Michael Young
The Rangers' franchise icon hit .300 over 14 seasons while playing seven different positions — a testament to both his bat and his willingness to sacrifice personal glory for team needs. Young's .331 average in 2005 led the American League, capping a remarkable five-year stretch where he never dipped below .294.
His career OPS+ of 98 tells the story of steady production rather than dominance, but that undersells his value. Young collected 200-plus hits four times and drove in 90-plus runs six times, providing the kind of reliable offensive foundation championship teams require.
The Gold Glove at shortstop came in 2008, but Young's true legacy lies in his adaptability. When the Rangers needed him at third base, second base, or even first base and designated hitter, he moved without complaint. That selflessness, combined with seven All-Star selections, made him the face of Texas baseball during their most successful era.
Career · Batting
14 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | TEX | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
| 2001 | TEX | 106 | 386 | 11 | 49 | .249 | .699 | 92 |
| 2002 | TEX | 156 | 573 | 9 | 62 | .262 | .690 | 92 |
| 2003 | TEX | 160 | 666 | 14 | 72 | .306 | .785 | 104 |
| 2004 | TEX | 160 | 690 | 22 | 99 | .313 | .836 | 110 |
| 2005 | TEX | 159 | 668 | 24 | 91 | .331 | .899 | 120 |
| 2006 | TEX | 162 | 691 | 14 | 103 | .314 | .814 | 106 |
| 2007 | TEX | 156 | 639 | 9 | 94 | .315 | .783 | 103 |
| 2008 | TEX | 155 | 645 | 12 | 82 | .284 | .741 | 99 |
| 2009 | TEX | 135 | 541 | 22 | 68 | .322 | .892 | 119 |
| 2010 | TEX | 157 | 656 | 21 | 91 | .284 | .774 | 106 |
| 2011 | TEX | 159 | 631 | 11 | 106 | .338 | .854 | 119 |
| 2012 | TEX | 156 | 611 | 8 | 67 | .277 | .682 | 94 |
| 2013 | PHI | 147 | 519 | 8 | 46 | .279 | .730 | 102 |
| Career | 1970 | 7918 | 185 | 1030 | .300 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.