SURPRISE, Ariz. — Bruce Bochy knows what the grind of a 162-game regular season and long postseason run can do to a player's body.
Mix in a couple of injuries, and that's why the Texas Rangers manager is having García progress slowly early in spring training.
García left World Series Game 3 with a lower back strain but says he feels great. Catcher Jonah Heim caught 127 regular-season games and all 17 postseason games. Heim played through a wrist injury the last three months of the season, and he, too, says he feels great. Heim went 0 for 3 with a strikeout as a designated hitter in Sunday's 0-0 tie with the San Francisco Giants, but he isn't scheduled to catch his first game until Wednesday.
García, who was an All-Star and Gold Glover in 2023, will DH soon, but only in intra-squad games, not in any A-games for now, Bochy said.
"We're just slow-playing a couple of guys, that's all," Bochy said. "We have plenty of time to get them ready here."
Letting both of them rest more early this spring also frees up spots in the lineup for Bochy and his staff to get a longer look at minor league players such as catcher Sam Huff and outfielder Wyatt Langford.
García's first appearance in the outfield has yet to be determined, but Bochy said the right-fielder is healthy.
"He's in great shape. He's doing all the work," he said. "I talked to him. I said, 'Listen, we're going to back off here before we get things cranked up for you.'"
Hall of Fame Festivities
Before Sunday's game, Rangers 2023 award winners were honored and presented with plaques commemorating their Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger awards.
Plaques were presented to Gold Glovers Jonah Heim, Nathaniel Lowe, and Adolia García, and Silver Sluggers Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. During the same ceremony, the entire 2023 Rangers World Series-winning roster was inducted into the Surprise Stadium Hall of Fame.
Additionally, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame before first pitch. The Hall of Fame was founded in 2014 to honor individuals who made a major impact on spring training in Arizona.
Quotables
"They're a lot of fun to be around. They're part of a world championship club. That's a pretty good feeling [for them]. These young guys, the ones that weren't with us last spring, are proud to be around the team. There's a sense of pride that comes with this, and I like the way they're carrying themselves." — Rangers manager Bruce Bochy on the minor leaguers getting to play alongside the big league players through the first weekend of Cactus League play
"It's unfortunate those guys are not able to help out right now in spring training. We just want those guys to get better. As far as playing any position, wherever they put me, I'm ready to play and try to help whenever he can." — Rangers utility infielder Ezequiel Duran
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