Woodward confident Gallo will have solid '20

ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo was late getting started in Summer Camp because of a positive test for COVID-19, and he's still trying to catch up.

Gallo went 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday’s exhibition loss to the Rockies, then went 0-for-2 with a walk again in Wednesday's 7-3 exhibition loss to Colorado. Before that, he went 2-for-29 with 14 strikeouts in intrasquad games.

“I do think he needs a few more games,” manager Chris Woodward said. “Obviously, he is going to get those games. The regular season starts in two days. He is going to be in that game. I don’t think he is locked in by any means, but he’s getting as many at-bats as he possibly can.

“His work is as good as it can be to prepare for those at-bats. Once the regular season hits, I just don’t want to him to get frustrated because he doesn’t feel right. He wants to produce every game, but he’s not exactly where he wants to be. It’s going to take a little more time with him.”

Woodward is expressing belief that Gallo will pick up from last year, when he hit .253/.389/.598 with 22 home runs and 49 RBIs in 70 games before injuries cut his season short.

“I believe so,” Woodward said. “I think every player has to prove that every time you have a good year, especially when it's your first really productive year. I think that's the biggest question for anybody that does well. I look at Joey's production, and I look at his processes and the way he prepares, that's where I get the trust.”

Kiner-Falefa appreciates Frazier’s gesture
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is going to be the Rangers' Opening Day third baseman. He won that honor by outplaying Greg Bird and Ronald Guzman in both Spring Training and Summer Camp.

Kiner-Falefa is also playing third base because Todd Frazier was willing to switch to first base. Frazier did so even though he has played third base for most of his career and was a two-time All-Star at the position.

“Todd has been great for the clubhouse,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Great character guy, funny guy. Really loosens the room up. To have that approval from him, it means a lot. It really does. Just everything he has done for the game, it means so much for him to do that.”

Rangers confirm broadcast schedule
The Rangers have confirmed that FOX Sports Southwest will broadcast 58 of 60 games this season. They will be on two FOX national broadcasts on Aug. 27 against the A's and Sept. 19 at the Angels.

Dave Raymond will do the play-by-play for all FOX Sports Southwest games, with C.J. Nitkowski and Tom Grieve sharing the analyst duties. Due to MLB travel restrictions, the Rangers' television and radio announcers will do road games from their broadcast booths at Globe Life Field. The other 29 teams are doing the same.

Tuesday night's game vs. the Rockies generated the highest ratings ever for a Rangers exhibition game on FOX Sports Southwest.

Rangers beat
• The Rangers used Willie Calhoun at designated hitter on Wednesday night. Calhoun is limited by a strained right hip flexor and is not ready to run full-speed. But the team arranged it with the Rockies to allow Calhoun to bat and use a pinch-runner if he reached base.

• The Rangers also arranged with the Rockies to have two designated hitters in their lineup, which had 10 batters. Woodward wanted to get Robinson Chirinos some at-bats without putting him behind the plate. But Chirinos felt he didn’t need the at-bats, so Ronald Guzman took them instead.

• Left-hander Brett Martin, who is on the COVID-19 injured list, is expected to throw live batting practice on Friday.