ARLINGTON -- For the first time since he went on the 60-day disabled list on April 11, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus faced "real" pitching on Friday, taking batting practice against young pitchers from the club's affiliate in the rookie Arizona League.
"What I did today was just to get my timing and be able come back and be ready to play, and not come back to wait a few weeks to feel good," Andrus said. "As soon as I come back, I want to be able to be productive and ready to go. I know it might take me a couple games just to adjust to the big leagues, but I know my timing will be there and pretty much my tempo.
The Rangers are hoping to get Andrus out on a rehab assignment as soon as Monday; he would play for Double-A Frisco for a week and then he could be ready to return to the Rangers.
Manager Jeff Banister said on Friday that facing Minor League pitchers can be a better alternative than batting practice pitching.
"We've done that a few times, where we've brought some [pitchers] over from Frisco, some out of Arizona," Banister said. "You think about these different things that you can do -- A) pinch-hitters, guys who sit on the bench and all they face is BP arms and a machine. So two years ago, we threw it around the room about bringing in guys to occasionally to have those bench guys get some [at-bats] without getting [game] ABs. Guys like Elvis, we want to try to get them out there. You can't replace a live arm."