Texas Rangers minor-leaguers have swarmed to Arizona early to get ready for their regular season

The MLB lockout does not affect minor-league players who are not on a team's 40-man roster.

Cody Bradford has been in Arizona for a few weeks and says that it has been business as usual for the large group of Rangers pitching prospects at the Surprise Recreation Campus (Hickory Crawdads/Ashley Salinas).

No matter what happens in the coming days with negotiations between MLB owners and players on a new collective bargaining agreement, there will be professional baseball in early April.

The minor-league seasons are still scheduled to begin on time. The MLB lockout does not affect minor-league players who are not on a 40-man roster, as they are not governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

Most minor-leaguers aren’t on their organization’s 40-man.

They need spring training, too, and the Texas Rangers have scheduled March 5 as report day to Arizona for minor-league camp. Players will have a month to get ready for the season.

Triple A Round Rock opens play April 5, and Double A Frisco, High A Hickory and Low A Down East begin April 8.

Pitchers, though, need more time than that, and a large group of them has already gathered at what has been a busy Surprise Recreation Campus.