Editor's note: In this offseason series, we're ranking the best players to wear each number in Rangers history from SportsDay Insider Gerry Fraley. New installments will come each weekday through mid-November.
#51
Alex Rios, 2013-14
Rios could hit for average, run and throw, but he had a remarkable lack of home-run power for a corner outfielder during his time with the Rangers. In franchise history, 140 players had had 600-plus at-bats. Rios ranks 110th for homers with 10 in 678 at-bats.
Also: Reliever Jeff Bronkey (1993) retains the distinction of being the only major-leaguer to be born in Afghanistan.
Most recent: Reliever Matt Bush (2016-current) showed as a rookie that he could be the franchise's top No. 51. Bush had one save and 22 holds while holding opponents to a .196 batting average.
#52
Steve Comer, 1978.
Comer, a right-hander, had 11 wins and a 2.30 ERA for 117 1/3 innings as a rookie. He also picked up $1,000 for switching to number 52 during spring training. Comer had been assigned No. 28, which had belonged to newly acquired reliever Sparky Lyle for 10 years. Lyle paid $1,000 for Comer to give up the number.
Also: Who was second for saves on the history-making 1996 club? Left-hander Ed Vosberg (1996-97,) with eight.
Most recent: Right-hander Tanner Scheppers (2012-16) has been on the disabled list five times for a total of 351 days with the number.
#53
Joaquin Benoit, 2001-08.
The Rangers never could determine how to use Benoit. He had 55 starts and a 218 relief appearances. One of the relief outings stands out over all the others. On Sept. 3, 2002, Benoit worked seven innings for a save in a 7-1 win at Baltimore. Starter Aaron Myette had been ejected for throwing his first two pitches behind Melvin Mora. Right-hander Todd Van Poppel worked two innings for the win.
Also: Right-hander Edwin Correa (1987) ended his final season with the number. Correa never recovered from arm problems that arose after he worked 202 1/3 innings at age 20 in 1986.
Most recent: Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo (2016) had a 17.18 ERA for 3 2/3 innings in two appearances with the club.
#54
Matt Harrison, 2008-15.
Harrison had 14 wins in 2011, when the Rangers went to the World Series for the second consecutive season. He followed that with 18 wins and an All-Star berth in 2012 and was the opening day starter in 2013. It went downhill from there as back ailments limited Harrison to nine starts in his final three seasons with the club.
Also: Goose Gossage (1991) had only one save in his season with the Rangers, but it made for a memorable moment. On July 23, Gossage earned career save No. 308 by working the final 1 1/3 innings of Nolan Ryan's career win No. 308.
Most recent: Tom Wilhelmsen (2016) had a 10.55 ERA in 21 1/3 innings. It is the highest season ERA in club history, with a minimum of 20 innings.
#55
Brian Downing, 1991.
When Downing joined the club during spring training, he switched to No. 55 because Mike Stanley had his favored No. 5. Downing was ahead of his time in that he focused on walks and on-base percentage rather than batting average. Downing was a non-traditional lead-off hitter type because of his age (40) and lack of speed, but he got on base. Downing a .376 on-base percentage as the lead-off hitter.
Also: A total of 10 pitchers have had No. 55 in franchise history. They combined for 22 wins. Reliever Rob Tejada (2006-07) had 10 of the wins.
Most recent: Left-hander Cesar Ramos (2016) allowed 12 runs in 6 2/3 innings during his last four appearances with the club.
