Rangers Prospect Primer Outtakes
By Tyler Maun / MiLB.com
Texas assistant general manager for player development Jayce Tingler had more to say than what fit within the confines of the Rangers Prospect Primer. Here are some of his additional thoughts.
On RHP Hans Crouse getting 10 appearances in his debut season in the Rookie-level Arizona Fall League:
“He threw a lot in high school, and then he threw for us. I think our final number was around 70 to 75 innings. I think our goal this year is to take him to anywhere between 90 to 110, right there. We’ve got a little bit more innings to play with maybe than we do the majority of high-school pitchers that come in.”
On how he’d describe the Johnny Cueto-like “shimmy” Crouse sometimes incorporates into his delivery:
“I prefer to do it on video. I need like some Latin music or something like that.”
On what separates top prospect Leody Taveras from other outfielders:
“At his age right now, he’s one of the best defensive center fielders I’ve been around, I’ve seen. He can open his hips. He can go get it. He’s a natural out there defensively. At a young age, switch-hitting, [he’s got] barrel-to-ball skills. He’s still got things he needs to work on offensively, being a little bit more selective at the plate, picking his spots to drive the ball. I think the separating factor right now is his athleticism and the way he can play center field right now.”
On bringing Minor League Baseball back to Kinston, North Carolina and the Rangers’ relationship with the 2017 Carolina League-champion Down East Wood Ducks:
“It was such a cool experience last year. Going to the games, you get this great atmosphere. You go there, the town supports it, it’s almost like going to this small city, town. It’s this group of people who love baseball and they’ve got a rich history in baseball. That had been taken away for a period of time, so being part of that last year and just getting to sit in the stands and seeing people support the team, it truly is kind of like a magical environment. We’re grateful to be part of it.”
On the Minor Leagues’ new extra-innings rule:
“I’m probably a traditionalist. I like to see the game play out. With that being said, I don’t know if this is a rule for the Major Leagues, and we do need to be aware in the industry that there are numbers of arms blowing out. From a player-development side, I appreciate it and kind of embrace it and look forward to it. It is nice not having to go 15, 16 innings, worrying about injuries. Now a position player gets in there, you’re looking at two or three guys the next day, worrying about fatigue. The traditionalist in me, I like the spirit of the game, finishing it, but with trying to find the answers to help protect arms, Tommy Johns, arm injuries … for those reasons, I’m open-minded. I’m kind of excited about the rule.”
On how the Rangers approached the edict in Spring Training:
“We haven’t really prepped more than usual. We haven’t simulated a lot of those situations. Each and every year, we go over our bunt plays and things like that. That’s something here, as we get to the end these last four or five days, we may take a day or two and talk about it. It’s certainly going to be, at least with us, the manager’s decision — who’s coming up, when to bunt, do we swing, do we play for a big inning, just kind of trust the feel of our managers on that. The biggest thing we’re excited about is not having to go 14, 15, 16 innings and the mad scramble on arms.”
On the limiting of mound visits in the Minors this year:
“We’ve prepped our guys. You don’t really know until you get out there. What I’ve found with rule changes like the slide rule, there are issues with plays at the plate, blocking home. It seems like for a month, month-and-a-half, two months, there are issues. Then the second half, everything kind of works itself out. I don’t think as a group we’re really worried about it. We’ve been through rule changes and stuff before. People are going to gripe at the beginning, but the players, the staff, they’re going to adapt. They’re going to adjust. I just like the fact that we’ve had two, three weeks. They told us the rules. We’ve had a little bit of time to prepare and talk to our guys. That’s a lot better than giving it to us with two days left in camp, ‘Hey, go get it.’ I think we’re going to be prepared for it.”
