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El Bombi Belts bomb! Watch Texas Rangers Adolis García Homer In First Spring Training Game

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy may be slow-playing Adolis García this spring, but the slugger quickly belted his first Cactus League home run when got the chance.

Stefan Stevenson

El Bombi Belts bomb! Watch Texas Rangers Adolis García Homer In First Spring Training Game
El Bombi Belts bomb! Watch Texas Rangers Adolis García Homer In First Spring Training Game /
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The absence of Adolis García early in spring training games had left some Texas Rangers fans with cause for consternation.

Not to worry. El Bombi is back and belting massive home runs.

García played in his first Cactus League game of the spring on Wednesday and wasted no time teeing off on an 81 mph hanging slider in the fourth inning.

Statcast estimated García's homer to travel 398 feet to the berm behind the left-field wall with an exit velocity of 101.4 mph.

"It was a good day, good at-bats," García told reporters. "I'm happy to be back."

García was 1 for 3 with a strikeout as the designated hitter on Wednesday and hasn't yet seen any Cactus League action in right field.

He struck out on a 2-2 slider in his first at-bat in the first inning of the Rangers' 6-6 with the Colorado Rockies at Salt Rivers Field in Scottsdale, Ariz. In his third AB in the fifth, he grounded into a double play. His homer came against Rockies right-hander Gavin Hollowell.

Manager Bruce Bochy said a few players, including García and catcher Jonah Heim, would be ramped a little slower than others this spring. Heim didn't catch in a spring game until Feb. 28, six games into the season. García's first appearance came in Game No. 13, a 6-6 tie with the Rockies.

"I wasn't playing, but I was taking plenty of at-bats on the backfields, and I was feeling really good," said García, who turned 31 on March 2. "I was working on my running and conditioning to be 100%."

After the homer, García said he feels good at the plate but is glad he has time before the March 28 season opener at Globe Life Field.

"I think I need more days and more games, and I will be ready, but I feel good," he said. "I'm ready to roll. It's going to be a fun season."

Bochy said García will continue to DH for several games. "It won't be long before he'll be playing some right field," he told reporters during his morning media session.

Although Wednesday's game was his first Cactus League appearance, García has been hitting live pitching on the backfields nearly every day.

"He's been very focused on getting ready for the season," Bochy said. "He's thrown up some good ABs. He's swinging it well right now."

Texas Rangers slugger Adolis García homered in his first Cactus League spring game on Tuesday. It was the Rangers' 13th spring training game but García has ramped up his action slowly per manager Bruce Bochy's decision. Bochy expects Garcia to play in right field for the first time soon.
El Bombi celebrates his first home run in Cactus League action against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday :: Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers

Rangers Spring Training Notebook: Looking For Adolis García? Try Backfields

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Stefan Stevenson
STEFAN STEVENSON

Stefan Stevenson worked as a journalist and editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 25 years, covering sports, concerts, and general news. His beats have included the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Texas Christian University football.

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