What Joc Pederson’s impending return could mean for the streaking Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON — The Frisco RoughRiders spent their Saturday five hours north up Interestate-35 in Wichita, Kan. at the tail-end of a six-game road trip. Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson — who had been assigned to the club’s Double-A affiliate to complete his minor league rehabilitation as recently as Friday — spent his in the Globe Life Field clubhouse.

Pederson, outfitted with a sleeveless blue tee that promotes his hitting coach’s podcast, was asked Saturday afternoon whether or not he’d rejoin the RoughRiders before their series against the Wind Surge finished. The question seemed to almost perplex him.

“I’m just … ” Pederson began before a short pause, “here today.”

Here and ready to go.

Rangers

He’s got some lost time — from his injury and otherwise — to make up for, too.

The Rangers plan to activate Pederson off of the 60-day injured list before Sunday’s series finale vs. the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field. Pederson’s right hand was fractured by a Bryse Wilson cutter in a May 24 game against the Chicago White Sox and he hasn’t played since. He’ll now rejoin a Rangers team that’s playing quite possibly its best baseball of the season at a most important juncture.

“Getting hurt sucks,” said Pederson, who will start at designated hitter Sunday vs. Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, “but I think any time you take time off, you want to come back, play well and help the team win.”

Pederson, whom the Rangers signed to a two-year contract this offseason to help address their fastball woes and give themselves a near full-time designated hitter, was one of baseball’s least productive hitters before his injury sidelined him for more than two months. The season’s second half — in which Pederson’s bat and the flexibility he creates — can right the ship if it coincides with a playoff push.

“It gives you time to reflect,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday afternoon. “’What happened? What can I do to be better?’ Those things. We’ve talked about it. Some spring trainings, you stink, and you start the season and you’re hitting the ball all over the place. Some springs you kill it and get off to a bad start. It’s hard to say how it’s going to go until that bell rings.”

The club’s current designated hitter rotation — a conglomerate most often led by Josh Smith, Jonah Heim and Kyle Higashioka — has combined for a .698 OPS since Pederson’s injury that’s tied for the 24st worst mark in baseball. Heim, whose 32 at-bats at designated hitter lead the team since then, has hit just .094 at designated hitter.

Pederson’s return allows Heim and Higashioka to spend the bulk of their combined time at catcher and in more favorable matchups. Smith has been the team’s most productive fill-in at designated hitter with a .290/.371/.452 slash line but is most valuable as a full-time utility player that Rangers manager Bruce Bochy can flex across the infield and outfield. When Jake Burger (who played designated hitter the fourth-most in Pederson’s absence) returns from his left quad strain, which may not happen until the second week of August, his time will be focused at first base.

Those advantages are moot, though, if Pederson is not an improved version of his first-half self. The 33-year-old slashed .131/.269/.238 in a 46-game start that included a career-worst hitless streak. His .507 OPS is still the fifth-lowest of any player who had 140 plate appearances or more this season and his -0.7 WAR, according to FanGraphs, remains the worst among all Rangers hitters. He hit just .152 against four-seam fastballs.

What comes next matters most. Pederson owns a career .797 OPS in the second half of seasons. Last year, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he slashed .279/.424/.544 for a .964 OPS with double digit home runs in the second half of the season.

The Rangers do not need Pederson to exceed his own expected averages to see significant gains from his return. His career .801 OPS would be both the second-highest of any Rangers hitter not named Corey Seager and the best production that the club has received out of a designated hitter during Bochy’s three seasons as manager.

Pederson went 2 for 6 with a run scored in two minor league rehab games with Double-A Frisco on Thursday and Friday. He also took live batting practice against a Rangers minor leaguer Tuesday and Wednesday before his assignment.

He’s struck down the notion that productive live bullpens or minor league games correlate to major league success, in line with Bochy’s spring training allegory, but is pleased with the way in which his return to play has materialized.

“I think it came together quicker than I thought,” Pederson said. “I think just being around baseball helps. I know it was two months off, but in the offseason, [when you try] to get going, it’s tougher. It felt good to be back.”

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