NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Mitch Moreland shared the spotlight with two of his Texas Rangers teammates Tuesday night at a Winter Caravan stop near one of the state's worst bottlenecks of converging highways.
Maybe it was a fitting location for Moreland, whose career has arrived at a crossroads.He will enter spring training next month as the starting first baseman, where he has been the past two springs. The twist is that the left-handed-hitting Moreland will get regular playing time against left-handed pitching.And that's where the uncertainty about his future comes into play.If he finds success against lefties, his future with the Rangers becomes more certain beyond the 2013 season. If not, his future could be with another club.To that end, Moreland has enlisted the help of a former college pitcher, a left-hander, to throw to him this off-season in Alabama. Moreland has shed 15 pounds and had a productive off-season in the weight room.He's ready to show that he's a complete hitter."It helps to walk in there every day and see your name up there," Moreland said. "But I know what I'm capable of, and I'm going to work hard to prove it."Moreland has shown flashes against lefties, including a homer in Game 3 of the 2010 World Series off Jonathan Sanchez, but is only a .232 career hitter against them.Moreland didn't reveal the lefty who has thrown to him three times a week this winter, but has liked the results after having only two starts and 51 plate appearances against lefties last season."Any time I've asked him to throw to me, he's pretty much done it," Moreland said. "It's been good. I'm just trying to take some swings and get ready to go into spring training. I've done everything I can to make sure I'm in a good spot when I come in."Ian Kinsler, who also appeared Tuesday, was approached about playing first base this season. The Rangers, though, chose to keep him at second base and Moreland at first after deciding it was the best thing for Kinsler and the team.Kinsler has long been a fan of Moreland, even before he joined Kinsler at agent Jay Franklin's BBI Sports Group. Kinsler believes Moreland can be a middle-of-the-lineup presence."I think he understands what this year means to how people perceive him," Kinsler said. "Once you have a label, it's tough to get rid of the label. But Mitch is a guy I believe can be an All-Star."Moreland has shaken off the tumultuous times and is ready to shake the label of a platoon player."I'm the player," Moreland said. "I take care of what I can. I'm going to put myself in the best possible position to go out and help our team win. I've worked really hard on all aspects. I'm just trying to be ready to go. Whatever they need to do, I'm going to be ready to do it."
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