The World Series Champion Texas Rangers have been hard at work in Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona, for nearly three weeks. During those three weeks, we have seen a lot of promise from the young prospects and marveling at the veterans dusting off the off-season in style. Many veterans are being intentionally slow-played to ease them back into their routines to avoid injury while others recover from prior injuries. Promising reports have been given on all injured players in the past few days. Unfortunately, not everyone can remain in the big league camp. The first cuts of Spring Training began today.
Outfielder Dustin Harris was optioned back down to the club’s AAA team, the Round Rock Express. Minor leaguers Liam Hicks (C), Matt Whatley (C), Abimelec Ortiz (INF), and Aaron Zavala (OF) have returned to the Minor League side of camp. As of the posting of this article, the Texas Rangers now have 64 players in Major League camp. There are 39 players on the 40-man roster and 25 non-roster invitees.
By the Numbers
OF Dustin Harris
Dustin Harris has taken ten at-bats across five games with a spring training batting average of .300, two RBIs, and a .700 OPS.
C Liam Hicks
Liam Hicks has taken five at-bats across five games with a spring training batting average of .400 and an OPS of .900. Hicks has played three of the five games as the catcher and has a recorded fielding percentage of 1.000.
C Matt Whatley
Matt Whatley has taken three at-bats across four games, with a spring training batting average of .000, one RBI, and an OPS of .250. He played two of the four games as the catcher and has a recorded fielding percentage of 1.000.
INF Abimelec Ortiz
Abimelec Ortiz has taken nine at-bats across seven games with a spring training batting average of .111 and an OPS of .422.
OF Aaron Zavala
Aaron Zavala has taken nine at-bats across eight games with a spring training batting average of .111 and an OPS of .333.
Recap
Roster moves are fluid during spring training and even into the regular season. There is ample opportunity for these prospects to return to the Major League club if they show promise and skill on the Minor League teams. There is now, however, a spot on the 40-man roster. Who will fill it? Could it be the young stud Wyatt Langford? It’s probable. Could the opening have been made for another? That remains to be seen.
