Josh Smith Reveals Rangers Role Model
Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith is going to play a lot of positions during Spring Training.
He’s already played shortstop in a start on Saturday against Kansas City. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has talked frequently about his desire to play Smith at every infield position, along with left field.
But, no matter the position, there is one player that Smith is watching, his spring role model, if you will — Marcus Semien.
Actually, it started before the pair headed to Arizona for Spring Training.
“I was lucky enough to stay in Dallas and get to work out with him this year,” Smith said. “I saw how he went about his day. Whether he knows it or not, he’s pushing me.”
Semien talked about his offseason workouts earlier in the spring. He said that he was able to be in one place to work out for the first time since his days in Oakland. Those workouts, he said, gave him the chance to work out consistently with team personnel and with fellow teammates.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe said there was a core group that made their way to Globe Life Field for workouts on a consistent basis.
Smith got to see how Semien pushes himself to be great every day. As Smith said, whether Semien knew it or not.
“Every day he’s the same guy,” Smith said. “I really admire the way he goes about it.”
Semien has emerged as a leader in this organization in just a year. The 10-year veteran has played at least 161 games in each of his last three full seasons. He’s finished third in MVP voting on two different occasions and has won a Gold Glove.
Last season, the club watched Semien gut his way through an awful start to eventually hit .248 with 26 home runs and 83 RBI. He also stole 25 bases, making him one of two Rangers to have a 25-25 campaign. Adolis García was the other.
Smith, technically still a rookie, is just trying to find a way to claim a job on the Opening Day roster. He batted .197/.307/.249/.556 in 73 games in 2022. He scored 23 runs, hit five doubles and two home runs, one being inside the park. He also had 16 RBI. He drew 28 walks and struck out 50 times.
He’s already shown an affinity for playing different position, even though he was trained as a middle infielder. Last season, he played second base, third base, shortstop and left field for the Rangers. He was charged with just one error in 152 changes.
Smith will get to continue to prove he can do that this spring in the hopes of a full-time job.
But he’ll always be watching Semien.
“Honestly, I try to copy everything he does," Smith said. "I just try to see what he does and try to do the same.”
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