Texas Rangers: It’s finally Spring Training time in Arizona

After the long wait of the offseason and the lockout, it’s finally here.

The Texas Rangers play their first spring training game Friday (today) versus the Kansas City Royals at 3:05PM, thus officially starting baseball season. Fans who are looking forward to seeing the Rangers’ shiny new toys in Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jon Gray, and Mitch Garver in Arlington have to wait just a bit longer, as the players must prepare themselves for the 162 game grind that is the regular season. While this spring training is shortened due to the lockout, these games are still incredibly important.

As the great Sandy Koufax once said:

“People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball”.

The Texas Rangers are finally ready for spring training action in 2022

While these games are important in getting the stars warmed up, stretched out, and ready to go, they are of the utmost importance for the young guys trying to make a name for themselves, or the slightly older guys trying to revive their careers.

With guys like Adolis Garcia, who is looking to come into 2022 playing like the first half of 2021 version of himself, one which netted him an All-Star selection.

Another name making news is the newly bearded Eli White, who is turning heads with a revitalized swing, looking to possibly secure an opening day roster spot, or quite possibly push for one of the open outfield positions, and with his off the charts athletic ability, figuring out how to hit could pave way for him to be very impactful.

Or how about a guy like Leody Taveras? Who was once a highly touted prospect, but just hasn’t figured out the bat at the big league level. Regardless, these players will have to put on a heck of a showing to be put in the lineup alongside the newly added veterans in this revitalized team, but spring training is just the place to do that.

Year after year, we see a player surprise people in spring, and often times play themselves into a roster spot. While that would’ve been a bit easier the past few seasons, this year is a bit different. This offseason the Rangers spent a huge amount of money and are looking to build this team into a contender.

If the Texas Rangers want this rebuild to completely come together, then it starts with now. The time of tanking is done in Texas, and if they are to build something special here it’s going to take a consensus effort across the board. It starts with every practice and every drill.

The young guys will have to learn how to win and the old guys will have to steady the ship that’s likely to hit some bumps along the way. It starts with the mindset of winning, if they can pass that mindset down throughout the rest of the team then the future will be bright.

So, here’s to spring, and here’s to new season. Only 18 spring games until its baseball time in Texas, and I know we all can’t wait to watch competitive baseball again.