Hammel hoping for 'pen role with Rangers

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- If Jason Hammel can put together a solid spring, the veteran righty could fill a much-needed role for the Rangers as a long reliever with an established history as a starter.

Hammel isn’t now a candidate for the starting rotation, but rotations almost never work according to plan all season. With three starters coming off Tommy John surgery, Hammel could be an insurance policy for the Rangers.

“I’m not opposed to any job,” said Hammel, who made 298 career starts before the Royals moved him to the bullpen for his last 14 appearances in 2018. “Obviously, my comfort is as a starter, and I do feel like that is the plan if [we] have some uncertain health. … If that’s my role, that’ll be my role. I got a taste of the bullpen last year for the last couple months with Kansas City. It’s a different monster, a different mental approach, staying locked in, that’s hard. But you’ve still got to throw strikes, and I do that.”

Hammel, 36, has pitched 13 years in the Majors and was especially dependable from 2012-16 with the Orioles, Cubs and A’s, posting 50-42 record with a 3.88 ERA over 133 starts during that stretch. He hasn’t pitched in a Spring Training game for Texas yet, but he is healthy and threw a simulated game Thursday.

“He’s an important piece. Obviously, if he makes the team, he provides a lot of depth and length in the bullpen,” manager Chris Woodward said. “He gives us a reliable starting arm if something were to happen. [He’s] had a ton of experience. He’s going to be well equipped to handle it. He’s pitched a bunch of big games in his career.”

Hammel, 36, is in camp on a Minor League contract, but he can opt out of a Triple-A assignment if he doesn’t make the big league roster. He is competing with Adrian Sampson, among others, for a long-relief spot but his history may give him an edge.

Hammel starting at some point “wouldn’t be so worrisome as a young guy without a lot of experience in the big leagues,” Woodward said.

Giant homecoming expected for Pence

Outfielder Hunter Pence, one of the most beloved and successful Giants of the past several seasons, will get a chance to play against his old team -- and in front of a sure-to-be adoring crowd -- when the Rangers visit the Giants in Scottsdale on Saturday.

Pence played in 772 games for San Francisco from 2012-2018. In his prime years of 2013-14, he played in all 324 regular-season games, hitting 47 homers and driving in 173 RBIs.

“I said, ‘Hey, by the way, you’re going with me on the road tomorrow and he goes, all right, where we at?’” Woodward said. “He had no clue. That’s just the beautiful thing about Hunter Pence. [I said,] ‘I want to witness the standing ovation every at-bat, so you’re coming with me.’ He kind of played it off … but I’m like, “It’s kind of a big deal, you’ve obviously done a ton for that organization.’ I look forward to seeing that.”

Choo returns after shoulder shot

Shin-Soo Choo led off at DH in Friday's 8-5 loss to the White Sox, marking his first time playing since he flew back to Texas for an anti-inflammation shot in his left shoulder on Tuesday. Choo led off with a double. The Rangers do not believe his sore AC joint is a major concern, and Woodward said he hopes to start Choo in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday, against the Rockies and A's, respectively, including a start in the outfield Monday.

Choo, 36, played in 149 and 146 games over the past two seasons, respectively, and he led the Rangers with 665 plate appearances last year.

Rangers put in the farm

The Rangers used four of their top prospects as late-game subs Friday, including shortstop Anderson Tejeda (No. 4 in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline), outfielders Bubba Thompson (No. 5) and Leody Taveras (No. 6), and left-hander Joe Palumbo (No. 7).

“It’s just a good experience for them to be in a big league game, the big league atmosphere, around the big league players,” Woodward said. “Just soak up what this team is trying to become, because they’re a big part of the future. If they can adopt some of those things now, by the time they get to us, they should have a pretty clear idea what’s expected of them.”

Computer blue? Woodward weighs in on ‘robot’ umps

Woodward was asked Friday about the independent Atlantic League’s planned implementation of an automated system to call balls and strikes. He said he was intrigued by the idea, but he isn’t ready to turn the game over to artificial intelligence just yet.

“I would like to get the results on that and see what the vibe and how people feel, how hitters and pitchers respond,” Woodward said. “The input would be nice for all of us that kind of wonder how it would play out. I’ve always been a fan of the human element. … It's part of the game. I actually got along with umpires. I tried to treat them with respect. They have a hard job, especially now.”

Up next

Lefty Mike Minor, the Rangers’ likely Opening Day starter, will make his second appearance of the spring against former Ranger lefty Derek Holland at 2:05 p.m. CT. Minor allowed one run on a solo homer while striking out three in two innings in his first start of the spring against the Indians last week.