Yu Darvish makes a striking first impression with Jeff Banister

Rangers manager Jeff Banister is still making his way through the club’s roster, trying to get to know his players. He met ace Yu Darvish for the first time Thursday morning.

He came away impressed.

“He’s a lot bigger when you stand next to him than when you see him from the dugout,” said Banister, who was named the Rangers’ 18th full-time manager on Oct. 16. “Very impressive guy. Great conversation.”

Banister watched Darvish work out and the two got to know each other.

“I got to see some athleticism in a man that got after it pretty good this morning as I watched him work out,” he said. “It was a conversation between he and I, that initial get-to-know-each-other kind of conversation. I gave him some questions to kind of chew on and think about and hopefully he’ll get back to me [with what is] on his wish list.”

Choo likely in right

Shin-Soo Choo is likely to play in right field, Banister said. Choo, who played primarily in left during his first season with the Rangers, played right for Cleveland from 2009-12.

“The way things are lining up, as you look at the list of players we have right now, that’s probably the most likely scenario,” Banister said.

Choo and Banister have talked several times over the last month, including another hour-long meeting Thursday morning. He said Choo hasn’t expressed a desire to play a specific position.

“The one thing I’m quickly gathering about Choo is he wants to win, he wants to be part of a winning team,” Banister said. “He is a team guy. We talked for about an hour about the desire to have a strong, team-oriented chemistry within the clubhouse. He expressed his views on the shape of the clubhouse and the interaction within it and his role as a leader on this ball club.”

Choo told Banister where he fits within the context of the team leadership.

“That is important to him, also,” Banister said. “But the most important thing is being on a winning, championship ballclub.”

The Rangers would like to find another full-time outfielder to play left. They had interest in free agent Torii Hunter, who lives in Prosper, but he signed this week with Minnesota.

“Our interest in Torii was kind of unique to him, the person, the fit on the club, the right-handed power,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “A lot of it was the makeup and what we thought he could have done in our clubhouse. I certainly respect the decision he made and for all the reasons he chose to go to Minnesota.”

Door open for Soto

Former Rangers catcher Geovany Soto, who was traded to Oakland last summer, could be an option for the club, which would like to improve its depth behind the plate.

“The door is open,” Daniels said. “It’s a possibility. I have respect for Geo and how he prepares. It was a positive experience with him on the club.”

Minor league leaders

The Rangers announced the managers for their top three minor league affiliates on Thursday.

Jason Wood will manage Triple A Round Rock, taking over for Steve Buechele, who is the Rangers’ new bench coach. Joe Mikulik, previously manager at High Class A Myrtle Beach, is the new manager for Double A Frisco. Spike Owen was named the manager of High A High Desert.

It’s Owen’s first managerial job. He was an assistant at Round Rock the previous four seasons.

House hunting

Banister said his wife and daughter have whittled the families’ search for a house down to two areas: Trophy Club and Colleyville.

Quotable

“We’re expecting 100 percent full go, no limitations in spring training. He’s working out five days a week in Orlando. It’s a full workout, it’s not a rehab program.” — GM Jon Daniels on the status of Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Yu Darvish makes a striking first impression with Jeff Banister."