If Randy Wells does indeed end up as the Rangers’ No. 5 starter to open the season, he won’t experience a cultural shock in terms of the music.
Wells, from Southern Illinois, has morphed into a devoted fan of the Texas country music scene. He credits his first roommate as a professional, Houstonian Nate Mitchell, for turning him onto acts like Stoney LaRue and the Randy Rogers Band (Rogers is from Cleburne).And, yes, Wells has been to Billy Bob’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Why do you like country music? I always listened to country music growing up. It’s always been my style. My first roommate ever when I signed was from Houston, so he introduced me to the whole Texas country scene and gave me a Pat Green CD and a Cross Canadian Ragweed CD. I was like, ‘Man, what is this stuff?’ It was awesome, and it was different. I went to a Stoney LaRue show, and I loved his stuff. One of my best friends works for him now, so we’ve gotten to become friends. Who else do you know in the industry? I’ve met all the guys that I like. It’s kind of weird now to call them friends rather than just going to a show. I support their stuff, and it’s something I’m really passionate about. You’ve held charity concerts and charity golf tournaments. Have those guys participated? I had a concert in Chicago, and Stoney played a hit. Pat Green has played in my golf tournament. Those guys that I used to look up to musically, I’ve used the baseball platform to meet them, to bring them out to games, and go out to their shows. Who are your five favorite acts? That’s probably the hardest question I’ve ever been asked. Stoney LaRue is No. 1, then Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. No. 4 is Micky and the Motorcars, and No. 5 is The Departed. A lot of that has to do with me being friends with them. I like them all.Injury report RHP Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery in July): Scheduled for 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday. 3B Adrian Beltre (right calf inflammation): Made spring debut Monday. OF Engel Beltre (left shoulder strain): Played back-to-back days and will join Spain for the World Baseball Classic. RHP Kyle McClellan (shoulder soreness): Threw bullpen Sunday, will throw another Wednesday. RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John elbow surgery in April): Threw a bullpen session Monday. RHP Neftali Feliz (Tommy John elbow surgery in Aug.): Throwing out to 75 feet. RHP Tanner Scheppers (strained left hamstring): Will pitch an inning Wednesday in B game. RHP Yoshinori Tateyama (lower back stiffness): Will pitch an inning Wednesday in B game. C Eli Whiteside (mild left calf strain): Day-to-day. RHP Roman Mendez (surgery for stress fracture in elbow in Nov.): Threw a bullpen session Monday. RHP Wilmer Font (mild shoulder tendinitis): Will throw a bullpen session Thursday. RHP Matt West (Tommy John in Aug.): Throwing out to 60 feet.Videos of the daySee manager Ron Washington talk about Adrian Beltre and Martin Perez, and stick around to see Wells, a strong candidate to be the No. 5 starter, throw live batting practice on our Rangers Blog, Foul Territory. — Jeff Wilson
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