7 Baseball Players who Played for Mets and Rangers
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the New York Mets and Texas Rangers.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both the Mets and the Rangers.
Jacob deGrom
Jacob deGrom has been a cornerstone player for the New York Mets since his MLB debut in 2014, earning the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in his initial season. He transitioned from playing shortstop at Stetson University to pitching, leading to his selection by the Mets in the 9th round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
Throughout his career, deGrom’s excellence on the mound is underscored by his multiple Cy Young Awards, notably achieved in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019. While he has encountered injuries over the years, his consistency and dominant performances have firmly established his standing among the elite pitchers in baseball.
deGrom Key Stats
- Rookie of the Year (Mets)
- Cy Young (Mets)
- All-Star (Mets)
- 200+ Strikeout Season (Mets)
Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan, who pitched from 1966 to 1993, is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Known for his powerful fastball and extraordinary longevity, Ryan played for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.
Over his career, he amassed an incredible 5,714 strikeouts, a record that still stands. Ryan’s seven no-hitters and 324 wins are further testament to his prowess on the mound. An eight-time All-Star (Angels, Astros, Rangers) and the 1981 AL ERA leader, Ryan’s career was marked by standout performances that earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer, known for his distinctive different-colored eyes, has been a force to reckon with in baseball since he started in 2008. He’s played for several teams, including the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers and Mets.
Scherzer’s a three-time Cy Young Award winner and played a crucial role in the Nationals’ World Series win in 2019.
Scherzer is still active (as of 2023) and has over 3,000 strikeouts with a career-high of 300 in 2018 with the Nationals. Despite moving around a bit, Max has consistently been a top-tier pitcher in the majors.
Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltran is a 9-time all-star who played an incredible 20 years in major league baseball. Over his 20-year career, he played for 7 different teams – 2 of which were the Royals and the Mets.
Beltran also played for the New York Yankees, St Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants – making him an extremely versatile Immaculate Grid answer.
Beltran Key Stats
- Rookie of the Year (Royals)
- All-Star (Astros, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees)
- Gold Glove (Mets)
- Silver Slugger (Mets)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Mets)
- 100+ RBI Season (Royals, Mets)
- 40+ Stolen Base Season (Royals)
Gary Matthews jr
Gary Matthews Jr., the son of former Major League player Gary Matthews, was an outfielder with a career spanning from 1999 to 2010. Known for his agility and speed, he played for seven teams during his career including the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.
A standout year for Matthews Jr. was 2006 with the Rangers, where he hit .313 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 102 runs, leading to his only All-Star selection. His career totals include a .257 batting average, 108 home runs, and 484 RBIs.
Matthews Jr. is perhaps best remembered for an incredible over-the-wall catch in 2006 while with the Rangers, a highlight that still plays in baseball reels today.
Julio Franco
Julio Franco had an exceptionally long and diverse career in Major League Baseball, playing from 1982 until 2007, with a three-year stint in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball in between. He played for eight different MLB teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers.
Franco was known for his high contact, low strikeout approach, leading to a lifetime .298 batting average and an impressive .365 on-base percentage. The three-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger award winner accumulated 2586 hits, 173 home runs, and 1194 RBIs.
His longevity was remarkable, continuing his career well into his late 40s. Franco’s final MLB season was in 2007 with the Atlanta Braves when he was 48.
Franco Key Stats
- All-Star (Rangers)
- Silver Slugger (Indians, Rangers, White Sox)
- 200+ Hit Season (Rangers)
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon, affectionately known as “Big Sexy”, was a fixture on the mound in baseball from 1997 until 2018. He played for a whole bunch of teams (11), which makes him an extremely versatile player for the Immaculate Grid.
Colon’s career stops included the Indians (now Guardians), Dodgers, Mets, Athletics, White Sox, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Montreal Expos and Yankees.
Colon was a 4-time All-Star and even bagged a Cy Young Award in 2005. He had over 240 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
