Small-town boy
makes it to big timeThe city’s official website said there are 17,750 people who call Bristol, Va. home. Texas Rangers right-hander Justin Grimm is one of them.Grimm grew up in the small town on the Virginia-Tennessee border and starred on the local high school baseball team, Virginia High School. He went on to play at the University of Georgia and is now living the dream as a big-league prospect. He made his major league debut last season and is competing for a spot in the Rangers’ rotation this spring.Everybody in town has kept up with Grimm’s career, as he talked about being a professional baseball player from a small town. How was it growing up in a small town? Well, everybody knows you and knows what you’re doing. I wouldn’t say the ‘everybody knows what you’re doing’ is a benefit, but it’s just something you get used to. Any advantages or disadvantages to it? It’s kind of relaxing. It’s always good to go back because anytime you go to a bigger city, you really like hitting the refresh button honestly. When I was growing up and going to high school, though, I used to hate it. I was like, ‘Oh, man, there is nothing to do.’ But after a long season it’s perfect. You’ve got your family and nothing much else to do. How big was your high school? I think there was like 220 people or something like that. There were a couple high schools in town, but it’s getting smaller. We just dropped a class. We were in Class AA but now we’re in Class A, which it the smallest class. Are you somewhat of a celebrity in town? There aren’t many [MLB players] who come out of a town like that, so they always want me to talk to their kids or whoever it is. Finally, is Bristol Motor Speedway the biggest attraction in town? Oh, yeah. In high school, my team had to do trash duties during the race to raise money for our team’s spring-break trip. When the race started, we’d drop what we were doing and go into the race. But that’s some of the nastiest trash I’ve ever picked up.Number of the day2Big league players — Brian McRae and Dusty Wathan — who graduated from high school in Blue Springs, Mo., the hometown of Rangers prospect Nick Tepesch.He said it“I like it. They obviously need a quarterback and there wasn’t a quarterback that was going to be the first overall pick.” — Chiefs fan Nick Tepesch on KC acquiring 49ers quarterback Alex SmithInjury report RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery in July): Scheduled for 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday. 3B Adrian Beltre (right calf inflammation): Scheduled to play today. OF Engel Beltre (left shoulder strain): Started Sunday and could be back in lineup today. Will join Team Spain for World Baseball Classic in a few days. RHP Kyle McClellan (shoulder soreness): Threw bullpen Sunday. RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John elbow surgery in April): Will throw bullpen session today. RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John elbow surgery in August.): Throwing out to 75 feet. RHP Tanner Scheppers (strained left hamstring): Threw live batting practice Sunday. RHP Matt West (Tommy John on Aug. 12): Throwing out to 60 feet. RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow in November): Will throw bullpen session today. RHP Wilmer Font (mild shoulder tendinitis): Threw bullpen Sunday. RHP Yoshinori Tateyama (lower back stiffness): Threw bullpen session Sunday. C Eli Whiteside (mild left calf strain): Day to day.Videos of the daySee Alexi Ogando throw live batting practice, as well as Adrian Beltre take swings against Ogando in the live BP session. And catch manager Ron Washington talk about closer Joe Nathan on our Rangers blog, Foul Territory, at star-telegram.com/rangers. — Drew DavisonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
