Texas Rangers Minor League Players of the Week

Mar 8, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Michael  Choice (15) swings the bat against the Cleveland Indians during to a spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Batter

After spending 86 games in the majors with the Rangers in 2014, Michael Choice has spent the first few months of 2015 with the Express. In 2014, Choice hit .182/.250/.320 and showed some power with 9 home runs and 16 extra-base hits overall. In his 57 games with the Express, Choice has continued to struggle at the plate and has hit .225/.277/.373 with six home runs.

He has struggled with strikeouts throughout his career, with a 25.1% strikeout percentage in his 95 major league games. This year, he has struck out in 30.4% of his at-bats while drawing a walk just 5.4% of the time.

This week, Choice seems as if he has started to turn things around, having hit .346/.370/.538 in 26 ABs. He has three extra-base hits and has driven in four runs while scoring four of his own. Choice has continued his struggle with strikeouts, having struck out in seven of his 26 ABs without drawing a walk.

Mar 2, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher

Alec Asher

(73) poses for a portrait during Photo Day at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher

The great week by the Express was fueled by some great pitching performances. Two of these came from 2012 fourth round pick Alec Asher. Asher has struggled throughout 2015, who had a 1-4 record with a 3.98 ERA with Frisco and gave up 11 runs in his first two starts with the Express.

This past week, Asher finally turned it on, picking up two wins and giving up just two earned runs in 12 innings. Asher struck out six and walked four, increasing his season ratio to 62 K:29 BB and has held batters to a .255 batting average.

Some other major performances from the Express staff came from a six inning, shutout performance from Jerad Eickhoff and Matt Harrison’s best rehab start with the team. Harrison gave up just two runs across 6.2 innings.

Next: Frisco Roughriders