Texas Ranger baseball is back. The team started its spring training schedule a month ago against the team it shares Surprise Stadium with in Arizona: the Kansas City Royals.
In addition to several returning veterans, the 2023 Rangers welcomed many new, talented players to the roster this training camp. If you’re looking for a unique experience, why not visit your Rangers in training camp this year? Texas offers many attractions to fill your time away from Cactus League baseball.
One thing you can do in Arizona that you can’t (legally) do in Texas is bet on sports. Texas sports betting legislation is currently working its way through the Texas Legislature. Who knows, maybe it’ll be passed this session. Until then, a visit to Arizona might include a chance to place some bets at one of the 16 online sportsbooks available to gamblers.
Legendary pilote at the schutzhelm in 2023
One new face at the Texas Ranger training camp this year is legendary manager Bruce Bochy. The manager, who won three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants between 2010 and 2015, was out of baseball for three years before the Rangers convinced him to return. Bochy said he’s thrilled with the opportunity to coach again.
“It just feels right,” Bochy told Sports Illustrated. “I’m here doing what I love to do and grateful for it.”
In addition to adding a three-time champion manager, the Rangers have also strengthened their player roster. This is most evident in their pitching staff, which features Jacob deGrom, Andrew Heaney, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jake Odorizzi.
Fresh pitching workers led by simply two-time Cy Young success
The most interesting offseason acquisitions were made for the pitching staff. The Rangers knew they had to improve it. They ended the previous season with only Jon Gray under contract as a veteran starting pitcher. Now, the Rangers have six pitchers in spring training.
Those six pitchers are led by the likely number one starter, deGrom. After landing in Texas from the New York Mets, the only team he has played for since entering the league, deGrom looks forward to a healthy and successful 2023 campaign with his new team.
DeGrom’s spring training has been slow. He was held out of activities due to tightness in his left side. The two-time Cy Young Award winner started only 14 games last season. He has missed over 200 days in the last two seasons.
Keeping deGrom healthy is undoubtedly one of the top priorities for the team this spring. He threw a low-effort pitching session from the mound just days before the start of the first spring training game, which allowed the team and the fans to breathe a sigh of relief.
Various other pitchers to help keep an eye about
Several other newly acquired pitchers are well worth watching.
Former Boston Red Sox right-hander Eovaldi signed a two-year, $34 million contract and has a promising outlook after starting his spring training season looking sharp. Eovaldi, a 33-year-old World Series champion, has a career ERA of 4.18 over 11 seasons. This includes his 11-win season with Boston in 2021, where he earned a spot on the AL All-Star team and finished third in Cy Young Award voting.
Eovaldi has played for several other teams throughout his career, but being a native Texan and landing with the Rangers with high expectations and good health may be the perfect setup for him to succeed.
Another well-traveled pitcher in his 30s whom the Rangers see great potential in is Andrew Heaney. The southpaw makes his way onto the Rangers’ spring training roster after starting 14 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, posting a career-best 3.12 ERA.
Pitcher Kumar Rocker, the New York Mets’ first-round draft pick from 2022, is also one to watch. The Rangers consider themselves fortunate to land Rocker, as the Mets declined to sign him following a messy physical in 2021 that resulted in Rocker undergoing shoulder surgery. He is now healed and ready to go, with something to prove.
Former Royals pitcher Danny Duffy is another one to watch as a non-roster invitee. He couldn’t pitch last year due to arm trouble but is good to go now.
Texas bats led by simply Lowe and even Garcia
Over the offensive side, Rangers fans are looking to finally get a full season out of top prospect 3B Josh Jung, who has missed parts of both of his previous seasons but has shown promising signs of great play. Nineteen-year-old Evan Peterson is also expected to contribute in a big way at the top of the order, using his hitting and speed.
Texas may be relying on 1B Nathaniel Lowe, SS Corey Seager, and OF Adolis Garcia the most heading into the 2023 season. All three players put up impressive numbers last year. Lowe finished with a batting average above .300 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 74 runs scored. Garcia scored 88 runs and had 27 home runs to go along with his 94 RBIs, and Seager had 33 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 91 runs scored.
Circumstances to know about Amaze Stadium
At the stadium, there are several seating sections to choose from, from grass seating areas in the outfield to club seats on the stadium’s second level. Each of them offers fantastic views in the 10,500-seat stadium.
The stadium is also handicap-accessible. The 124-acre facility includes six practice fields, a half field, and separate clubhouse and office facilities.
There are a variety of items prohibited in the stadium, including:
- Coolers (of any size)
- Backpacks
- Bags larger than 16 inches by 18 inches by 8 inches
- Cans, glass containers, and open containers
- Alcohol
- Weapons
All bags will be inspected before they are permitted inside. Gates open 90 minutes before each home game.
Enjoyment things to do throughout the stadium inside Surprise
Ingest the Creatures World Tiergarten Litchfield Playground
With more than 600 different species and the largest collection of exotic animals in Arizona, the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park is a fun way to explore the outdoors in Arizona.
Open 365 days a year, the zoo and its aquarium open at 9 a.m.
Learn more on the zoo’s website.
Look at the Tennis & Racquet Intricate
Open from 7:50 a.m. until 9 p.m. each weekday (and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays; noon on Sundays), the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex boasts 25 tennis courts – 18 of which are lit for night play – as well as two large indoor racquetball courts and a table tennis area.
Reservations should be made in advance at (623) 222-2400. You can also visit the city’s website for more information.
Rustle up certain grub
No matter if it’s a tasty beer at a brewery, watching a game at a sports bar, enjoying live music and drinks, indulging in delicious pizza, or just having a hearty meal, Surprise has what you’re looking for.
Visit one of the many high-quality establishments around Surprise to get the full experience of The Grand Canyon State.
Head off for the Grand Gosier
It’s more than a few hours apart, but it’s worth it.
The Grand Canyon is one of America’s greatest natural destinations, and if you’re in Arizona for at least a few days, it will be worth your time.
Just make sure you visit the park’s website to get all the information you need to make your trip a success.
Wagering apps to include in Arizona
There are 18 online sportsbooks available in the state, in addition to the gambling action on horse racing, off-track betting, the 20-plus casinos throughout the state, and the Arizona Lottery.
- DraftKings, the top-rated Arizona betting app, is offering a series of deals and bonuses for new customers.
- FanDuel, the online sportsbook, offers a bonus first bet of up to $1,000 and various exotics and prop plays to keep you entertained regardless of the game being played.
- BetMGM, the sportsbook, is offering $1,000 in bonus bets and a wide selection of games on the app.
- Caesars, offering some of the highest rewards in the state, provides reward credits for wagering, bet credits, and hotel stays.
- BetRivers, the sportsbook, offers a $500 bonus second-chance bet if your first bet doesn’t work out.
When the Rangers finally open the MLB regular season at Globe Life Field in Arlington on March 30, they’ll face last year’s World Series runner-up, the Philadelphia Phillies. So, they’ll be tested right out of the gate.
Sam is a native New Yorker with a long history of wagering, as well as watching, betting, and owning racehorses, and, of course, frequenting casinos. He enjoys visiting sporting venues—from the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to any baseball game, regardless of the level of play or distance traveled to get there—and any horse racing venue. Sam is a marketing executive, father, and dog owner with a zest for life and a love for exploration.
