Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus’ lower profile paying off

Elvis Andrus was noticeably quieter in the Texas Rangers’ clubhouse this spring. No longer was he constantly carrying around his boombox that announced his presence as in years before.

He spoke with the media when asked, but unlike past springs he typically wasn’t hanging out unnecessarily in front of his locker, offering humorous commentary or blasting tunes when reporters were around.

It was by design, Andrus said, before the Rangers opened their three-games series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Texas lost 5-0 as Chicago handed the Rangers their first shutout of the season.

Jose Quintana held the Rangers to four hits in seven innings. The White Sox scored single runs in the second and third innings and added three in the sixth, highlighted by Brett Lawrie’s two-run double.

The Rangers also hit into their first triple play since 1991. It was the White Sox’s first triple play since 2006.

The triple play came in the seventh after a Prince Fielder double, Adrian Beltre single and a walk by Ian Desmond loaded the bases. Mitch Moreland hit a ball down the right field line that Adam Eaton caught on the run as the runners took off.

Andrus, hitting second in the lineup for the first time this season, went 0 for 4 and had his team high eight-game hitting streak snapped.

Before the game, he was leading the team with a .354 batting average. He hit a career-low .258 in 2015.

“I think it started in spring training and even when I first met him in January,” Rangers hitting coach Anthony Iapoce said. “He laid out what he wanted to do and what he wanted to accomplish in his practice and bringing that into the game.”

That mindset carried into spring training for Andrus.

“I just wanted to stay focused on what I need to do in the field,” Andrus said. “That’s one of the reasons why I didn’t want to bring so much attention [upon myself] in the clubhouse.”

Since his two errors in Game 5 of the ALDS in Toronto last October, Andrus said he has tried to stay under the radar. That included often letting Hanser Alberto handle the clubhouse tunes during spring training.

“Since the last game in the playoffs last year I’ve worn a target on my head, so I’ve tried to keep as low a profile as I can,” he said.

Plus, Andrus added, he’s getting older now.

“You have to know where you’re at as a player,” said Andrus, who turns 28 in August. “Baseball will teach you to worry about your game. I’m getting older.”

The decision to keep a lower profile during the spring was all his decision, Andrus said.

Manager Jeff Banister calls Andrus’ approach through the first three weeks a stubborn approach at the plate.

It’s how he wants all his hitters to approach hitting.

“It’s a middle-of-the-field approach, not trying to get too big with his swing,” he said. “There are certain times when he’s ahead in the count that he allows himself to pull the baseball, get the barrel out front. But he settles in when he gets down in the count and looks to drive the ball up the middle and not be too big with his swing.”

Iapoce said all good hitters continue trying to improve, otherwise they don’t hang around.

“I think some people think that guys are good and they stay good,” he said. “Everybody gets to see it play out in the games, but as a coaching staff your most important part of the day is the actual practice, the things everybody else doesn’t get to see. Whether it’s cage work, of 50 swings or 25, he’s very deliberate in what he’s trying to do and very detailed and those are things we see everyday in practice.”

He’s improved his focus, Banister said.

“You can’t just move in and out of it because if you move in and out of it it’s no good for you because you don’t do it consistently,” said Banister, who called focus a muscle you have to exercise. “Elvis has done a much better job of that in 16 games this year.”

So far, Andrus has stayed within himself at the plate. He’s stayed stubborn.

“Hitting is doing that to yourself,” he said. “Especially, when you’re feeling good. There are so many things that get in your thoughts, like, ‘OK, let’s try to hit it harder or try to change something. Instead of doing that I’ve just tried to maintain a simple approach. If I’m getting good results why do I want to change anything?”

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus’ lower profile paying off."