The 2017 season was considered a disappointment for the Rangers. Yes, they were in the wild card hunt until the final weeks of the season. But once the smoke cleared, the Rangers finished under .500 and then watched the in-state rival Houston Astros make their march towards a World Series title.
Needless to say, that really didn’t sit well in Arlington.
However, there were a few bright spots for the Rangers last season, one of those being the play of shortstop Elvis Andrus. Simply put, Andrus had himself a career year. For that, he was named the Rangers Player of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Andrus hit .297 with career highs in runs (100), hits (191), doubles (44), home runs (22) and RBI (88) in 158 games. He also ranked third in the American League in hits and was also a finalist for the Gold Glove award for his defensive work at shortstop.
The two-time All-Star turns 29 in August. Why is that important? Andrus is in the prime of his career and continues to grow as a player, both on the field and in the clubhouse. That will be a key ingredient if the Rangers want to return playing October baseball.
Andrus is signed through 2022 with an opt-out clause following the 2018 season.
Other award recipients will be named in the upcoming weeks, including the Rangers’ 2017 Pitcher and Rookie of the Year.
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Andrus will accept his award at the 2018 Dr Pepper Texas Rangers Awards Dinner on Friday, Jan. 19 at Gilley’s Dallas.
