Many young Texas Rangers want to go to instructs. There’s one big obstacle, though
For those who are now just hearing about something called the instructional league for the first time, it isn’t something thrown together for only pandemic baseball.
The instructional league, usually referred to as instructs, is an essential part of player development. In a year without minor-league baseball because of COVID-19, this year’s brand of instructs is critical.
All 30 MLB teams bring minor-league players together each fall to help keep them moving forward. Usually, some of the players were injured and are trying to play catch-up, and some are that year’s draftees still getting a feel for pro ball.
Others are players who have momentum that could carry them to the big-league roster the next season.
Because of the constraints caused by COVID-19, many teams want to include players on the 40-man roster. In the Texas Rangers’ case, they could have as many as 15 40-man players who could use an extra few weeks.
They are rebuilding, after all.
The problem? The MLB Players Association.
The union won’t let 40-man players go to instructs without being compensated. It’s unfair for them to work and to be kept in a COVID bubble any longer than the 60-game MLB season without some money thrown in, the union and its lawyers contend.
Never mind that instructs take place during the offseason, when players aren’t paid to train for the next season. Teams will cover 40-man players’ expenses, so no player will lose money.
Teams are not asking established players to head to instructs, just the ones who are trying to establish themselves.
If anything, the extra work could lead toward players making more money in future seasons by becoming better at their jobs.
And if those reasons aren’t enough to give the union a giant roll of the eyes, there are 40-man players who actually want to go because they want to get better with guidance from coaches in their organization.
The union will give approval in some cases, such as injuries that kept players from getting enough work during the season. As such, an exception could be made for outfielder Willie Calhoun, though he said late Thursday that is isn’t going to go so that he can detach mentally from his season.
The Rangers want left-hander Taylor Hearn to keep working so that they can get a feel for if he will ever have enough command to be a big-league starter.
Sherten Apostel could use instructs to continue learning first base.
Demarcus Evans could use instructs to continue honing his curveball and command.
Tyler Phillips, who hasn’t pitched in the majors this season, could use instructs to continue the overhaul to the way he pitches.
There are more 40-man candidates. Many more.
“We’re going to have to sort through it and talk through it and try to figure out a way because a lot of our guys are young and need the playing time,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I know a lot of our guys want to play.”
The Rangers are scheduled to open their instructs Monday, the day after the regular season ends, at the Surprise Recreation Campus in Arizona. Not all players report on the first day, and not all of them stay for the duration of the instructs.
Prospects like third baseman Josh Jung and right-hander Cole Winn, who were at the alternate camp this summer, are headed west, and dozens of others who have been working out on their own at home will finally get a chance to do something on a field.
The plan is for games to begin Oct. 5 and last though mid-November. The Rangers will be playing against other teams who train in the Phoenix area.
Perhaps something will give between the union and the clubs, who have allowed the relationship with the union to become so contentious it would lead to a backwards-thinking decision like not allowing young 40-man players to go to instructs.
This needs to be remedied. It’s not what’s best for these union members.
“A lot of these guys want to play,” Woodward said. “Hopefully we can allow that to happen somehow.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 5:49 PM.
