Friday, May 29

ARLINGTON -- After the Rangers’ 10-7 win over the Astros on Tuesday night, manager Skip Schumaker, unprompted, praised catcher Kyle Higashioka for his use of the ABS system in the game. 

Higashioka went 3-for-3 on challenges that evening, successfully flipping the count multiple times throughout the night. 

“[The catchers have] been great,” Schumaker said. “They took a lot of heat for the first couple weeks because of not using it and kind of hoarding the challenges. They've been fantastic on the edges, winning almost every one of them. Our catchers have been phenomenal. I think there was hesitation early on in the season to use it, when not to use it, high leverage, all of that stuff. 

“I feel like they've been just freed up by using it at any time because they know the strike zone so well. [Quality control coach] Brent Hayes has been really good at encouraging them to use it because they know what the strikes are, they know the strike zone, and it's been a difference-maker for the last five weeks.”

The Rangers, as a whole, were hesitant to use the ABS system early in the season, mainly due to the belief that they should be saved for high-leverage situations. That belief changed early on as the entire group got more used to the system. 

Less than two weeks into the season, Schumaker declared that both catchers and hitters could be more liberal with ABS, while still feeling as if the pitchers should leave it alone. 

Danny Jansen, the other half of the Rangers’ catching tandem, went 4-for-5 on challenges behind the plate on April 12 at Dodger Stadium. That was the turning point for the catchers. 

“I think the more we've done it, the more we're getting used to it and the more we’re understanding the zone,” Jansen said this week. “There’s been a lot of times, even like the last couple games that I've caught, there's been some that I haven't challenged, but my gut’s saying to do it. Then I get back in the dugout and I’m kicking myself a little bit. It's always about trusting your gut a little bit. I think I’ve got to still do that a little bit more.”

The duo has done well with challenges. But they could be doing it even more. 

Higashioka has only challenged 20 times behind the plate this season, which is tied for 44th among all catchers. Jansen’s 17 challenges rank 51st. Though the total isn’t especially high, Higashioka has won 14 of his challenges, good for a 70% overturn rate. Jansen has won 13 of his, good for 76%. 

Both overturn rates rank in the top 20 among catchers with at least five challenges. 

“I think part of [our success] is that we've had longer to kind of check our work and confirm what we’re feeling,” Higashioka said. “We kind of know where the zone is and what pitches maybe are more likely to be hitting that plane. It’s just getting more reps, then the better we are. I noticed the guys who've been in Triple-A the past two years now, they're really good at it, right? I think with more reps the more confident we’ll be.”

ARLINGTON -- Hanging in Josh Smith's locker sat what looked to be a makeshift hospital gown with a “SMITH 8” on the back to appear like it was a jersey.

It was a needed picture of levity for Smith, who has just rejoined the club after a bout of viral meningitis that landed him in the hospital for over a week. According to the Center for Disease Control, viral meningitis is the “inflammation [swelling] of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a viral infection.”

Even before the meningitis diagnosis, Smith was already on the injured list with a pair of other injuries: a glute strain that was mostly healed and left wrist inflammation that cropped up during his rehab for the first injury.

“I kinda forgot about that,” Smith joked.

The second baseman did begin some light workouts and jogging on Thursday while he hopes the return to play process can be as smooth as possible.

“I'm sure it's probably uncharted waters,” Smith said. “I would imagine they're gonna let me just dictate how I feel and how I'm responding to certain things. I haven't done much over two weeks, so who knows if it'll take me a little while to bounce back. I'm hoping it can be sooner rather than later. Obviously, you want to get in there, but also want to be smart about it.”

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