TEMPE, Ariz. — It took four games and a few spins through different lineups, but the Texas Rangers finally recorded a Cactus League home run against the Los Angeles Angels Monday at Tempe Diablo Park.
Credit catcher Danny Jansen, their largest offensive addition in free agency, and the 386-foot two-run home run he hit off of right-hander Reid Detmers in the first inning.
“It definitely felt great for me personally,” Jansen said. “I’m trying to see some pitches but also get my swing off at the same time.”
The collective Rangers did that in a 6-0 win.
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Here are three observations from it.
Best second impression: Rangers left-handed relief pitcher Robert Garcia rebounded from a less-than-ideal Cactus League debut in his second game of the spring. Garcia, a closer candidate, pitched a scoreless third inning with one strikeout and one hit allowed.
He threw his changeup five times and got both a swing-and-miss and a called strike with the pitch. Against the Kansas City Royals, in his debut Friday, Garcia allowed three runs (two earned) in one-third of an inning before he was removed.
“Second outing, I figured, was going to be better,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Command was better, changeup was better, so that was good to see.”
Injury update: Rangers infielder Justin Foscue exited Monday’s game with right hamstring tightness after the first inning. He reached base on a 106.1 mph single in the top of the first but was replaced at first base by Nick Pratto in the bottom of the second.
Foscue, a former first-round pick, is among those in contention for a bench spot on the club’s opening day roster. He slashed .571/.571/.714 in his first three Cactus League games and will need to prove that his hit tool is real for further consideration.
Schumaker described his removal as precautionary and that he may be down “a couple days” at most.
“He’s trying to make a roster, I understand it, but from my seat he’s having a really good camp,” Schumaker said. “Let’s not turn this into a four or five-week deal.”
Cactus League MVP?: Minor league infielder Cam Cauley has made an early push for the nonexistent award.
He’s 4-for-10 with a pair of doubles in four games this spring and has averaged a 98.4 mph exit velocity on nine batted balls. He hit a 108.1 mph single off of Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson Monday for his sixth batted ball of 100 mph or greater through four games. Cauley is 19 for 43 all-time in Cactus League play with a .442/.478/.698 slash line, a 1.176 OPS and 19 runs scored in 32 games.
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The Rangers did not add Cauley to their 40-man roster last fall and could’ve lost him to the Rule 5 draft. He was not picked, largely to his delight, and was invited to big league camp this spring.
Cauley should be considered a long shot at best to break camp with the big league club. He has not played above Double-A Frisco and his ability to remain a consistent threat offensively will ultimately determine how fast he can rise.
“I think he’s just a baseball player,” Schumaker said. “And that’s kind of the best compliment you can give somebody. He’s a baseball player, he’s a winner, he’s got some fight and some dog in him, which you love.”
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