Mitch Moreland basically played himself out of a spot in the lineup during the postseason, going a putrid 3-for-29 in October.
But before that, Moreland had already struggled mightily as the Texas Rangers everyday first baseman.
Moreland burst onto the scene in 2010 and was one of the best hitters in the 2010 postseason. He had his moments early on in 2011 but reportedly played the entire second half of the season with an undisclosed wrist injury, and it showed as he finished the season with a .259 average with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs.
He had surgery on that wrist on Wednesday and is set for an 8-12 week recovery, the latter of which would put him back right around the time spring training games get started in Surprise, Ariz.
The apparent plan of the Rangers is to go forward with Moreland as the everyday guy at first base and not pursue the two biggest offensive free agents on the market in first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
It's nice of the Rangers to show so much confidence in the young Moreland, but he needs to turn things around from last year if the Rangers are going to be vindicated for their decision.
