Can't wait to see how the Surprise spring training complex, home to my hometown Texas Rangers and now World Series Champion Kansas City Royals, has grown over the last 10 years. It was only three years old in 2006 and arguably the nicest complex out here.
This trip was made more convenient since my brother (@ddal21) recently moved to Scottsdale. We're hitting up Royals at Padres in Peoria tonight, and then Mariners at Rangers in Surprise on Sunday.
The last time I wrote about Texas was in October, a time Rangers fans would all like to forget. Up 2 games to none and couldn't seal the deal. The famous Jose Bautista bat flip. The only saving grace was the Royals knocking out the Jays and winning the World Series (where I attended the extra innings Game 1 victory in KC).
As the Rangers begin the 2016 season fresh off an AL West division crown, here are my top 5 burning questions:
1. Can Yu Darvish make it through spring training on schedule?
This is easily the most important question on everyone's mind this spring. If Darvish progresses on schedule from Tommy John surgery, he should be available around Memorial Day. When healthy, a Rangers rotation headed by Cole Hamels and Yu is one of the best in the game.
2. One year further removed from injuries, how much will Derek Holland and Martin Perez contribute?
Holland has only appeared in 16 games in the past two seasons because of numerous injuries. Perez was recovering from Tommy John last year and didn't pitch at full strength when he returned at the end of the season. As important as Yu's health is, production from Holland and Perez could be the difference between winning and losing the division.
3. Can the bullpen be Kansas City good?
The Royals had the best bullpen in baseball by a wide margin last year, which was a major reason they won the World Series. The Rangers bullpen is completely under the radar on the national scene, and it's scary deep. This has to be a strength in 2016. It could be a strength for a long time. Consider these team-friendly contracts:
- Shawn Tolleson (age 28): Free Agent in 2019
- Jake Diekman (age 29): FA in 2019
- Sam Dyson (age 27): FA in 2021
- Keone Kela (age 22): FA in 2021
That's not even mentioning Tom Wilhelmsen, a former Mariners closer signed by Texas in the offseason. I'm stoked for how good this bullpen could be.
4. Will Rougned Odor make the All-Star team in 2016?
With @ddal21 as my witness, I proclaimed two years ago that Odor would be an All-Star in 2016. The 22-year old was more than just a spark-plug last postseason. He was one of our best players at one of the most important positions (2B). Odor plays solid defense and hit .292 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs in 91 games after getting called back up from the minors in mid-June. He's one of the most exciting players in baseball and with a full season, he could become a household name before too long.
5. Which young guys will challenge GM Jon Daniels to make tough decisions?
Nomar Mazara is the biggest name on the prospect radar to watch this spring. He homered in his first spring training game and is 5-for-6 to start the spring as of this writing. With the Rangers signing of Ian Desmond, it appears unlikely Mazara starts the year in Arlington, but if he keeps hitting like this, we'll have bigger questions to ask. He's still only 20, but patience is tough when you see a start like this.
Jurickson Profar, once the top prospect in all of MLB, has looked strong to start the spring. Profar missed the last two full seasons with shoulder injuries and is playing his natural shortstop in spring training. Elvis Andrus and Odor are blocking his path to the majors, but I'm curious to see what kind of spring Profar can put together.
Joey Gallo and Lewis Brinson are two other top prospects in the farm. Despite trading for Hamels last season, Daniels has done a masterful job of keeping the farm in tact. These are four names that could make major impact in the next year or two. Hopefully I'll get to see some of the young guys at Sunday's game.
It's beginning to feel like baseball season. Sayonara, winter. Baseball is back.
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