There is no need for panic.  After a slow start to 2022, Marcus Semien will find his stride while back home on this west coast road trip.

Marcus Semien’s first few weeks in a Ranger uniform have felt far from the perfect honeymoon fans expected. After he signing a seven-year, $175 million deal over the offseason, he began the year with a .125 batting average, .186 on base percentage and just two RBI. There should be no reason to worry, however, as he will bust out this slump during the team’s current west coast road trip.

Statistically, Semien’s 2021 campaign was one of the greatest seasons ever for a second baseman.

He was named our 2021 MLBbro of the Year after breaking the record for most home runs in a season by a second baseman with 44.  He added 101 RBI, a .267 batting average, .881 slugging percentage, 39 doubles, and one of the highest WAR ratings in all of baseball.

Despite posting these numbers and finishing third in American League MVP voting last year, Semien’s month of April was subpar at best.

He began the first month of last season with a paltry .211 batting average and a .290 on base percentage.

Although his five home runs, 10 RBI, and 11 walks were a small sign of what was to come – he struck out 27 times that month. Granted we still have a few games left this April but Semien has only struck out eight times in 40 at-bats this year.

 

 

“I was once told by a veteran player, “your numbers will be your numbers,” said Semien to reporters.  “It’s just going to take some time if you start slow.  If you start off hot, the league will adjust to you.”

The slow start did not bother Semien then and I don’t think it will have any prolonged effect now.

The Rangers began a six game west coast road trip Tuesday that will end in Semien’s hometown Bay Area, with a weekend matchup against the Oakland Athletics.

Semien, a former Oakland Athletic, is one of many players in the franchise’s history that was not paid the money deserved, forced to leave in order to keep up Oaklands’ “Moneyball” strategy (which has never worked, but that’s a different story).

In six seasons with the A’s, Semien collected 107 home runs, 345 RBI, a .256 batting average, and 61 steals to go along with a third-place MVP season in 2019 in which he finished with a career high .285 batting average, 33 home runs, 92 RBI and a career high 87 walks.

 

 

Throughout his career Semien has seen success facing American League West pitching – which comes at a perfect time as the Rangers are set to play the Mariners, Athletics and Astros in consecutive series.

Semien is one  half of a half-billion dollar infield. Expectations in Texas for both him and Corey Seager are as big as everything else the state has to offer.

Ranger fans are ready to see a winner and Semien is the type of player that can put the team on his back and tell everyone “follow me.”

It is not a matter of if Semien will get back to his MVP ways of 2021 but rather a matter of when. Trust me.

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