Getting to know Aaron Cunningham
No state has produced fewer big league players than Alaska. California has produced more than 2,000 while the state in the faraway Northwest has turned out only 11.But one of those 11 is in big-league camp with the Texas Rangers. Outfielder Aaron Cunningham was born in Anchorage, but moved to the Seattle area when he was 5.“I don’t really claim Alaska, but it’s pretty cool to be one of the 11,” Cunningham said. “I still have family up there, but they always come down to see us.”Cunningham, 26, is in camp as a non-roster invitee. The Rangers are your sixth organization. What are your early impressions? “I’m coming in to play baseball and not trying to do anything special. I’ve bounced through all these teams and it’s been really cool to meet a ton of people, so I’m looking forward to that. Last year, I was a bench guy in Cleveland so I’m just excited to play more right now.” Can you pinpoint why you have struggled the past two years after a solid 2010? “Well, the bench role takes a special person and I really feel like I can do it and felt like I learned a lot about it last year. It was just a different role for me and I kind of got thrown into it. That was a little tough, but I should’ve been able to do a lot better than I did.” How was last year a learning experience? “There was an opportunity to be a starting outfielder between Shelley Duncan and I last year with the Indians, and we both had terrible springs. I blew that opportunity. But not playing everyday taught me how to be a good teammate and a good guy on the bench.” So does a change of scenery help? “I love making first impressions, so all these first impressions I can make is unbelievable. People love work ethic, love seeing guys who love baseball. Right now, I have to come in and be successful right away to get more at-bats and then that might blossom to something else. All in all, it’s on me. It’s not on someone else.” Do you feel like you can win a spot on the Rangers’ bench? “In the past, I’ve read all the stories and saw what people were saying and the plans for the future. This year, I want to ignore it. I just want to come out here and play baseball and not worry about politics. I’m not trying to leave the game anytime soon, so whether I’m in Triple A or wherever, I just want to play baseball.”He said it“Yeah, I believe they can do it.” – Adrian Beltre on whether the Dominican can advance past the first round of this year’s WBC without him.177 Josh Hamilton’s batting average in July last year. He finished the season batting .285.Injury report RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery July 12): throwing out to 135 feet RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow Nov. 12): throwing out to 120 feet RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John elbow surgery Aug. 12): throwing out to 60 feet RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John on April 12): threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday RHP Justin Miller (Tommy John on April 12): 30-pitch bullpen today RHP Matt West (Tommy John on Aug. 12): throwing out to 60 feetVideos of the dayWatch manager Ron Washington talk about Jurickson Profar’s decision to skip this year’s World Baseball Classic. Also catch a video of Profar taking some batting practice on our Rangers blog, Foul Territory, at star-telegram.com/rangers.
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