Rangers to play 33 games in spring training, open vs. Royals
Spring training games are only three months away for the Texas Rangers, who will open the Cactus League schedule March 2 against the defending world champions.
The Rangers will play 33 spring games, 29 in Arizona, the first two of which are against the Kansas City Royals, their Surprise Recreation Campus cohabitants who won the World Series last month.
Those teams will also play games March 18-19 in San Antonio as part of the Big League Weekend at the Alamodome. Tickets are available at texasrangers.com/exhibition, and tickets for home games in Arizona go on sale Dec. 12.
The final spring game in Arizona is scheduled for March 30 against the Royals.
The Rangers will close their spring slate with two games against the Cleveland Indians on April 1-2 at Globe Life Park. The Rangers begin defense of the American League West title April 4 with the season opener against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park.
Odor honored
Rougned Odor, who was demoted to Triple A Round Rock in May to find his big-league form, won the Richard Durrett Hardest-Working Man Award in voting by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Odor was batting .144 when he was sent to the minors, but he returned as one of the most productive Rangers hitters. The second baseman batted .357 in his first 44 games back and finished with a .261 average, 16 homers and 61 RBIs.
Toy drive
The Rangers are participating in the Cowboy Santas Toy Drive, benefiting low-income families in Tarrant County, for the fifth consecutive year.
Anyone wishing to donate new unwrapped toys and books can do so through Dec. 15 at the Grand Slam Gift Shop at Globe Life Park, the Rangers team store in downtown Fort Worth, and at all Fort Worth police and fire departments.
The drive will conclude with a final push Dec. 15 at Globe Life Park from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Catcher Robinson Chirinos and his wife, Heidi, are serving as the honorary chairpersons.
Jeff Wilson: 817-390-7760, @JeffWilson_FWST
Rangers spring schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Time |
M 2 | *at Royals | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 3 | at Royals | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 4 | vs. Dodgers | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 5 | at Giants (ss) | Scottsdale Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 6 | vs. Mariners | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 7 | vs. Giants | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 8 | at A’s | Hohokam Park | 2:05 p.m. |
M 9 | at Reds | Goodyear Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 10 | vs. White Sox (ss) | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 11 | at Brewers | Maryvale Park | 2:05 p.m. |
M 12 | vs. A’s | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 13 | at Angels | Diablo Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 14 | at Indians | Goodyear Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 15 | vs. Indians | Surprise Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 16 | Open | ||
M 17 | vs. Brewers | Surprise Stadium | 8:05 p.m. |
M 18 | at Mariners | Peoria Sports Complex | 3:05 p.m. |
vs. Royals (ss) | Alamodome | 7:05 p.m. | |
M 19 | at D’backs | Salt River Fields | 3:05 p.m. |
Royals (ss) | Alamodome | 2:05 p.m. | |
M 20 | vs. Angels | Surprise Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 21 | vs. Rockies | Surprise Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 22 | at Padres | Peoria Sports Complex | 3:05 p.m. |
M 23 | vs. Cubs | Surprise Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
M 24 | vs. Reds | Surprise Stadium | 3:05 p.m. |
at A’s | Hohokam Park | 9:05 p.m. | |
M 25 | vs. Padres | Surprise Stadium | 8:05 p.m. |
M 26 | at Rockies | Salt River Fields | 3:05 p.m. |
M 27 | vs. D’backs (ss) | Surprise Stadium | 1:05 p.m. |
M 28 | at Dodgers | Camelback Ranch | 9:05 p.m. |
M 29 | at White Sox | Camelback Ranch | 3:05 p.m. |
M 30 | vs. Royals | Surprise Stadium | 2:05 p.m. |
M 31 | Open | ||
A 1 | vs. Indians | Globe Life Park | 7:05 p.m. |
A 2 | vs. Indians | Globe Life Park | 1:05 p.m. |
*-charity game
This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Rangers to play 33 games in spring training, open vs. Royals."