Future Watch: Delino DeShields Jr., Baseball Rookie Cards, Texas Rangers – Sometimes there’s a player who can captivate baseball fans without hitting a home run. While “small ball” may not be a sexy term in major league baseball these days, players who can manufacture a run still have a high value. One such player is Delino DeShields Jr.

A second generation player, his dad, who has the same name, was a player to watch for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers in the 90’s. He  also played for a few other teams but not the Texas Rangers like his son.

DeShields Jr. can get a base-hit, steal second, go to third on a groundout and he’s been able to score on a groundout to the right side! He’s scored from second on a routine fly ball to center field.

In 425 at-bats this season he had 22 doubles, 10 triples, 83 runs scored and 25 steals to go along with a .344 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot. He won’t hit homers but at 5′-9″, 210lbs, he does everything else well and he seems like he is built for the long haul.

In the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays who eventually won in five games, he hit .292, with three doubles a steal and four runs scored.

He won the AL Rookie of the Month in May after making his MLB debut the previous month. He won’t win the Rookie of the Year Award but he will get a few votes. Coincidentally his dad came in second in 1991 to David Justice.

Delino DeShields’ first cards were released in 2010 baseball card sets including Bowman Sterling, Bowman Chrome and Panini Elite Extra Edition. He is pictured in an Astros uniform because he was selected by the Rangers in the Rule V draft. What a pickup!

As a hot prospect, DeShields has been on the radar of collectors for many years and has been included in multiple sets since be drafted by the Astros in 2010. However, his officially designated rookie cards currently appear in 2015 Bowman Chrome and 2015 Topps Heritage High Numbers Baseball.

Here’s a look at 3 of his steals. He got them against Tampa in one game!

This year he was a key cog for the Rangers and got a taste of the playoffs. Something tells me he will be back to the playoffs a few more times in his career.

Future Watch: Delino DeShields Jr., Baseball Rookie Cards, Texas Rangers – Image Gallery

Russ Cohen

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