Michael Choice's last game as a Ranger in 2014 was a good one.
Choice tripled and had an RBI double in Sunday's sweep-completing win over the Atlanta Braves, but on that RBI double, Choice pulled up lame on his way to second base and was helped off the field with what MRI results revealed was a "significant" hamstring strain.
Now, Choice, who needs all the time he can get in the Rangers' lineup, is out for the year with 12 games remaining.
Choice was acquired over the winter from Oakland for former Rangers fan favorite Craig Gentry, who is also currently injured, and showed all kinds of potential and promise in spring training. But he once again showed that spring training performance isn't to be bought into too terribly much, as he struggled to find his groove as a first-time, full-time big-leaguer.
Choice was eventually demoted to Triple-A over the summer and didn't return until rosters expanded on Sept. 1. He finished the year hitting just .182 with a .250 on-base percentage. He also showed several lapses in the field defensively and at times just looked absolutely lost and in over his head in the bigs.
The 24-year-old will now have to wait until spring training to try to improve and prove himself again, as it's also unlikely he'll be able to play winter ball this offseason, as originally planned.
