Brock Holt, who grew up around 90 miles west of Arlington in Stephenville, Texas, fulfilled a childhood dream Wednesday when he was among those informed that he made the big league club.
A lifelong Rangers fan, Holt was at Globe Life Park in Arlington, then known as The Ballpark at Arlington, on July 28, 1994, when Kenny Rogers threw a perfect game for Texas. Players like Rusty Greer, Ivan Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez were his childhood heroes.
A true Texan and veteran of the scorching summers in the Lone Star State, he also remembers something else about those days as a fan at the ballpark.
¡°The first thing that comes to mind is the back sweat,¡± Brock said with a laugh. ¡°I tried to get to the ballpark as much as I could.¡±
Brock still lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and looks forward to sleeping in his own bed during the regular season. Where he plays on the field in 2021 is to be determined. He adds depth at third base and plays shortstop along with second base, where he¡¯s made 243 big league appearances. He¡¯s also made 162 starts in the outfield since making his big league debut in 2012.
¡°I¡¯m open to anything,¡± Holt said. ¡°My goal was to come here and make the team. Now that I¡¯ve done that, I¡¯m here to help however I can. I¡¯m able to play different positions and I know that gives [Rangers manager Chris Woodward] a little more flexibility in how he creates a lineup.¡±
Holt¡¯s value also includes a leadership role in the Rangers¡¯ young clubhouse. He was part of Boston¡¯s World Series championship teams in 2013 and '18, and can serve as a sounding board and a role model.
¡°I¡¯m a guy who has been very fortunate to play on some good teams with some good players that have taught me a lot about the game, and a lot about how to prepare, be a winner and play for some championship teams,¡± Holt said. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a guy who some guys come to, and I¡¯m looking forward to being that veteran type of guy who can talk guys through a situation or help them out of certain spots.¡±
The Rangers will need Holt to perform. He split 2020 between the Brewers and the Nationals. Milwaukee released him after he batted .100 over 16 games, and in 70 plate appearances with Washington, he slashed .262/.314/.354 with six doubles and four RBIs.
¡°I want to see him in there as much as possible, but I don¡¯t see an everyday role, although it could develop into that depending on how he performs,¡± Woodward said. ¡°I see him primarily at second and third base, probably more often at third base just based on the roster.¡±
Benjamin bests Tatis ¡ twice!
Rangers starter Wes Benjamin was charged with two runs (one earned) on one hit in 3 2/3 innings in Texas' 11-10 loss to San Diego Thursday night. He struck out five, including Fernando Tatis Jr. twice, and walked four.
¡°He¡¯s gotten the better of me a couple of times and I¡¯ve gotten the best of him a couple of times,¡± Benjamin said of Tatis. ¡°I was pounding inside a lot and ended up working a backdoor cutter the first time up and he wasn¡¯t expecting that. The next time up, he got to see the curveball and swung through it. I¡¯m glad I was able to work through a couple of at-bats and had my stuff working.¡±
On Wednesday, Benjamin was informed that he made the big league club. He could end up in one of the tandem-starter roles the club has mentioned instead of the traditional five-man rotation.
¡°It means everything. Plain and simple,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of this since I was a little kid.¡±
Taveras, White make club
The competition between Eli White and Leody Taveras for the center field job has two winners. Both players were told they made the club, Woodward said before Thursday¡¯s game against the Padres.
In another roster-related move, Delino DeShields was informed that he will not make the big league roster.
DeShields slashed .208/.321/.292 in 24 Cactus League at-bats. He also played in ¡°B¡± games.
¡°I've been impressed with [DeShields], and I hope for his sake that there's a big league team that needs him,¡± Woodward said. ¡°He has an ¡®out¡¯ in camp and if a big league team has a need for him, we're not going to get in his way. I know that. But if it doesn¡¯t and he wants to stay with us, hopefully that is the end result.¡±
Worth noting
? The Rangers issued a statement on the passing of former Major League player and American League president Dr. Robert W. (Bobby) Brown, who died this morning in Fort Worth at the age of 96.
¡°The Texas Rangers organization is extremely saddened by the passing of Dr. Bobby Brown. He lived an extraordinary life while excelling in both the medical and baseball professions, and he had a huge impact on the Dallas-Fort Worth community.
¡°Following his standout career as an infielder for the New York Yankees during which time he also attended medical school and later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Dr. Brown began a 30-year career as a practicing cardiologist. In 1958, he settled in Fort Worth, where he and his family would live for much of the next six decades. When Brad Corbett purchased the Texas Rangers franchise in 1974, he asked Dr. Brown to assume the role of team President. His leadership helped stabilize the franchise, and the 'Turnaround Gang' improved its win total by 27 victories from 1973.
¡°He returned to practicing medicine fulltime the following year but would go on to serve as a respected President of the American League from 1984-94. In his later years, Dr. Brown was a frequent visitor to Rangers home games and a friend to many in the organization. His compassion and humor are two traits that will not be forgotten.
¡°The Rangers extend their deepest sympathies to Dr. Brown¡¯s family and friends. He will be deeply missed.¡±
? The Rangers have scheduled a ¡°B¡± game against the Royals on Saturday.