not.
The bigger question is fit. Osuna can handle all three outfield spots, but with Wyatt Langford and Brandon Nimmo locked into two of them, the clearest battle may come between Osuna and Evan Carter in center field.
Texas could also shift Wyatt Langford to center and let Osuna and Carter compete for left field. Both can play there, and Osuna profiles more naturally as a corner outfielder than a center fielder.
However the Rangers sort it out in 2027, Osuna needs to be part of the conversation. He’s shown enough to look like a strong fit for what comes next.
In Other News...
Rangers Interest In Japanese Slugger Could Upend Their Infield Plans
The Rangers are once again keeping an eye overseas as they look for ways to reshape the infield this winter. According to reports, Texas had scouts at the final game of the Central League Climax Series to watch Hanshin Tigers third baseman Teruaki Sato, a 27-year-old slugger who was recently named the leagues Triple Crown winner and is expected to be posted this offseason.
Sato brings obvious offensive appeal, but he also comes with questions, including swing-and-miss tendencies that could make his transition harder to project. For Texas, the bigger issue may be what a serious pursuit of Sato would mean for the current roster picture, especially with Josh Jung and Jake Burger already in the mix and the front office weighing how much room there is for another bat at third. [Read more 🡒]
Sebastian Walcott Is Giving Rangers Fans A Reason To Dream Bigger
Sebastian Walcotts fall ball progress is giving Rangers fans another reminder of why he sits near the top of the organizations long-term hopes. After coming back from internal brace surgery on his elbow, the infielder has looked increasingly comfortable in the Arizona Fall League, where his bat has started to show the kind of impact that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
Walcotts development path is still a patient one, with more minor league seasoning expected before he becomes a real big league factor. Even so, the early signs matter in Texas, because they suggest the ceiling remains intact and the timeline, while still distant, has not lost its appeal. The Rangers can keep dreaming big here, and they have good reason to. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Have A Real Shot At Defensive Hardware This Year
The American League Gold Glove field is coming into focus, and a pair of familiar Rangers names are part of the conversation as finalists are announced by position for 2026. This years list also includes a new utility player category, giving the defensive awards a slightly different look while the voting process still blends input from MLB managers, coaches and the SABR Defensive Index.
For Texas, the finalists list is a reminder that the clubs defense has enough range and reliability to show up in more than one spot on the ballot. The article lays out the defensive metrics and award rsums behind each candidate, and the Rangers have a legitimate stake in a race that extends beyond the infield and outfield regulars. [Read more 🡒]