Delino DeShields has proven he isn't the average Rule 5 draft pick in the vein of a Russell Wilson or a guy that probably isn't expected to make the big-league roster and contribute.
DeShields, the son of a successful big-leaguer by the same name, was a top prospect in the Houston Astros system and rubbed some folks the wrong way before the team exposed him in the Rule 5 draft in December.
Not only has DeShields stuck on the Rangers' 25-man roster, he's carved himself out a role of being a regular and is going to make it tough on the Rangers once Josh Hamilton debuts with the club presumably on Monday in Cleveland.
DeShields is batting .271 with a .386 on-base percentage to go with 11 stolen bases, and for the past week has been auditioning to be the Rangers' full-time No. 2 hitter in the lineup. On Wednesday night in Boston, DeShields was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, but his biggest contribution was in the field.
Playing left field in an unfamiliar, unique environment with the Green Monster in Fenway Park, DeShields made two huge catches, including one in the bottom of the ninth off the bat of Dustin Pedroia that was right at the base of the wall.
DeShields has hit better than the Rangers probably expected him to, and his speed has been as advertised, while the defense has been pretty spectacular outside of a couple of flubbed plays. At 22 years old, he could setting himself up to be one the bigger Rule 5 steals in recent memory.
