Fresh cut grass, newly raked dirt and new items on the menu can only mean one thing -- it's Opening Day for the Texas Rangers.
It's the last season at Globe Life Park and the NBC 5 Today crew stopped by the stadium to enjoy the stadium before the team moves to Globe Life Field.
Play Ball! Rangers Fans Pack Globe Life Park for Opening Day
Tim Ciesco, Katy Blakey and Grant Johnston practiced their swings in the batting cages. Ciesco "Stole Third" in a segment you've probably seen during the games.
The three also participated in the famous Dot Race. Ciesco was the Red Dot, Blakey was the Green Dot and Johnston was the Blue Dot. Who won? Watch the race in the video at the top of the screen.
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Earlier this week, in what's become its own grand tradition, the team unveiled a number of new concessions being prepared for fans this year at the ballpark. The highlights include a 2-lb chicken strip (yep, 2 pounds), a red white and blue hot dog and even vegan options. Read more about the offerings here or check out the slideshow below.
Texas Rangers Unveil 2019 Ballpark Food
Baseball, which leans heavily on tradition, hasn't changed all that much over the years though that seems to be changing. Major League Baseball and its players' union agreed recently to a deal that included rule changes for 2020, one of which says a pitcher must face at least three batters or stay in until the end of the half-inning before being retired.
This season the Rangers and Cubs hit the field at 3:05 p.m. Lefty Mike Minor will take the mound for the good guys and will face Chicago's Jon Lester. They'll play three games at home Thursday, Saturday and Sunday against the Cubs before hosting a three-game set against the Astros early next week.
After that the team will head out on their first road trip of the year with games against the Angels and Diamondbacks.
