Sometimes demotions are encouraging.
Take the Rangers this spring, for example. They arrived in Surprise five weeks ago hoping for two things:
- 1. Young prospects Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara and Jurickson Profar had outstanding camps.
- 2. None of them made the Opening Day roster.
Done. And done.
Despite impressive performances in Spring Training that have the team giddy about its future, the trio was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Consider it like the Rangers’ 401k. The money is building and building, assuring a prosperous future. And the present is in good enough shape to not be forced to make an early withdrawal.
“They understand they are an important group of players,” manager Jeff Banister said. “They are the next wave of players as things happen and we have needs.”
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Because of good health and decent performances by their big-league starters, the Rangers don’t yet need Gallo, Mazara and Profar. An injury here or an hideous slump there and one of the youngsters might have been forced into action in Arlington prematurely. But all flashed promising signs in the desert.
Mazara, 20, hit .375 with eight RBI. Gallo, 22, led the team with three homers, two of them majestic eye-poppers. And Profar, 23, proved he was healthy and able to throw from deep shortstop after missing two years with shoulder problems.
The Rangers’ present is exciting; their future perhaps more promising.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
