Anyway, here\u2019s a walk-filled edition of observations: <\/p>\n
Rangers<\/p>\n
By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Before games began, the talk of live batting practice was that the one hitter making solid contact was Josh Jung. Well, look, we have to have something to talk about during the live BP portion of the program, but games are a different animal. Even spring training games. <\/p>\n And, yes, Jung is scorching balls out of the gate. He had hits in both of his at-bats Sunday, including a 109.4 mph double that started a fourth-inning rally. In four at-bats over two games, Jung has put all four balls in play; nothing softer than 98.4 mph. The ball is coming off his bat at an average of 102.5 mph. A year ago, his 89.3 mph average exit velo ranked in the 39th percentile in the league, well below average.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is really locked in,\u201d Schumaker said. \u201cThe defense has obviously been good, that has never suffered. But he\u2019s had two really good days of at-bats in games. Behind in the count in the first one, against a guy throwing close to 100 mph and he takes one the other way and then a really good swing on [the double].\u201d <\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \u2014 Evan Carter\u2019s first live look at a lefty in a game was a success. Carter took a four-pitch walk from Brennan Bernardino in the second inning. The final pitch, a fourth consecutive sinker from Bernardino, was a hair below the zone. While Carter\u2019s at-bats vs. lefties will be heavily scrutinized<\/a>, he did have a 14% walk rate against lefties in a small sample size last year. If he can maintain that, it bodes well for his chances of playing more regularly against lefties.<\/p>\n Carter was, however, picked off by Bernardino. Expect a few spring training pickoffs as the Rangers try to push limits on leads to be more aggressive on basepaths. Biggest verdict off the pickoff: Carter\u2019s trying to push those boundaries. <\/p>\n \u2014 As his namesake suggests, handy Willie MacIver made something out of nothing to start a three-run Rangers rally. In the fifth, MacIver fought back from an 0-2 count, fouling off a pair of pitches before working his way to a walk before Jonah Bride\u2019s two-out bases-loaded double cleared the bases. In the sixth, MacIver did it again, and Cam Cauley followed with a run-scoring double. In the minor leagues, MacIver had a very attractive 11.3% walk rate.<\/p>\n Sunday ball with the boys: See photos from the Texas Rangers’ Cactus League affair with the Rockies<\/p>\n Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771809849_651_TR6S65IN3FBW5GCWZIMKLZUFQM.jpg\")
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View GalleryCould the undrafted Ryan Lobus factor into the Rangers\u2019 complicated bullpen equation?<\/a>Rangers\u2019 Skip Schumaker has helpful perspective for Cody Freeman after unfortunate injury<\/a><\/p>\n