Pitchers and catchers reported to Surprise, Arizona to begin the 2014 season and already there has been plenty of news on the Rangers front. There is news about Jurickson Profar’s tendinitis, how Yu Darvish spent his offseason, updating Derek Hollands’ progress, Neftali Feliz on wanting to be the closer again, and finally suprising news about Colby Lewis.

First off, second baseman Jurickson Profar has been cleared to resume throwing by Rangers trainer Keith Meister. Profar who had been dealing with a bout of tendinitis is starting to feel better. The Rangers will continue to take it slow with him though. He will start spring training playing DH and slowly transition to playing second in the actual games. With him on the shelf this should mean extra at-bats for exciting second base prospect Roughned Odor. Odor was invited to big league camp with the expectation that he would compete for the utility infield spot.

Second, it came out on Sunday that right-hander Yu Darvish had some issues in the offseason with his hip. Most of that was from just lifting heavy weights. His trainer recommended that he stop and once he did the pain in his hip subsided. The Rangers staff I am sure will keep a close eye on this as they need him healthy and ready to go for the season opener next month. He is entering 2014 as the staff ace and hoping to build on his great 2013 campaign.

In other news left-hander Derek Holland is not with the team right now. He is in Arlington still rehabbing his knee injury. He will be able to join the team once he gets off crutches and that should be in the next week or two. Matt Harrison was asked about Holland’s absence and he said “He’s definitely one of a kind”. Holland is certainly being missed as we begin Spring Training, but he should be joining the team soon.

In non-injury news Neftali Feliz said he is ready to close. Feliz when asked said “I’m preparing to be the closer and that’s it.” Feliz was the Rangers closer in 2010-2011, but in 2012 the Rangers decided to try him out as a starter. While he was successful on the mound the added stress to his arm caused him to have to undergo Tommy John surgery. He missed the rest of 2012 and the first half of 2013. For him to have success the Rangers will be looking to see if his velocity is back to where it needs to be and if his control is back. When he came back last season he had some issues with control, mainly fastball control. His offspeed stuff seemed to be there, but his fastball control was not. He is now almost two years removed from his surgery, and so you would expect most of that to have returned. If so, the Rangers bullpen could be a very strong point for this team.

Finally, in what could be the story of the Spring Colby Lewis is back and feeling healthier than he has in years. If you remember Colby missed the last two months of 2012 and all of 2013 due to various injuries. Then last year he had hip resurfacing surgery. It is not quite a hip replacement, but it is close. There has been no records of a pitcher coming back from this surgery, but if what Colby is saying is true, then he will be the first on record. Lewis this spring will be in competition for that 5th starter spot with a number of qualified candidates. If Lewis proves himself to be healthy though then he will be the favorite to win the spot. He has experience with the Rangers and knows how to pitch in Arlington in the summer. Lewis when asked about the competition said “All I can do is go out there and perform with what I’ve got. If it’s good enough, I’ll make the club. If it’s not, we’ll see what else is out there.” Washington was also asked about his thoughts of Lewis so far “I certainly wouldn’t count Colby out,” Washington said. “You’ve got to wait and see how he performs, but I have no negative thoughts about Colby Lewis. We don’t know what we’ll have until we get on the field, but if anybody can do it, it’s Colby.” This is a developing story that I will be following as we get farther into spring.

Daily Countdown: 41 Days till opening day