ARLINGTON -- Dustin Harris was the Rangers’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2021, when he slashed .327/.401/.542 between the two A-ball levels. He collected a 20-20 season thanks to his electric combination of speed and power and looked to be one of Texas’ great young prospects. In the following years, Harris never quite replicated that production, but he’s still maintained good bat-to-ball skills and a patient approach, in addition to stealing bases at a high volume (41 in 2023, 35 in ’24). This year, Harris has found himself producing with the big league club. He appeared in two games in September 2024 and recently rejoined the big league roster when Wyatt Langford landed on the injured list with an oblique strain on April 9. And Harris has made the most of his limited opportunities. |
In seven games this year, he’s gone 6-for-17 with a home run and two doubles. He’s reached safely in all seven of his MLB starts going back to last season. Each of his first four career hits went for extra bases, making him the first Ranger to achieve the feat since Drew Robinson (three homers, one double) in 2017. “The kid’s done a nice job,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s giving us quality at-bats and he looks comfortable up there. He's calm and laying off some tough pitches. It's good seeing him playing like this. … I think coming up last year had to help him, obviously. He's got some tools. He can run, he can throw, he’s got power and good discipline at the plate. He's gonna be a nice player, and his positional versatility is important when it comes to getting with our club.” Harris was drafted by the Athletics in the 11th round in 2019 and was one of two players to be named later acquired on Sept. 18, 2020, after the Rangers traded Mike Minor to the A’s. |
He was a corner infielder through his first two seasons in the Rangers’ farm system, but he began taking reps in the outfield during instructs in 2021. Across the last three Minor League seasons, Harris has played 249 games in the outfield. He’s only played left field with the big league club, but has been taking reps at first base during pregame warmups. “Honestly, I feel good in all three outfield spots now,” Harris said. “I took a lot of reps in center last year. I don't know if I'm most comfortable there, but I can read the ball a little easier in center, whereas the corners are a little tricky. I'm way more comfortable in left than I was in [Double-A] Frisco. In Frisco, it was a trip, but now I'm comfortable there. First base, that's like riding a bike. I feel good there.” Harris knows things will change in just a few days, when Langford returns from the injured list. The life of a fringe roster player isn’t easy, but the 25-year-old is doing what he can with his chance and hoping to stay with the big league club for as long as possible. “What I'm trying to do is just try to help the team win,” Harris said. “I’m just trying to put together professional at-bats, give the bat to the next guy, whoever's behind me. I'm just trying to get on base and score runs. … I think there’s a sense of knowing you belong. I just gotta play my game and everything will fall into place. Just try to be who I am and not try to do too much.” |
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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy on Joc Pederson’s struggles this season: “He's been around long enough to know that you're going to have streaks like this. You have to deal with adversity in this game, and I'm sure he's done it before. The best thing we can do is stay behind him. He's a really good hitter. I thought he’s had some good swings. Just missed getting a couple hits, but yeah, we'll stay behind him. We need him. He's going to be a big part of this offense. “We’re behind him. This dude is going to be helping us a lot this year, believe me. He feels good. You know the stretch that he's in, sure, that's not good. It's always going to raise eyebrows, it doesn't matter who you are. But I'm not concerned.” |
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