Mitch Moreland was finally starting to show he could be an everyday first baseman in the big leagues before he pulled up with a hamstring injury in Fenway Park a couple of weeks ago.
After a really rough start to the season when Moreland was possibly on the verge of losing his job, he caught fire and never let up, getting his batting average up to .288 before he went down with the injury to go along with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs.
He was really stroking the ball when he went down in Boston, and that pretty much coincided with the Rangers' current offensive slump.
Beginning Monday, Moreland had a three-game rehab assignment in Double-A Frisco and if his performance there was any indication, he's ready to hit the ground running on Friday in St. Louis and pick up where he left off.
Moreland went 6-for-9 in this three-game stint with Frisco, including three doubles, a homer and three RBIs.
The Rangers will welcome back that offense, coupled with the return this week of Ian Kinsler, who spent a month on the shelf with a rib injury. They'll also be thrilled to get Moreland back at first base, which has been a mish-mash lately with the failed Chris McGuiness, the failed Lance Berkman and now the converted minor-league catcher Robinson Chirinos.
No. 18 will look mighty good back at first base come Friday.
