With a number of injuries already in the young season, the Rangers have had to dip into the alternate training site and taxi squad pool.
One addition this week is Adolis García, a 28-year-old outfielder from Cuba. García has been in the Rangers’ system since December 2019 but has had limited opportunities in the big leagues. On Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, he started against the Rays for the second game in a row.
García has a unique connection to the Rays. He knows Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena from when they were both growing up in Cuba. Rangers hitting coach Luis Ortiz even said García could be the “next Arozarena.”
“We both kind of have similar backgrounds,” García said, via an interpreter. “For us to kind of meet up again here in the big leagues together is a pretty cool thing. I want to, hopefully, be able to do the things that [Arozarena] is doing here in the big leagues and to be able to prove that I can be the same player that he is, as well.”
García was one of the Rangers’ best hitters this spring, with a slash line of .375/.389/.781 and a 1.170 OPS. He went 1-for-4 at the plate Tuesday in his season debut and followed that up Wednesday with a 2-for-4 night that included his first Major League triple in the Rangers' 5-1 victory.
It very nearly was his first home run, but his inside-the-park effort was denied after a replay review.
García said he’s excited to take advantage of the opportunity the Rangers are giving him.
“I always do the same routine,” García said. “I prepare myself every single day, like if I’m going to play or whether I don’t. If the team needs me for whatever situation, I need to be ready so I can take advantage of that situation and do whatever it takes to help the team win. …
“I’m ready to go. I’ve got plenty of confidence, and there's really no urgency, there's no pressure. I’m just going to go out there and do what I love to do.”
Ortiz raved about García’s talent and how he performed during the spring and throughout his three Minor League seasons.
“We're so excited,” Ortiz said. “I mean, not only for the quality of talent that he is, but the quality of kid he is. He is just a special young man. And having an opportunity to play -- he's a five-tool player. He has the package, and I think if we are able to tap into that, watch out.”
Around the organization
• Outfielder Willie Calhoun made it to the Rangers’ alternate training site at Round Rock, Texas, on Wednesday. Calhoun has been recovering from a hamstring injury since early in Spring Training. He came into camp figuring to be a regular at designated hitter and rotating in as a fourth outfielder.
Manager Chris Woodward said he expects Calhoun to be ready as soon as Saturday, when the Rangers face the Orioles at home, but the club wants to evaluate his at-bats during the alternate training site games before recalling him to the big league roster.
• Rangers closer Jonathan Hernández had Tommy John surgery on Monday. President of baseball operations Jon Daniels said the surgery went as expected.