Baseball Players who Played for Rays 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 Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re 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 on both the Rays and Rangers.
Nelson Cruz
Nelson Cruz is in his 19th season in the major leagues. He has played for 8 different teams over that span including the Rangers, Mariners, Twins, Rays, Padres, Nationals, Orioles and Brewers.
Cruz has had a ton of success throughout his career including 7 All-Star appearances (Rangers, Orioles, Mariners, Twins) and 4 Silver Slugger awards (Mariners, Twins).
He’s gone over 40 home runs twice in his career (Orioles, Mariners) and over 100 RBIs in 4 different seasons (Orioles, Mariners, Twins).
Cruz Key Stats
- All-Star (Rangers, Orioles, Mariners, Twins)
- Silver Slugger (Mariners, Twins)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Orioles, Mariners, Twins)
- 100+ RBI Season (Orioles, Mariners, Twins)
Carlos Pena
Carlos Peña, who played from 2001 to 2014, made his mark as a first baseman primarily with the Tampa Bay Rays. However, Pena also had stops at 7 other clubs including the Tigers, Rangers, Royals, Red Sox, A’s, Cubs and Astros.
Known for his power-hitting ability, Peña accumulated over 1100 hits, 286 home runs and went over 100 RBIs 3 times in a season (Rays). He had a standout season in 2007, when he hit .282 with 46 homers and 121 RBIs, earning him the Silver Slugger Award and Comeback Player of the Year honors.
Pena won a Gold Glove in 2008 and was also an All-Star in 2009 (both with Rays).
Corey Kluber
Corey Kluber was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres and later made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2011. Kluber was one of the most dominant pitchers in the league for a span of about five years.
He won the Cy Young Award twice, first in 2014 and then again in 2017, both times with the Indians. Kluber has been named to three All-Star teams and has thrown a no-hitter, which came in 2021 as a member of the New York Yankees.
Kluber played his first 9 seasons in Cleveland but has bounced around more recently in his career with stops at the Rays, Red Sox, Rangers and Yankees.
Kluber Key Stats
- Cy Young (Indians)
- All-Star (Indians)
- 20+ Win Season (Indians)
- 200+ Strikeout Season (Indians)
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)
