Rangers load up truck for Spring Training
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers put 5,760 baseballs on a truck and sent it to Surprise, Ariz., on Friday.
The truck also carried 20 boxes of uniforms, 186 cartons of coffee, assorted golf clubs, fungo and pitching machines and anything else needed during six weeks of Spring Training.
The annual departure of the equipment truck from Globe Life Park is one of the signs that Spring Training is getting closer.
"I'm really excited," second baseman Rougned Odor said. "We are ready to go to Spring Training and start the season. I don't like to be waiting for baseball. I'm excited to play and get started."
Odor was among the Rangers working out at Globe Life Park on Friday and looking to get started in Arizona.
"Seeing everything being packed up and guys getting packed up gets me amped up and fired up," reliever Keone Kela said. "We can't wait to get out there."
Rangers pitchers and catchers officially report on Feb. 14, but many players will be there well before then. The 124-acre complex that the Rangers have shared with the Royals since 2003 and renovated in '16 remains as good as any facility in baseball.
Players start migrating there as early as January to take advantage of the superb facilities and warm weather. Outfielder Willie Calhoun, going to camp for the first time with the Rangers, is already out there, and Delino DeShields was flying out on Friday to join him.
"I really want to get there with Willie and make him as comfortable as I can," DeShields said. "He is a big piece in our lineup. We want to make sure he is comfortable with me so when we start playing games, it's natural."
They will soon be joined by Shin-Soo Choo. He is planning to be in Arizona next week, two weeks ahead of the first full-squad workout on Feb. 20.
"I go early to set up the house," Choo said. "Get used to working out, get the allergies and get them fixed early."