Gentry Named Rangers' Top Defender

Craig Gentry will most likely play a pretty big role with the Texas Rangers in 2014, and deservedly so.

After all, he was one of the best bats the Rangers had down the stretch in 2013 and according to glove-making company Wilson, Gentry is also the best defensive player on the Rangers.

The center/left fielder, who will most likely be in a platoon in left field in 2014, was given the honor based on several defensive categories and sabermetrics.

Gentry started 69 games for the Rangers, but should've started much more in place of David Murphy. He was second on the team in chances, behind Leonys Martin, was third in assists and was the team leader in zone rating, the number of plays made on ball that are hit in his "area," according to STATS Inc.

In many ways, Gentry was in 2013 what David Murphy was in 2012, and we saw what happened to Murphy after he was given more playing time last season. The hope is that the same thing doesn't happen with Gentry, whose speed and base-stealing ability gives him some more weapons than a guy like Murphy and more opportunity to make an impact.

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