Notes: Folty dealing; White raking

PHOENIX -- Baseball is a lot more fun than a 9-5 job, something Mike Foltynewicz can confirm after starting Saturday’s B game against the Royals. He’s having fun playing baseball again, and after a tough 2020 both on and off the field, he’s happy to be back enjoying his time this spring.

“I think I just needed that fresh new start,” Foltynewicz said. “To come on over here, and just all the dudes were so nice to me and I just feel comfortable right away. I think that's a big part in this game, being comfortable.

“I'm at that age and point in my career where I know that's very important for an individual to go into a clubhouse and feel comfortable. That turns into winning, and just going out there and actually performing well.”

So far this spring, Foltynewicz has just further cemented his place in the Rangers’ starting rotation. Manager Chris Woodward has not been shy in admitting that nobody is being handed anything. And just because Texas signed him with the intention to be a starter, that doesn't mean it’s guaranteed.

Foltynewicz is earning it. In his lone main game start, he pitched two hitless innings with one strikeout. In Saturday’s "B" game start, he went 3 1/3 innings, with no hits or runs and three strikeouts.

More importantly, Foltynewicz’s velocity has been a steady 94-95 mph throughout the spring. A drop in velocity, coinciding with his weight loss early in quarantine, was one of the biggest reasons for his struggles in Summer Camp and early in the 2020 season before he was designated for assisgnment by the Braves.

“When you go out there and actually have fun with your teammates, it's just that much better,” Foltynewicz said. “You have that much more confidence. The confidence level is in a pretty good spot right now. We're just going to keep doing the things to get me better and think positive thoughts. I know those last two starts were very good to build off.”

White making an Opening Day push
Leody Taveras was the assumed starter in center field coming into Spring Training, and he’s surely still in the conversation, but Eli White has made sure not to be forgotten.

Both are quality defensive options, but Taveras -- Texas' No. 4 prospect -- has struggled at the plate this spring. Following the Rangers' 4-4 tie with the Brewers on Saturday, he has only three hits and one walk through 17 at-bats. White, on the other hand, is dominating at the plate, going 5-for-15 with three walks.

Each had a solid day against Milwaukee, though, with White tripling in the second, and Taveras doubling in the third and again in the seventh.

“[White's] competing,” Woodward said. “He's right there. Leody, we all love and we have a pretty significant vision for him on our team, but Eli’s pushing pretty hard. Eli is one guy that we've had for a few years now that has made some really, really good adjustments, especially with the swing. It's been fun to watch. The kid’s tremendous. He's pushing hard right now.”

Woodward said White is starting to unleash a “second gear” that he’s not sure the coaching staff knew he had before.

In the final week of Spring Training, it’ll be a marathon push between the two to see how the outfield plays out come Opening Day. Woodward said he wants to get both of them as many live at-bats as possible before then.

When it comes to Taveras and White, Woodward said he’s looking for consistency at the plate in the long term.

“I trust both are going to play pretty elite center field if they're out there,” Woodward said. “They both got freaking arms, they're both good on the bases, but I think the at-bat quality -- it's just the consistency of the bat from pitch to pitch. That's what we're looking for.”

Weird ending against Brewers
The Rangers rolled the final inning on the final day on which it was allowed. Woodward has said he doesn’t enjoy rolling innings, though it’s a rule Texas has employed often this spring as multiple pitchers work up throwing more innings.

“That’s how the rule is written; you can do that,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after the seven-inning game was called with two outs and a Milwaukee runner on first in the bottom of the final frame. “Obviously, it’s to protect players and something was going on with the player, so I understand.”

Saturday's seventh inning was rolled because Rangers pitcher Brett de Geus was dealing with a stomach issue along the lines of bloating and severe cramping. Woodward said de Geus had issues earlier in the week and they held him off from pitching in games. The right-hander will see a doctor later this week to get a diagnosis.

“We waited a day and [he] said everything was fine,” Woodward said. “[The cramping] didn't really show up, honestly, until we got in the competition. I don't know, we don't know exactly what it is -- we're gonna obviously try to figure it out.”

Lora involved in car accident
Rangers outfield prospect Bayron Lora was in a car accident on Saturday in his home country of the Dominican Republic, the club announced.

“We are aware of the accident involving Bayron Lora and several other individuals today in the Dominican Republic,” the Rangers said in a statement. “We are working to gather more information at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals who were involved in this accident and with their families. We will have no further comment until we have more information on the accident. Thank you for your understanding.”

Lora, Texas' No. 20 prospect, was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $3.9 million in August 2019. He has not yet made a professional appearance for the Rangers, though he participated in the club's Fall Developmental League program in Arizona in '20.