Inside The Rangers

Watch: Mitch Garver Arrives at Rangers Spring Training on Scooter

A healthy Mitch Garver is in Spring Training with the rest of the Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers.

Matthew Postins

In this story:

Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver was among the pitchers and catchers that reported to spring training in Surprise, Ariz., on Wednesday.

That was the first workout for the team. Most chose to walk into the facility.

Garver, well, used a scooter. The Rangers posted a video in which Garver zoomed by what appeared to be starting pitcher Dane Dunning as he made his way to the locker room.

Garver was acquired last season from the Minnesota Twins, with Texas giving up infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and pitcher Ronny Henriquez.

The hope was that Garver would pair with Jonah Heim as a catching tandem, but that never quite materialized.

Garver went on the 10-day injured list on May 10 with a right forearm flexor muscle strain. That basically derailed his season. When he returned, he was unable to throw back to the mound, which required the Rangers to keep prospect Sam Huff with the team. Hoping to use Garver’s bat, the Rangers made him their full-time designated hitter.

But Garver went on the injured list again in June. After another return, the Rangers moved him to the 60-day injured list in July and announced his season was over. He underwent surgery to repair the tendon, with the hope that he would be healthy and ready for Spring Training.

Garver batted .207/.298/.404/.702 with 23 runs, seven doubles, 10 home runs and 24 RBI. He walked 23 times and struck out 53 times. Before his injury he played 14 games at catcher and the other 36 at DH.

Garver and the Rangers agreed to a one-year contract in January, avoiding salary arbitration. Garver will be a free agent next offseason.

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.

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