The Texas Rangers are hoping for another big year out of 32-year old righty swinging Adrian Beltre in 2012. Beltre played in 124 games for the Rangers last year and he was 144 of 487 (.296 avg, .892 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,959 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 2,033 of 7,361 (.276 avg, .797 OPS) with 994 runs scored, 310 homers, 1,113 RBIs and 114 stolen bases. Beltre only had 11 errors in 112 games at 3B last year while showing off outstanding range. The Rangers hope that Beltre can stay healthy in 2012 as he is one of the best all-around players on the team.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012: A

23-year old righty swinging shortstop Elvis Andrus has improved in each of his three years in the majors for the Rangers. They hope that continues in 2012. Andrus played in 150 games for the Rangers last year and he was 164 of 587 (.279 avg, .708 OPS) with 96 runs scored, 5 homers, 60 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. He has now played in 443 games in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 448 of 1,655 (.271 avg, .683 OPS) with 256 runs scored, 11 homers, 135 RBIs and 102 stolen bases. Andrus had 25 errors in 147 games at SS for the Rangers while showing really good range. He gets to a lot of balls that other SS only dream about getting to. Look for Andrus to maybe have a true breakout year in 2012.

27-year old switch-hitting Luis Hernandez will be competing for the utility infielder job this spring and his natural position is SS. Hernandez played in 121 games in AAA-ball for the Mets last year and he was 97 of 404 (.240 avg, .612 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 6 homers, 54 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He last played in 2010 with the Mets. He has played in 120 games in his first four years with the Mets and he is 65 for 265 (.245 avg, .584 OPS) with 197 runs scored, 18 homers, 183 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Hernandez can also handle 2B pretty adeptly.

24-year old switch-hitting Yangervis Solarte is trying to break into the majors this year. He played in 121 games in AA-ball last year and he was 151 of 459 (.329 avg, .834 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 7 homers, 49 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Solarte has now played in 409 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 431 of 1,495 (.288 avg, .732 OPS) with 197 runs scored, 18 homers, 183 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.

28-year old Alberto Gonzalez is also in the mix at SS. He played in 30 games for the Padres at SS last year and he had 1 error while showing pretty good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: B+

30-year old righty swinging 2B Ian Kinsler has been a 30/30 man in each of his two years that he has appeared in at least 144 games. The Rangers hope that Kinsler is three for three after 2012 is over. Kinsler played in 155 games for the Rangers last year and he was 158 for 620 (.255 avg, .832 OPS) with 121 runs scored, 32 homers, 77 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He has now played in 773 games in his first six years with the Rangers and he is 826 of 3,001 (.275 avg, .824 OPS) with 558 runs scored, 124 homers, 395 RBIs and 136 stolen bases. Kinsler had 11 errors in 144 games at 2B last year while showing sub par range. The Rangers are happy if he just makes the plays he gets to as his bat is what he gets paid for.

28-year old righty swinging Alberto Gonzalez will try to win a backup job this spring for the Rangers. He played in 102 games for the Padres last year and he was 53 for 247 (.215 avg, .539 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 1 homer, 32 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Gonzalez has played in 378 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 203 for 839 (.242 avg, .598 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 3 homers, 81 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Gonzalez made 2 errors in 41 games at 2B for the Padres last year while showing pretty awful range. His versatility in the field gives him an edge in the competition for the utility man job as he can play any infield spot (including 1B) defensively.

33-year old switch-hitting Matt Kata is also on hand this spring to fight for a utility job. Kata played in 106 games in AAA-ball for the Rangers last year and he was 115 of 392 (.293 avg, .832 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 13 homers, 71 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He last played in the majors back in 2009 for the Astros. He has played in 278 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 166 of 695 (.239 avg, .660 OPS) with 89 runs scored, 12 homers, 63 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Kata can also handle 3B defensively.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: A

26-year old lefty swinging Mitch Moreland is going to start against righties in 2012 with Mike Napoli likely starting against lefties. Moreland played in 134 games for the Rangers last year and he was 120 for 464 (.259 avg, .733 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 16 homers, 51 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 181 games in his first 2 years in the majors and he is 157 for 609 (.258 avg, .758 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 25 homers, 76 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Moreland had 4 errors in 99 games at 1B last year for the Rangers as he is a pretty decent defensive player.

Mike Napoli shares time at 1B with Mitch Moreland and he has turned himself into a decent defensive player there. He only had 1 error in 35 games for the Rangers at 1B last year. He will split his P.T. between catcher and 1B in 2012.

32-year old Brad Hawpe and 29-year old Conor Jackson can both play the outfield corners and 1B. Hawpe played in 44 games at 1B for the Padres last year and he had 4 errors. He’s not a good defensive 1B as he is a natural outfielder. Conor Jackson only made 1 error in 53 games at 1B for the A’s & Red Sox last year. He is a rock solid defensive 1B.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: B

30-year old righty swinging Mike Napoli and 33-year old righty swinging Yorvit Torrealba are going to share the catcher job for the Rangers once again in 2012. They were a very effective pairing in 2011. Mike Napoli played in 113 games for the Rangers last year and he was 118 of 369 (.320 avg, 1.046 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 30 homers, 75 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 619 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 507 of 1,918 (.264 avg, .873 OPS) with 318 runs scored, 122 homers, 324 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Napoli was also much better than advertised last year defensively. Napoli played in 61 games behind the plate for the Rangers last year and he had 2 errors and 1 passed ball. He also threw out 10 of 33 (30.3%) base stealers last year and Rangers’ pitchers had a 3.16 ERA with him behind the dish. The Rangers hope that Napoli keeps ripping the ball like he did last year. He will also see a lot of P.T. at 1B in 2012.

Yorvit Torrealba played in 113 games for the Rangers last year and he was 108 of 396 (.273 avg, .705 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 7 homers and 37 RBIs. He has now played in 782 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 650 for 2,502 (.260 avg, .708 OPS) with 277 runs scored, 52 homers, 309 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He played in 98 games behind the plate for the Rangers last year and he had 9 errors and 7 passed balls. He also threw out 21 of 83 (25.3%) base stealers while Rangers’ pitchers had a 4.31 ERA with him behind the plate. Torrealba will once again be the Rangers’ catcher the majority of time in 2012.

26-year old Luis Martinez will be a nice little insurance policy in AAA for the Rangers in 2012. He played in 22 games for the Rangers last year and he was 12 for 59 (.203 avg, .614 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 10 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Martinez also played in 58 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 64 for 198 (.323 avg, .813 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 28 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Martinez played in 19 games behind the plate for the Padres last year and he didn’t have any errors or passed balls. He threw out 3 of 19 (15.8%) base stealers and Padres’ pitchers had a 3.34 ERA with him behind the dish.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B+