First baseman Prince Fielder, starting pitcher Yu Darvish and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo all had injury-shortened seasons in 2014, which contributed to the Texas Rangers' record of 67-95 and last place finish in the AL West. Are these three stars ready for spring training?
Let's go down the list.
Prince Fielder played in only 42 games during his first season with the Rangers because of two herniated disks in his neck. He underwent cervical fusion surgery last May and was shut down for the year after batting .247/.360/.360 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. Because of the severity of the injury and the intricate surgery, many were concerned with Fielder's ability to perform moving forward as he enters his thirties.
However, Rangers' general manager Jon Daniels said on Monday that the 30-year-old slugger got "a green light" from the doctor who performed surgery on his neck and he's "full speed ahead" for spring training. Fielder told reporters in late January that he was "100 percent" and "ready to go."
The team's ace, right-hander Yu Darvish, was also shut down for the season after dealing with elbow inflammation following a start on August 9. Because the Rangers were well out of the playoff picture at that point, they felt there was no need to rush back Darvish even if he was healthy enough to return. He compiled a 10-7 record with a 3.06 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 22 starts (144 1/3 innings).
"My elbow is feeling great," Darvish said through his translator in January. "Not this past offseason, but the one before, I wasn't able to do my training, especially strengthening. But this offseason I was able to work on my strengthening program, and then I'm feeling great right now. My back and my lower back is feeling great, too."
Darvish was said to have thrown off a mound for the first time this offseason on February 2, so he should be ready to go if his throwing program continues as planned.
Just like Fielder, the Rangers acquired outfielder Shin-Soo Choo before the 2014 season. Choo played in 123 games, but his season was derailed by a number of injuries and eventually ended when he was forced to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow and ankle.
"Choo started workouts Nov. 1, was throwing by the end of November and started hitting off a tee after Christmas," wrote Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He is running at 100 percent, though still experiencing some of the normal stiffness after an operation."
The 32-year-old Korean will be ready for spring training and hopes to rebound in his second season with the team.
With these three players returning to full health heading into 2015, the Rangers could be a significant threat in the AL West.
