SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager was sidelined over the weekend with an illness that swept through the team’s clubhouse.
On Monday, in his first Cactus League game in four days, he went 1 for 2 and ripped a 97.7 mph opposite-field single off Cleveland Guardians right-handed starter Slade Cecconi. That came one at-bat after center fielder Wyatt Langford drilled a 421-foot, two-run home run to dead center and one before the first of designated hitter Joc Pederson’s two 100 mph-plus batted balls.
Now they just have to save some for the season.
Here are three other observations from the 3-1 win:
Rangers
A smaller crowd: The Rangers optioned or reassigned nine players to the minor leagues Monday morning as part of their first roster cuts. They’re now also down three players — outfielder Alejandro Osuna, left-hander Robert Garcia and right-hander Cal Quantrill — as World Baseball Classic preparations begin.
Osuna and Garcia will play for Team Mexico while Quantrill will pitch for Team Canada. Pool play starts Thursday.
“I texted a couple of them today already and we watch every game,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “So it’s the same thing if they were in spring training, we would still be watching the game and reviewing it, reviewing it to see what they’re doing. The good news is we got to know them a little bit here.”
Extra time for Smith: Seager exited the game in the third inning. Langford and left fielder Evan Carter departed before the fourth began. First baseman Jake Burger and right fielder Sam Haggerty were out at the start of the fifth.
Second baseman Josh Smith remained in until the seventh because, per Schumaker, he wanted a third at-bat. It also gave Smith more time at what may become his new everyday position. Smith, the team’s super utility man in each of the last two seasons, is the favorite to replace Marcus Semien full-time at second base and has started each of his Cactus League games there.
“It’s very weird kind of working on one position for me so far,” Smith said Saturday. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that, so I’m trying to master that and get better at it, but it’s a lot of work. I think it’s harder to be good at one position than okay at all of them.”
Aggression on display: The Rangers attempted to steal second base twice in the sixth inning. They were unsuccessful both times. Infielder Cam Cauley, who grounded into a force out and beat the throw at first, was thrown out by catcher Cooper Ingle. Minor leaguer Wady Mendez — who pinch ran for Pederson after he reached on a 104.4 mph single into right field — also tried to steal second and was thrown out to end the inning.
The Rangers, who stole the eighth-most bases leaguewide last season, will continue to test the basepaths this spring under the direction of first base coach Travis Jankowski.
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