Nobody born in Rhode Island has ever worn a Texas Rangers uniform in a regular-season game. The smallest state in the United States shares that distinction along with Alaska, Idaho and New Mexico.
But Jeff Beliveau hopes to become the first. He’s in camp competing for a bullpen spot.“That’d be pretty cool,” Beliveau said. “I didn’t even know that.”Beliveau does know that Rhode Island isn’t a hotbed for baseball talent. There aren’t too many year-round baseball facilities in the state, and several of the top amateurs head south for college.Beliveau, a left-handed reliever, went to Florida Atlantic, for instance, while fellow Rhode Island native Chris Iannetta played at North Carolina and North Carolina at Asheville. You were with the Cubs your entire career. How has the transition to the Rangers been? The camp is run very well and very efficiently. It’s a little different, but the world of baseball is small. I didn’t think I’d know anybody on this team, but there are five or so former Cubs [Randy Wells, Jim Adduci, Juan Apodaca and Geovany Soto]. What did it mean to get called up to the big leagues last season? It was a job I dreamed about forever. I was a later pick in the 18th round and had control issues. But I finally tamed those a little bit, and it was just a blessing to get called up. It was everything that I’d worked for. How would you describe your pitching style? I have a weird delivery. I hide the ball behind my head and I have a short arm path. I’m a short-armer and that’s what adds deceptiveness I’ve been told. What are your go-to pitches? Fastball, changeup, cutter and slider. I added the slider this year. I’ve been throwing a curveball my whole life but scratched that and added a slider.” Finally, is it special to be one of the few Rhode Islanders in the game? Being from the northeast, we don’t have as many college scouts or recruiters so I had to branch out on my own and go down south. It’s cool to be from there, though, and I’ve gotten to known some other players from there like Rocco Baldelli and Chris Iannetta.By the numbers593Games played at shortstop by Elvis Andrus, the second-most in the majors from 2009-12. White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has played in 617.He said it“Profar showed he can still hit McAllister.” — Ron Washington on Jurickson Profar’s two-run triple off Indians starter Zach McAllister on Thursday. Profar homered in his first career at-bat off McAllister last September.Injury report RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery in July): Will throw his first bullpen session Friday. 3B Adrian Beltre (right calf inflammation): Participated in all drills Thursday. CF Craig Gentry (left hamstring tightness): Went through all outfield drills Thursday and could be ready to play Friday. OF Engel Beltre (left shoulder strain): Will make a decision on World Baseball Classic on Friday. RHP Kyle McClellan (shoulder soreness): Throwing out to 120 feet. RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John elbow surgery in April): Scheduled for 45-pitch bullpen session Friday. RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John elbow surgery in August.): Throwing out to 75 feet. RHP Tanner Scheppers (strained left hamstring): Will throw a bullpen session Friday. RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow in November): Will throw a bullpen session Friday. RHP Wilmer Font (mild shoulder tendinitis): Throwing off flat ground out to 120 feet. RHP Yoshinori Tateyama (lower back stiffness): Scratched from Thursday’s game and is day-to-day. OF Joey Butler (lower back stiffness): Was not available Thursday and is day-to-day.Videos of the daySee Ron Washington’s daily briefing on Lance Berkman making his spring debut, as well as closer Joe Nathan throw live batting practice on our Rangers blog, Foul Territory, at star-telegram.com/rangers.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @drewdavison
