What’s wrong with the Texas Rangers’ power bat?

Baseball is a game of adjustments and confidence. García, who slugged 39 home runs in 2023 and earned MVP votes, is visibly pressing. He’s chasing pitches he usually spits on, getting caught between swings, and failing to barrel up balls, he’d usually drive into the seats. Even his defense—a highlight reel staple—hasn’t been enough to offset his struggles at the plate.

Bochy’s move is as much about the mental game as the physical. By sitting García against Giants’ lefty Robbie Ray, Bochy allows him to breathe, watch from the dugout, and recalibrate. 

“He’s kind of getting caught in between, and he’s got a couple of different swings going on. I just want to give him a day to see if he can reset here,” Bochy said.

In García’s place, Josh Smith drew the start in right field—his seventh different defensive position already this season. That versatility is a luxury, but nobody in Texas wants to see Smith as the everyday right fielder for long.

The Rangers need García’s power, swagger and energy. One slump doesn’t erase his value, and his track record suggests he’ll snap out of it sooner or later. For now, though, one of the American League’s most feared power bats is stuck searching for answers—and the Rangers are holding their breath that a single day off can jumpstart his season.