Since May 12, 2022, Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien has never missed a regular season game. But as the Rangers prepare to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Semien's streak will be coming to an end.
The infielder is out of the lineup on Wednesday as he has been played a bit, “banged up,” manager Bruce Bochy said, via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Semien collided with teammate Adolis Garcia back on May 18.
Texas has a scheduled day off on Thursday, meaning that Semien will be able to take two days of rest. With no official injury distinction, it seems to be just a standard day off for the second baseman. But days off have been anything but the norm for Semien. Wednesday will mark his first missed start in 349 games.
It appears the Rangers lucked out with their unfortunate crash. Semien doesn't seem to be dealing with a long-term issue and Garcia remains in the lineup. Bochy is hopeful that two days off gets Semien right. The veteran infielder will take an opportunity to breathe and actually take a seat on the bench.
He will be missing out on the second game of Texas' World Series rematch against the Diamondbacks. The first game saw the Rangers came out victorious 4-2. Things might be a bit more difficult the second time around without Semien in the lineup.
With Semien out, Texas turned to Ezequiel Duran at second base on Wednesday.
What Marcus Semien provides Rangers
Consistency is a key quality in any sport. For the Rangers, Marcus Semien has been a central figure at second base and a player they could always count on. As injuries mounted or lineup changes were made, Bochy already knew Semien would be locked in at second base.
But more so than just longevity, Semien has been a crucial part of Texas' offense since joining the team in 2022. Over 378 games, Semien has hit .260 with 64 home runs, 217 RBI and 40 RBI. As the Rangers made their run to a World Series in 2023, Semien one of his best seasons to date. He finished third in MVP voting after he led the AL in hits (185) while hitting .276 with 29 home runs, 100 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
It also marked the first time Semien made the All-Star Game in his brief tenure with the Rangers. He has been an All-Star and a Silver Slugger twice and has hit .257 with 224 home runs, 699 RBI and 121 stolen bases over his 12-year career.
Through the first 55 games of the 2024 season, Marcus Semien is hitting .249 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and a stolen base. His 233 at-bats lead all of MLB.
Perhaps that's why Semien is getting a breather on Wednesday, on top of his collision with Garcia. All players need breaks and the infielder's day came. His legacy won't be tarnished and if anything, healing up would do better for the Rangers in the long run. But Semien's 249 streak shows his dedication to baseball and his overall toughness to battle it out everyday.
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