After taking a brief drop in the lineup to the No. 9 spot, the Rangers' usual leadoff hitter and starting center fielder, Delino DeShields, was back in the leadoff spot in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees.
But DeShields didn't have much to do with the victory. In fact, he hasn't much to do with anything positive as of late, and it's almost time for the Rangers to make a big decision that could bump him from the starting lineup after such a promising rookie year in 2015.
After five games of struggling in the No. 9 spot in the order, DeShields was moved back up in the order against a lefty starter and went 0-for-3 with nothing to show but a sacrifice. He's now deep in a 1-for-22 slump and has taken a considerable step back at the plate since a pretty hot start through the first week or two of the season.
Soon, Shin-Soo Choo and Josh Hamilton will be healthy. Ian Desmond is the team's hottest hitter, and Nomar Mazara has shown he might just be in the big leagues for the long haul. That's five outfielders, and that's too many.
Not sure what will happen, but if DeShields can't break this slump soon, he might be the odd man out.
