Guzman Learns And Advances

SURPRISE, Ariz.—First baseman Ronald Guzman put himself back on the prospect map last season, the best of his career after batting injuries and underperformance since he debuted at low Class A Hickory in 2013.

But he might have boosted his stock by the way he played early in spring training as a backup from minor league camp.

---

Guzman collected eight hits in his first 17 Cactus League at-bats, including a walk-off single March 7 to beat the Giants. He hit .283/.324/.434 with 12 homers and 87 RBIs in 131 games last year, spending most of the season at high Class A High Desert.

Guzman also showed the Rangers enhanced maturity in the wake of his involvement in a fatal car accident near his hometown in the Dominican Republic.

Though cleared of all charges after tests revealed the victim of the November 2014 crash had been driving under the influence of alcohol, Guzman still endured jail time and the resulting speculation that accompanied it.

Instead of being defeated by the incident, Guzman rallied from the aftermath.

“I learned a lot from it, what happened after it, the people around me, and people saying stuff,” said Guzman, 21, who signed for $3.45 million in July 2011. “I (realized) I need to do what I need to do, and not worry about what people are going to say.”

Guzman hit .370 with six RBIs in eight California League playoff games last year, then participated in the Arizona Fall League. Still, Texas left him exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

The 6-foot-6 first baseman will begin this season at Double-A Frisco.

“He stayed with his program and plan once he and the hitting coaches made a few adjustments with his hands,” High Desert manager Spike Owen said. “He trusted it, and sure enough, he started hitting. Hopefully, it’s a stepping stone for him to continue to improve.”

RANGERS ROUNDUP

• The Rangers continue their experiment with shortstop Josh Morgan at catcher, a position he seems to be picking up quickly. The 2014 third-round pick from Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High caught lefthander Martin Perez, among others, in a minor league game on March 10.

• Former Cal State Dominguez Hills righthander Kevin Lenik signed a minor league deal on Feb. 23, the only player to do so among the 80 who attended an open tryout.