Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson tosses his bat in celebration after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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ARLINGTON — Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson swung through a triple-digits sinker for a strikeout, walked back to the dugout with his bat in hand and was booed by the home fans before he reached the steps after his second plate appearance.
He was serenaded with cheers after his third.
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Circumstances can change quickly in baseball.
Or, at least, the Rangers hope that they can.
Pederson opened his season in an 0 for 16 slump and snapped it with a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 2-1 loss vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field. His 20 plate appearances before the home run were the most of any player in baseball who’d yet to record a hit.
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Sunday, after Reds right-hander Chase Burns got him to pop out to the catcher and strike out in his first two at bats, Pederson drilled a fastball 101.6 mph into the right field seats for his first hit of the season. He chucked his bat toward the dugout and yelled as he hopped down the first base line.
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“Nobody feels worse than the player that’s struggling, or striking out, or making the error or giving up a home run, right?” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Nobody. I think there was probably a lot of pent up frustration that he was feeling to start the season. I think showing that emotion, I think, is a good thing to let it out.”
Pederson, who also walked in the eighth inning, batted fifth for the third consecutive game Sunday afternoon. Schumaker said that Pederson was “getting close” to positive results before the game. His average exit velocity (97.2 mph) and hard hit percentage (75%) were in the 99th percentile leaguewide through his first six games.
READ MORE: As Globe Life Field keeps swallowing fly balls, Rangers looking for ways to manufacture runs
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“Obviously it’s frustrating not getting hits,” Pederson said. “We play this game to get results. But I’ve been swinging at strikes, been taking balls, been hitting some balls decently. They just haven’t fallen. If you stick with that process over time, it’s going to work out like it has over my career. But, like I said, you want results. Luckily I got one today.”
Schumaker, when asked pregame if Pederson’s lack of results would eventually outweigh the process, referenced third baseman Josh Jung. He started the season in an 0 for 18 slump but has recorded four hits in three games since its end.
“I think everybody wants to see a ball fall or a ball get through,” Schumaker said. “Just like [Jung] a couple of games ago. That ball got through and he feels better about himself, and he’s gotten, what, four straight games with a hit? Hopefully that happens today with Joc. He’s a middle of the order bat that we need desperately, when guys are on, for him to come through. He knows that, he’s a pro, he’s done it before. Hopefully he has a breakout game today or this week sometime.”
Pederson set a franchise record with an 0 for 41 drought that spanned 13 games last season. He avoided another record with his home run Sunday afternoon. In 1972, utility player Vic Harris set the franchise record with an 0 for 36 drought to start his season, though he debuted in the middle of the year. Second baseman Ted Kubiak went 0 for 25 to start his season that same year and began his drought just two games into the campaign.
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“I think a lot of people blow things out of proportion,” Pederson said. “There’s still opening day paint on the field. You guys can view it as you want, but we’re like eight games into the season, so there’s a long way to go.”
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager takes the field for a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the first inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Fans head to the stadium before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager stretches before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Luis Curvelo (57) stands for the national anthem before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the first inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers fan Heather Hawley wears bunny ears for an Easter Sunday baseball game at Globe Life Field as shortstop Corey Seager bats during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart (27) chase down a popup off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford before throwing out outfielder Brandon Nimmo at second base during the sixth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer strikes out on a pitch from Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter as catcher Kyle Higashioka works behind the plate during the fourth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford steals second base as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain leaps for the throw during the sixth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter beats out an infield single ahead of the throw to Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart during the seventh inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter steals second base ahead of the throw to Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain during the seventh inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager strikes out swinging as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson holds on to the ball during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager heads to the dugout after striking out during the eighth inning during the eighth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) steals second base ahead of the throw to Texas Rangers second baseman Josh Smith (8) during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Fans reach for a foul ball during the eighth inning of baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger advanced to third on a wild pitch around the tag from Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke’bryan Hayes (3) during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Dane Myers makes a catch on the warning track on a line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter reacts after lining out to center field on a hard hit ball to end the eighth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter avoids a collision with Wyatt Langford as he makes a catch on a fly ball by Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung reacts after striking out for the final out of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielders, from left, TJ Friedl, Dane Myers and Will Benson celebrate after the final out of baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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