2002 Texas Rangers season

Preseason

• October 29, 2001: Edinson Vólquez was signed by the Rangers as an amateur free agent.
• November 26, 2001: Todd Van Poppel was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
• December 13, 2001: John Vander Wal was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the New York Yankees for Jay Witasick.
• December 18, 2001: Dave Elder was traded by the Rangers to the Cleveland Indians for John Rocker.
• January 8, 2002: Juan González was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
• February 28, 2002: Tony Mounce was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
• March 19, 2002: Justin Duchscherer was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Oakland Athletics for Luis Vizcaíno.

Regular season

Opening Day starters

• Iván Rodríguez, C
• Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
• Michael Young, 2B
• Hank Blalock, 3B
• Alex Rodriguez, SS
• Gabe Kapler, LF
• Carl Everett, CF
• Juan González, RF
• Frank Catalanotto, DH
• Chan Ho Park, RHP

Season summary

• Alex Rodriguez had a major league-best 57 HR, 142 RBI and 389 total bases in 2002, becoming the first player to lead the majors in all three categories since 1984. He had the 6th-most home runs in AL history, the most since Roger Maris' league record 61 in 1961, and the most ever for a shortstop for the 2nd straight year while also winning his first Gold Glove Award, awarded for outstanding defense.
• The 109 home runs hit by Alex Rodriguez in 2001–02 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons. However, the Rangers finished last in the AL Western division in both years, a showing that likely cost Rodriguez the MVP award in 2002 when he finished second to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose 103-win Oakland A's won the same division.
• The Rangers set the Major League record for most consecutive games with at least one home run, with 27, which eventually was broken in 2019 by the New York Yankees.

Season standings

American League Wild Card

Record vs. opponents

Transactions

• July 31, 2002: Gabe Kapler, Jason Romano and cash were traded by the Rangers to the Colorado Rockies for Dennys Reyes and Todd Hollandsworth.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

• Alex Rodriguez, Hank Aaron Award
• Alex Rodriguez, A.L. Home Run Champ
• Alex Rodriguez, SS, AL Gold Glove
• Alex Rodriguez, Silver Slugger Award,
• Kenny Rogers, P, Gold Glove,

All-Star Game

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Charlotte

References

• 2002 Texas Rangers team page at Baseball Reference
• 2002 Texas Rangers team page at www.baseball-almanac.com

References

1. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/volqued01.shtml Edinson Vólquez page at Baseball Reference]
2. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vanpoto01.shtml Todd Van Poppel page at Baseball Reference]
3. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vandejo02.shtml John Vander Wal page at Baseball Reference]
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rockejo01.shtml John Rocker page at Baseball Reference]
5. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gonzaju03.shtml Juan González page at Baseball Reference]
6. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mouncto01.shtml Tony Mounce page at Baseball Reference]
7. "Justin Duchscherer Stats".
8. "The Official Site of The Texas Rangers: History: Rangers Season Records".
9. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kaplega01.shtml Gabe Kapler page at Baseball Reference]