Rangers to break ground on next ballpark

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers will be holding their official groundbreaking ceremonies for the new ballpark at 1 p.m. CT Thursday. Globe Life Field is expected to open in 2020.
Commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez are among those who are expected to attend the invitation-only event. The groundbreaking will take place at the anticipated site of home plate in the back of parking Lot B across Randol Mill Road.
Construction and utility work for the ballpark and Texas Live! entertainment district has already begun between Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium. The new ballpark will have a retractable roof and is expected to cost approximately $1.1 billion.
• More info on Globe Life Field
Beltre returns to third base
Adrián Beltré started at third base on Wednesday night for the first time since incurring a left hamstring strain on Aug. 31. He had been limited to designated hitter duty since returning to the lineup on Sept. 14.
"He has been working to come back and play third base," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "He wants to play third base. He came to me [Monday] after a number of days taking ground balls and said he was ready to play third base. He is still limited in the range, but there is quality enough to play third base."
The original diagnosis was Beltre would be sidelined for at least four weeks. But he was back at designated in two weeks and back in the field in less than four.
"Go tug on his cape if you want to know why," Banister said. "I stopped being astonished."
Rangers beat
• Rangers outfielder Carlos Gómez and Astros pitcher Collin McHugh were spotted having a short but amiable conversation in the outfield during batting practice Tuesday. The two got into a brief spat during the second inning of Monday's game over an inside pitch.

• Third-base coach Steve Buechele celebrated his 56th birthday on Wednesday.
• Joey Gallo, with his home run on Monday, is averaging one home run for every 11.18 at-bats. That would be the second highest ratio in club history. Alex Rodriguez averaged a home run every 10.95 at-bats in 2002.