Rangers GM puts onus on players, not coaches, for early struggles

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels isn't pointing a finger at his coaching staff for the team's 18-31 start. Instead, he's expecting more from his players.

"We said from day one, it was critical - the development of these young guys," Daniels told reporters Monday, according to ESPN. "That has been accelerated by the injuries (to veterans). ... Coaches have to create an environment for the players to execute in. Coaches lay out a plan and challenge the player in a way, get through to the players in a way, to get the most out of them.

"At the end of the day, it's up to players to go out and execute."

The Rangers have certainly been hit hard by injuries this season, losing some of their best players, including Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus, to the disabled list. Daniels wants to see the team's younger players who are receiving increased playing time contribute more on the field.

"When we took the approach we took this offseason - and on top of that you've got the number of injuries we've got - I'm not sitting here looking to blame the coaching staff for personnel issues like that," Daniels said.

"From a coaching-staff perspective, what we constantly talk about is just the development of our young players, some of which are going well and some of which are not."

With the injuries mounting, rookies Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ronald Guzman along with 25-year-old former top prospect Jurickson Profar have all received regular playing time. However, all three players have an OPS below. 700 and have combined for just 81 hits in 362 at-bats.