So I took the family to Spring Training again this year to see the Rangers. After learning the ropes last year we were much more prepared this year and it paid off.
Got to the hotel Wed evening and decided to go to the lobby as I know Ranger players go in and out. Sure enough, 10 minutes after being in the lobby, Neftali Feliz walks by and my kids get his auto. While he is signing, Jurickson Profar starts talking to Feliz and sure enough signs all 4 cards my kids had of him also. Shortly there after, Ranger #1 prospect Rougned Odor comes through and then Jario Beras. Both Odor and Beras seemed a little shocked that they were recognized in their plain street clothes. Not a bad start to the trip I might say.
First day on back fields crowds are light, Both kids get Shin-Shoo Choo on ROMLB’s. Not much else is happening as the Rangers are playing away so we head over to Peoria to catch the game. Literally maybe 1000 folks at the game. In the first, Elvis Andrus jogs in and my kids yell at him for the ball. He tosses it to them and my kid drops it. Elvis walks over and says “you gotta catch that man” and hands him the ball. Elvis signed the ball for him after the game as well. Kids got Ian Kennedy and Josh Johnson after the game from the Padres side.
Day two we head to Dodgers camp as we moved from LA to TX 10 yrs ago so mom and dad are Dodgers fans also. Kids stake out a spot and sure enough it pays off. They got Mark McGwire, Kershaw and Ron Cey all on ROMLB’s. Not much happening in the game as my kids were wiped out by the practice fields and the crowd.
Day three. We hung out on the Ranger back fields all day. Minors were doing game simulations using pitching machines. My kids were literally the only 2 kids back there. The got about 2 dozen foul balls and then the autos started. Got all the Rangers top prospects, Alfaro, Guzman, Williams, Gallo, Brinson, etc. you name it they got it.
Day 4 last day, we hung out at the big league camp. My wife of all folks got Yu Darvish while my kids were waiting for Prince or Beltre (neither of which signed). Kids got Moreland, Arancibia, Martin Perez, Matt Harrison and many more. Here are some of the pics:
Martin Perez

Nick Martinez

Lewis Brinson

Alfaro

Gallo

Moreland

Abraham Lincoln

Guzman

Choo

Kershaw

Got to the hotel Wed evening and decided to go to the lobby as I know Ranger players go in and out. Sure enough, 10 minutes after being in the lobby, Neftali Feliz walks by and my kids get his auto. While he is signing, Jurickson Profar starts talking to Feliz and sure enough signs all 4 cards my kids had of him also. Shortly there after, Ranger #1 prospect Rougned Odor comes through and then Jario Beras. Both Odor and Beras seemed a little shocked that they were recognized in their plain street clothes. Not a bad start to the trip I might say.
First day on back fields crowds are light, Both kids get Shin-Shoo Choo on ROMLB’s. Not much else is happening as the Rangers are playing away so we head over to Peoria to catch the game. Literally maybe 1000 folks at the game. In the first, Elvis Andrus jogs in and my kids yell at him for the ball. He tosses it to them and my kid drops it. Elvis walks over and says “you gotta catch that man” and hands him the ball. Elvis signed the ball for him after the game as well. Kids got Ian Kennedy and Josh Johnson after the game from the Padres side.
Day two we head to Dodgers camp as we moved from LA to TX 10 yrs ago so mom and dad are Dodgers fans also. Kids stake out a spot and sure enough it pays off. They got Mark McGwire, Kershaw and Ron Cey all on ROMLB’s. Not much happening in the game as my kids were wiped out by the practice fields and the crowd.
Day three. We hung out on the Ranger back fields all day. Minors were doing game simulations using pitching machines. My kids were literally the only 2 kids back there. The got about 2 dozen foul balls and then the autos started. Got all the Rangers top prospects, Alfaro, Guzman, Williams, Gallo, Brinson, etc. you name it they got it.
Day 4 last day, we hung out at the big league camp. My wife of all folks got Yu Darvish while my kids were waiting for Prince or Beltre (neither of which signed). Kids got Moreland, Arancibia, Martin Perez, Matt Harrison and many more. Here are some of the pics:
Martin Perez

Nick Martinez

Lewis Brinson

Alfaro

Gallo

Moreland

Abraham Lincoln

Guzman

Choo

Kershaw
