Nomar Mazara's Big League Debut A Sign Of Things To Come For Texas Rangers

The present is about to become the future for the Texas Rangers. After Shin-Soo Choo was sent to the DL with a calf injury, the team called up 20-year-old prospect Nomar Mazara. All Mazara proceeded to do in his big league debut Sunday was go 3-for-4 and hit his first big league home run. Some may call it beginner’s luck, but Mazara is the real deal and his immediate success in the majors is a sign of things to come.

Mazara is young and had just 23 games at Triple-A under his belt before getting called up to the majors, but he has both the skills and maturity to handle a full-time job in the big leagues right now. He has done nothing but produce in the minor leagues over the last two years, hitting for average, hitting for power, and showing a mature approach at the plate. Outside of stealing a lot of bases, there is nothing on a baseball field he can’t do, including being a solid defensive player with an arm that can be a real asset in right field.

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Mazara physically looks the part of a big leaguer and his offensive output during his big league debut confirms his readiness. Obviously, it was just one game, and there will be growing pains just like any other rookie; but Mazara has little left to prove in the minors and has what it takes to be an everyday player in the majors right now.

Mazara has at least a month to play every day in right field before either Choo or Josh Hamilton return from the DL and seek to reclaim a corner outfield spot in Texas’ lineup. Considering the money the Rangers are paying to both Choo and Hamilton, it would make sense to return Mazara to the minors if both come back healthy, although Choo could potentially move to center field to accommodate the youngster.

However, until that happens, Mazara has a chance to prove himself capable of being the team’s right fielder for both present and future. If Mazara’s big league debut and his recent track record in the minors are any indication, he’ll eventually give the Rangers a difficult decision to make when Choo and Hamilton are healthy. In fact, it’s possible that Mazara’s debut on Sunday was just the start of a long era of him patrolling right field for the Rangers.