The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers outfielder Ian Desmond reaches for his glove held by fellow outfielder Justin Ruggiano while participating in a fielding drill during a spring workout at the team's training facility on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in Surprise, Ariz. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers' exhibition schedule begins Wednesday.
The games just became very real for Justin Ruggiano.
The recent signings of Ian Desmond and, to a lesser extent, Drew Stubbs make spring training performance vital to Ruggiano. Signed to be the right-handed half of a left field platoon with Josh Hamilton, Ruggiano is suddenly a potentially one-dimensional bench player on a team stressing versatility.