Between 2010 and 2016, the Texas Rangers were a top team in the AL West.
They made the playoffs five times in that seven-season period, including two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
They were really interesting back then and had star-level players who were good and popular enough to be All-Star Game starters.
The last time that happened was, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, in 2012.
After the 2016 campaign in which they made the Division Series, the Rangers entered a really dark period that extended until last year.
However, after making some key moves and prioritizing player development, they are first in the AL West with a 48-31 record.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Rangers have a concrete chance to break the 11-year long drought of not having an All-Star Game starter.
“The Texas #Rangers haven’t had a starting player in the All-Star Game since 2012; longest active streak among teams. This year, the Rangers have 4 players who will be starters if the voting trend lasts 1 more day: Marcus Semien, 2B Corey Seager, SS Josh Jung, 3B Jonah Heim, C,” Nightengale tweeted.
The Texas #Rangers haven't had a starting player in the All-Star Game since 2012_longest active streak among teams.
This year, the Rangers have 4 players who will be starters if the voting trend lasts 1 more day:
Marcus Semien, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Josh Jung, 3B
Jonah Heim, C— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 28, 2023
Fans have until Thursday to send their vote (one per day), choosing between the top two options that resulted from Phase 1 of the voting process.
Semien, Seager, Jung, and Heim are all leading their bracket with one day remaining.
The odds of the Rangers breaking the negative streak are extremely high.
All four players would be very deserving starters.
We expected Semien and Seager to play at this level because they have an incredible track record and are paid like stars.
However, it’s nice to see Heim and Jung break out and enter the elite tier at their respective positions.
That foursome is a big reason why Texas leads its division.
NEXT: MLB Insider Shares A Confident Rangers Prediction