Monday Newsletter time: Texas Rangers' big-leaguers might be frozen by lockout, but minor-leaguers are plowing ahead
A group of top prospects will be in town early this week for a series of seminars, and many will move on to Arizona.
The MLB lockout has shown no signs of relenting anytime soon, though the sides reportedly have intentions on meeting sooner than later. Sooner, as in this month.
That might be too late, though, to keep from delaying the start of spring training and possibly altering the regular-season schedule. The minor leagues, though, are operating as usual.
A group of Texas Rangers prospects will be in Arlington this week for a series of seminars before heading to Arizona for a mini-camp. Prospects who are on the 40-man roster aren’t allowed to attend.
All the big non-40-man prospects are coming, save for second baseman Justin Foscue. He has a prior commitment, a team official said.
Josh Jung? Check. Jack Leiter? Check. Cole Winn? Check. Others? Check.
“We’re expecting status quo on the minor-league side,” Rangers vice president Ross Fenstermaker said. “We’re proceeding as if everything is normal and we’re going to have a normal operation period moving forward. We haven’t been told otherwise.”
The Rangers haven’t pinned down a date for the beginning of minor-league camp, though it should be the first week of March. Most prospects will head to Arizona early, with some staying put after the upcoming mini-camp.
The construction of Rangers Village, which is domitory for minor-leaguers, allows for that. Leiter has indicated he could be in Arizona for good this month.
“A lot of pitchers are going to go out there early,” Fenstermaker said. “With building the Village, we have resources and an opportunity for those guys to get into the environment earlier and get themselves ready. Not everybody will be out there, but a decent amount of our prospects … will come out early.”
It’s Texas, after all
After losing Globe Lifed Field as his offseason workout facility when owners locked out players on the 40-man roster, catcher Sam Huff has been spanning the Metroplex from north to south.
He starts at TMI Sports Medicine in Arlington early in the day. He’s been doing his hitting near Mansfield at Kova Sports, and his catching at throwing at L.D. Bell or Southlake Carroll high schools.
It’s a whole different ballgame on the high-school side for the Arizona native. Indoor facilities just don’t exist in Phoenix Metro, whereas many DFW school districts have built them.
And they’re really nice, too.
“It's the first time getting to see Texas high schools, and it's 10 times different than Arizona high schools,” said Huff, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft from Phoenix Arcadia HS. “If anyone has an indoor facility with turf and you can do whatever you want in there, that's awesome.”
The Rangers used the multi-purpose indoor facility at Arlington High in the last few offseasons at Globe Life Park and also have used the Rangers Urban Youth Academy in West Dallas.
Globe Life Field, of course, can be an indoor or outdoor facility.
ICYMI …
Last week was a good one at the Texas Rangers Newsletter. We kicked off the year with some primo content. More is coming this week. In case you missed it, links are below.
The Sunday Read: Rangers number retirement candidates
Friday on the Farm: Sam Huff always looking for an edge
T.R.’s Memoirs: The Kenny Rogers trilogy. Part I. Part II. Part III.
Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast: Jack Leiter
Doggy video!
Somebody’s got a case of the Mondays. This doggo, too. Enjoy. See you Tuesday.
