Express Spring Training Camp Preview

The Round Rock Express hosted their largest sponsors and a select number of Austin-area sports-news outlets to the Texas Rangers spring training camp in Surprise Arizona.  The Express are the triple-A affiliate of the Rangers.  TTL Sports Media was in attendance. 

The trip included a tour of the Rangers’ locker room, observation of training camp practices, a scrimmage with the Kansas City Royals, and pre-season games between the Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago White Sox. 

A highlight of the trip was seeing Jacob deGrom on the mound.  deGrom, a two-time Cy Young award-winner, signed a $185 million, five-year contract with the Rangers in the off season.  He was in rehab at the time of this visit. 

The trip included a “meet-and-greet” dinner with the Express coaching staffing. 

New to the team this season is manager Doug Davis.  Davis previously coached the Scranton Wilke-Barre RailRiders, the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate.  Another new addition is bullpen coach Demetre Kokoris. 

Returning this season are pitching coach Dave Borkowski, hitting coach Matt Lawson, bench coach Chase Lambin, and development coach Josh Johnson. 

Familiar Express faces, now members of the Rangers’, seen in the camp included pitcher Jose Leclerc, Cle Ragans, Yerry Rodriguez and Josh Sborz; infielders Ezequiel Durna, Josh Jung and Josh Smith; and outfielders Leody Taveras and Bubba Thompson.