Should Joc Pederson Continue Hitting Leadoff?

-
For much of this season, the Rangers have been using slugger Joc Pederson as their leadoff hitter. Pederson, a DH, is not a typical leadoff hitter, and perhaps it would be better for him to hit in the middle of the lineup instead. 
    Many leadoff hitters are fast players who have a high on-base percentage. They are expected to get on base in front of the power hitters and provide good speed as the lead runner. Pederson, however, is a very different kind of player. While his OBP is decent, he tends to struggle with his batting average, and his sprint speed ranks only in the ninth percentile according to Baseball Savant. Pederson's batting strength lies in his power, as he ranks in the 89th percentile in average exit velocity and 88th in hard-hit percentage. He has 230 home runs in his career, including 12 so far in 2026. 
    Traditionally, Pederson's type fit better in the cleanup spot in the order, not leadoff. Over the past three weeks, Pederson has hit four home runs, but has only five RBI's. He hasn't driven in a run that hasn't come on a homer since June 3, undoubtedly from spending that time batting leadoff. A move to fourth or fifth in the order could bode well for the Rangers' offense, as Pederson's solo home runs would suddenly become twice as valuable with a baserunner in front of him. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Hall of Famers You Forgot Played for the Rangers

-
Every MLB team has had a Hall of Famer grace its roster, and these all-time great players usually make the largest impact. The Rangers have had their share of Hall of Fame talent throughout the years, from Nolan Ryan to Pudge Rodriguez to Adrian Beltre, but several others made only brief stops with the club. Here are three Hall of Famers you forgot played for the Rangers.  Rich "Goose" Gossage   Rich "Goose" Gossage pitched in the big leagues from 1972 through 1994, becoming the second pitcher to earn 300 saves in 1988. A nine time all-star and three time league leader in saves, Gossage made a stop in Texas in 1991, posting a 3.57 ERA in 44 appearances as a setup man behind closer Jeff Russell.  Bert Blyleven   Bert Blyleven, a 287-game winner between 1970 and 1992, was best known for his work in Minnesota and Cleveland, but he made an impact on the Rangers during his brief tenure with the club. He made a total of 54 starts with Texas in 1976 and 1977, completing 29...
Read more

Texas Rangers' Hopes for the Second Half

-
As the all-star break comes to a close, the Texas Rangers have a 48-49 won-loss record, putting them 3.5 games out of a wildcard spot. While this is certainly a disappointment, they haven't been a bad  team this year, and certainly have some time to turn their season around. However, in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, a few things need to go right for Texas.  The Lineup Needs To Return To Form   It is no secret that the Rangers' offense has been vastly underperforming this season, but let us not forget that it's largely the same lineup that led the team to the World Championship only two years ago, with a couple key additions. If Josh Jung finds his footing in AAA in time for a call-up and Wyatt Langford lives up to his true ability, Texas could once again sport one of the deadliest lineups in the game. With a hot start to the second half, they could potentially hang onto Adolis Garcia and start building at the deadline.  The Team Needs To Get Healthy  ...
Read more

OLD POST: What to Expect from Wyatt Langford in 2025

-
After being drafted in the first round (fourth overall) in 2023 and tearing through the minor leagues, expectations for Langford’s rookie season were through the roof. He made the Rangers’ Opening Day Roster in 2024, but didn’t live up to the hype surrounding his name. While Langford’s 2024 season was widely seen as a disappointment, I see a bright future for the young slugger.  Most rookies start out their careers slowly as they try to acclimate to the big leagues, and Langford was no exception. He played 27 games before he hit his first major league home run (an inside-the-parker) and had a .588 OPS before hitting the IL with a hamstring injury in late May. After his return, the 22-year old outfielder turned on the jets, batting .309 in June with 22 runs batted in. He was the AL Player of the Month in September/October, slashing .300/.386/.610 with eight home runs and 20 RBI’s in 26 games. Overall, Langford finished at .253/.325/.415 with 16 homers and 74 RBI’s, a more than respe...
Read more