Texas
3 Texas Rangers observations: What to make of scoreless tie vs. Giants, Evan Carter’s exit
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Clearly, the voters in the Surprise Recreation Campus Hall of Fame balloting are not small Hall folks. And, yes, there is such a thing.
On Sunday, five individual members of the 2023 Rangers were inducted into the Hall. Then, for good measure, the entire Rangers roster was inducted, too. Oh, and Bruce Bochy was inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame.
The emotions of the ceremonies apparently took a toll since the Rangers and Giants then played to a scoreless tie. It was the Rangers’ first scoreless tie in Arizona since March 2, 2019. Also against the Giants.
But just because there were no runs doesn’t mean there weren’t observations. Here are three VERY IMPORTANT observations from Sunday’s game:
Scariest moment: If there is a concern about Evan Carter against left-handed pitchers, it’s not his ability to get on base, but rather how often he gets hit by pitches. He left Sunday’s game after getting hit by a fastball in the left forearm from lefty Kyle Harrison in the first inning. Exhale, X-rays showed no fracture.
But Carter has been hit by lefties eight times in 281 professional regular-season at-bats. It’s a lot of plunking. He took a pitch off his wrist in the minors last year and later missed some time after getting hit on the left wrist last year by a pitch and then by an errant pickoff throw.
Best reunion: As currently constructed, the Rangers are a little thin on multi-inning relievers. Adrian Sampson, who pitched for the club in 2018-19, might be worth a look. Sampson, 32, spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization after a 2020 season in Korea. He put together a 3.03 ERA over 2021-22 in 139.2 innings in the majors but missed most of last year with a knee injury.
In his first outing back with the Rangers, he worked two crisp innings against the Giants, allowing only a walk to the first batter he faced, then retiring the next hitters. He struck out two. Sampson doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he throws strikes and pitches with conviction. There’s a bit of Rick Helling, an oft-overlooked, but fearless and valuable Rangers pitcher of the past, to him. Sampson’s on a non-roster deal.
Worst flashback: The Rangers had the potential winning run thrown out at home to end the bottom of the eighth. Davis Wendzel was called out on a tag play, trying to score from second on a single by Elier Hernandez. If they had replay at Surprise Stadium, it might have gotten overturned.
Instead, it was just a reminder the Rangers had too many guys thrown out at home last year: 16. It was tied for the seventh-most in the majors. There were times when third base coach Tony Beasley may have been too aggressive, but this was not one of those times. First of all, it’s just the third game of spring training. Second, the game situation suggested going for the winning run. If anything, it was just a reminder that speed/baserunning is not one of Wendzel’s tools. The No. 41 overall pick in 2019 has just eight steals as a pro and has been caught seven times. If Wendzel is going to make it to the big leagues, it will be on the strength of his bat.
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Texas
Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl
At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.
Texas
Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful
Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out
As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns.
While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out.
Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change.
At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future.
With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process.
Texas
Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – An Orange County photographer is speaking out after he was deported as he was heading to Texas to photograph a wedding.
What they’re saying:
“I was trying to do it the right way, the legal way and it just feels like they don’t care about that,” said Adan Caceres.
Caceres came to the United States under asylum in 2014, fleeing a violent El Salvador.
“My mom’s sister was murdered and she was thrown in front of our house. She also was abused sexually before they murdered her and then my brother and I were threatened by the gangs,” said Caceres.
He says he never received the deportation order that was issued in 2018 and only learned about it in 2023. He then started the process of reopening his case.
“I was paying my taxes. I’m a business owner, I’m a wedding photographer. I’m also married,” said Caceres.
In October, Caceres was going through security at John Wayne Airport, heading to a job in Texas, when he was detained. He says from Santa Ana, he was sent to the Adelanto Detention Center then one in El Paso, Texas where he says the conditions were inhumane.
“We’re not even asking ‘hey let us out’ we’re asking for water, we’re asking for us to be able to use the restroom, these are basic human rights,” said Caceres.
He says now that he’s back in the country he once fled, he’s most concerned about his wife back in Orange County.
“I was providing a lot of income for our household and now my wife has to take care of all of those things on her own; paying car insurance, the rent, all the bills,” said Caceres.
Caceres says he had no criminal history and feels he was on the path to citizenship when it was ripped away from him, leaving his future with his family uncertain.
“I don’t know if I’m going to see them. I don’t know when I’m going to see them,” said Caceres.
The other side:
FOX11 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security asking about Caceres’ case but had not heard back at the time this story aired.
The Source: Information for this story came from an interview with Adan Caceres.
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