Wednesday Newsletter time: There is no wrong answer as to which Texas Rangers prospect has been the best this spring
Josh Smith, Bubba Thompson and Davis Wendzel have hit plenty and made all the plays defensively.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The hardest question the Newsletter has asked Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward so far this spring was delivered Tuesday after their 4-1 victory over Arizona at Salt River Fields.
Who has been better so far: Josh Smith, Bubba Thompson or Davis Wendzel?
“Come on, man. You’re going to put that on me?” Woodward said.
It turns out there is no wrong answer.
All three prospects have impressed early in the Cactus League season.
Each connected for a home run Monday. Wendzel doubled in the ninth inning Tuesday and scored on a single by another prospect, Ezequiel Duran. Smith singled and walked.
Thompson made the biggest play of the game, recovering from a poor read on a bases-loaded flyball to make a diving catch to end the eighth inning.
“All three of them are killing it right now,” Woodward said.
They are also still in big-league camp and getting opportunities to play. They will be starting in the minors, but could be options in the majors in 2022.
Wendzel finished last at Triple A Round Rock, with Smith and Thompson at Double A Frisco. Thompson should open at Round Rock. Smith had only 102 Double A at-bats, but there is a chance he also starts at Triple A.
The rest of the Rangers’ offense came in the second inning against Madison Bumgarner. Nick Solak started the innings with a homer to center field, and Eli White followed to batters later with a two-run shot.
Good arbitration news
Another year, another mention of Lee Stevens being the last player to take the Rangers to a salary arbitration hearing.
The Rangers avoided arbitration with their four arb-eligible players — catcher Mitch Garver, designated hitter Willie Calhoun and left-handers Taylor Hearn and Brett Martin — Tuesday on the day to exchange salary figures.
The Rangers did not announce the final figures, but some national media did. Garver reportedly will make $3.35 million, Calhoun $1.3 million, Hearn $1.05 million and Martin $1,025,000 (damn those silly AP style rules on decimals).
Stevens took the Rangers to arbitration in 2000, where he lost. He was traded to Montreal a few weeks later.
Fun Rangers stuff
Thanks to the wonder of open Twitter DMs, two pretty handy items were pointed out to the Newsletter in the past week or so.
First up is a friend of the Newsletter, Joe Siegler at rangerfans.com. He has updated his archive of Rangers uniform numbers, which is a pretty darn good resource. Siegler was surprised by the five-way tie for the longest current streak with the same number.
I’m not giving it away. Go check it for yourself.
Also, Greg Harvey has resumed his Position Player War graphics with the Rangers. It charts the franchise WAR leaders through their first 50 seasons.
Buddy Bell with some very good longevity as the graphic goes through the years. It’s fun to watch, as all of them have been.
See the tweet below.
And thanks, fellas.
Doggy video!
“Don’t just stand there with your damn phone. Get me out of here!” Enjoy. See you Thursday.
