Washington addresses team on first day of workouts.

Last week pitchers and catchers reported, and now we are to the full squad portions of workouts. It is that time when we find out who is healthy and who is not. Unfortunately for the Rangers the who is not category seems to be adding up by the day. The story for the day should have been the first full squad workouts and getting everyone together for the first time, but injuries became the story of the day.

Lets start with the most concerning injury story and that is Matt Harrison. After missing almost all of last season with a lower back injury, Harrison is being shutdown due to lower back stiffness. He is due to have an MRI today and hopefully the results show that it is something minor. This does worry the Rangers left hander, “There’s obviously some concern there from what happened last year,” Harrison said. “I just hope that it’s not a serious issue and something I can take a few days down and stay on top of my core program and get right back out there, and hopefully that’s the case. But it’s not fair to say that I’m not worried about it, because I’ve had a lot of issues recently.” He certainly has. He spent all of the last year getting ready and last week even said that he felt like he was 100 percent. This is going to set him back at least a week, but if that is it, then he should still be able to make it to opening day.

For the Rangers though it is a big concern. They will already be without Derek Holland till after the All Star Break, and to now have Harrison is already going to be testing their rotation depth. It will give additional opportunities to Colby Lewis, Tommy Hanson, Nick Tepesch, and Robbie Ross to be able to win spots. Three spots in the rotation are locked down: Yu Darvish, Martin Perez, and Alexi Ogando. If Harrison can’t start the season then all of sudden they will have to fill two rotation spots. They have guys in camp that can do it though. Lewis has shown positive signs so far and Hanson will certainly be someone to follow as we get into the actual games. Washington though doesn’t seem too concerned though, “We have depth. If for some reason the worst happens, we’ll move on. We will get out of here with five starters that we believe in.” That is certainly right they will leave with 5 starters, the question will be who are the five. That will be a question I will continue to follow as we go through Spring Training.

In other injury news, Geovanny Soto is feeling some Achilles soreness. He has still been in the cage, but he just can’t run right now. Tanner Scheppers is also recovering from back stiffness. He is schedule to throw today, but will not throw a live BP. Finally, Neftali Feliz was kept out of the workouts yesterday due to tightness. He is scheduled to throw today though. So that is your Rangers injury update.

In non-injury news, the first full squad workout was today. Washington began by addressing the club and telling them what it means to be a Texas Rangers. He felt the need to address that since there are so many new faces in camp. Guys like Prince Fielder and Tommy Hanson who have only seen the Rangers from afar. So you may ask what does it mean to be a Texas Rangers player, “Execution, situational hitting and doing what the game asks you to do,” Washington said. “And being a family.” For Hanson this was his first Washington speech he had heard and he was blown away, “It was the best clubhouse speech I’ve heard. It pumped me up.”

Finally, Super Bowl winning QB Russell Wilson, whom the Rangers drafted in the Rule 5 draft back in December, will visit Rangers Spring Training on March 3rd. It is unknown at this point what exactly he will do. The thought is that he will come in and talk to some of the younger players about the work ethic it takes to win and just be there for the day. He also could partake in some batting practice as well. I am sure though the Seahawks probably do not want him doing too much. That should be an interesting day in camp. The Rangers also announced that intrasquad games will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Daily Countdown: 38 days till Opening Day