SURPRISE, Ariz. _ If Matt Davidson is a two-way player for the Rangers this year it will be as a hitter and fielder.
The pitching thing: Not so much.
The Rangers sent Davidson, 28, and three other players on minor league contracts to the minor league camp Tuesday, including infielders Chase d'Arnaud and Nolan Fontana and catcher Jett Bandy. None of the players have the ability to take free agency, so they will start the season at Triple-A Nashville. They also optioned catcher Jose Trevino to the Nashville roster.
Davidson is the most intriguing of the bunch. He's had back-to-back major league seasons with at least 20 homers, but also had 165 strikeouts in each of those seasons. He also showed a sharp curveball in a couple of emergency pitching outings that led to clubs having some interest in him as a potential hitter/pitcher hybrid. After watching him this spring, the Rangers have decided that, interesting as the proposition may be, there is greater upside if he remains committed to hitting.
"He's close to being a very, very good big league hitter," manager Chris Woodward said. "He's close to being an elite guy. And I'd love for him to get more consistent at-bats, but if he started on the team, they wouldn't be there. I look at how close he is to being exceptional and I don't want his arm to get in the way of that. I don't think his future is nearly as bright as a pitcher as it is as a hitter. I would not be surprised in three or four years if he is one of the top right-handed hitters in the league."
Davidson spent the winter working out with hitting instructors around the country, including Doug Latta, the same guy who overhauled the swing of Hunter Pence and Justin Turner before him. Woodward had Turner for the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At one point a non-tendered free agent who signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in 2015, Turner has hit .300 with an .895 OPS over the last three seasons while playing third base for Los Angeles.
"I can't wait to see what happens with this," Woodward said. "He wants to learn, he's open to learn and he's committed to it. I know it hurt. It was a tough conversation to have. But I look into his eyes and he really, really wants to be good."
Asked if there were similarities between Turner and Davidson, Woodward said there were, but said Davidson had more power.
"You watch him take BP and it's like Joey from the right side," Woodward said.
