Rangers Spring Break: Embracing the gray

Touch of gray

Lance Berkman is one of the veteran players in the clubhouse and has no problem joking about a few gray hairs showing up in his beard. But, as Berkman pointed out, it's nothing compared to the player next to his locker, Eli Whiteside.

Whiteside has a full head of gray hair and simply embraces it.

"I tried to dye it black once, but it didn't really work," Whiteside said. "So I just go with it."

Outside of his noticeable hair, Whiteside is one of the more interesting players in big-league camp. The 33-year-old catcher was claimed off waivers three times this off-season by the Yankees (Nov. 5), Blue Jays (Dec. 3) and Rangers (Dec. 3).

Texas put him back on waivers in early January when it signed reliever Jason Frasor, but Whiteside cleared and was assigned to Triple A Round Rock. The Star-Telegram caught up with Whiteside, a Mississippi native, earlier this week.

What was it like going through three waiver claims? "It was something that never happened to me before. It happens and I just took it as a few people liked what they saw from me and you just have to take advantage of an opportunity whenever you get one. That's about all I can ask is for someone to give me a chance and I'm glad to be here."

What do you hope to show in camp? "I just want to come in here and learn this pitching staff first. Learn all these faces and names and try to put names to faces. I'll come in here and work with these guys and just try to go out and play well when I get a chance."

It looked like you had a good chance to be the backup until the team signed A.J. Pierzynski. What'd you make of that? "Not much. I've still got to go out there and perform and play as well as I can and make a good impression. The biggest thing is to learn the staff here because that's pretty much my game -- calling it and being behind the plate."

You were on the Giants' 2010 World Series team. How was that experience? "It was definitely a good run with a good bunch of guys and they have a good thing going in San Francisco. It was a lot of fun to win, and that's what it's all about. So I'm just looking forward to being a part of this organization."

Injury report

Right-hander Justin Miller, recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday and reported no issues.

He said it

"It's been very easy to break into a new clubhouse. I'm 35 years old, it's not like I'm some young punk walking around on eggshells. Everybody has been great so far." -- Reliever Jason Frasor

Number

32Games played by Lance Berkman last season, the fewest in his 14-year big-league career.

Videos of the day

Watch new designated hitter Lance Berkman take batting practice, as well as manager Ron Washington's daily briefing on our Rangers blog, Foul Territory, at star-telegram.com/rangers.

-- Drew Davison

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