Former Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson is struggling mightily with the Texas Rangers through the first two months of the regular season. Pederson signed a massive two-year, $37 million contract in the offseason with the Rangers after spending the three previous seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2024) and San Francisco Giants (2022-23).
The veteran slugger is hitting a mediocre .132 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI in 45 games, which isn’t what the Rangers had in mind. And now to make matters worse, the former Brave is dealing with an injury.
Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reported that Pederson has a fractured hand after getting hit by a pitch on Saturday. McFarland added that the veteran was given a six-week timetable to return and placed on the 10-day injured list.
Rangers fans weren’t upset about the injury news, as some fans on social media wanted the former Brave to be designated for assignment. You cannot blame Rangers fans for being frustrated with Pederson’s performance, but he’s not being DFA’d, making $18.5 million this year.
He does have a player option for 2026 at $18.5 million, but it's unlikely that the former Braves outfielder would turn that down.
Pederson’s performance this season has been stark from his short period with the Braves in 2021, when they won the World Series. The veteran slugger came over to Atlanta ahead of the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs and provided an offensive boost from the centerfield spot.
In 64 regular-season games with the Braves, Pederson slashed .249/.325/.428 with seven home runs and 22 RBI. He also had a .752 OPS.
The veteran outfielder wasn’t spectacular at the plate in the playoffs for the Braves, especially in the World Series (.067). However, he was excellent in the NLDS against the Milwaukee Braves, hitting .429 with two home runs and five RBI.
Then, in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pederson hit .227 with a home run and four RBI.
That said, Pederson is now four years older and isn’t even the same player that was in Arizona, who hit .275 with 23 home runs and 64 RBI. Hopefully, the former Brave can figure it out at the plate after he returns from his fractured hand.