After his first day off since the 2022 season, Semien continued his struggles since the collision with Adolis García.

Marcus Semien returned to the Rangers lineup on Friday. However, it’s premature to declare he’s fully back.

With two days off to recover from a compressed nerve in his neck, Semien and the Rangers appeared rusty during an 8-2 loss to the Miami Marlins. The victory was significant for the struggling Marlins, who celebrated with a “Hora Loca” dance party in the outfield club at LoanDepot Park. Given the sparse attendance of just 11,687, there was ample space at the stadium for those unable to get into a South Beach hotspot.

The loss ended the Rangers’ three-game winning streak and concluded a very forgettable May. They finished the month with an 11-16 record, marking their most losses in a single month since the tough stretch in September 2022. They start June with a 27-30 record, falling below .500, which is not ideal for a defending world champion.

More worrisome is how long it will take for Semien to return to his usual form.

On Friday, Semien singled in his first at-bat but was subsequently caught in a double play. In the field, he made a bobble and a wide throw in the third inning, leading to a pair of unearned runs. This was his third error in the past two weeks, following his collision with Adolis García while chasing a fly ball at Globe Life Field. Prior to this, Semien, who won a Gold Glove last year, had only made one error in the Rangers’ first 50 games.

“I had a neck injury and tried to push through it,” Semien said after Friday’s game. “I could have missed more time, but I’m trying to figure out how to manage it. It feels better after a day off and some rest. I’m happy about that. I just want to come back strong.”

On Friday, Semien singled in his first at-bat but was later caught in a double play. In the field, he bobbled a ball and made a wide throw in the third inning, resulting in a pair of unearned runs. This marked his third error in the last two weeks, following a collision with Adolis García while pursuing a fly ball at Globe Life Field. Before this, Semien, a Gold Glove winner last year, had committed only one error in the Rangers’ first 50 games.

“I had a neck injury and tried to push through it,” Semien said after Friday’s game. “I could have missed more time, but I’m trying to figure out how to manage it. It feels better after a day off and some rest. I’m happy about that. I just want to come back strong.”