Minor League camp opens in Kissimmee

VIERA, Fla. -- About 160 players worked out for the first time as a group Friday on the back fields at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., with the first full-squad workout of Minor League camp. They will begin playing games on March 14.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said he plans to address the group on Saturday. The organization had six Minor League affiliates reach the playoffs last year, but Luhnow says he'll remind the players the ultimate goal is to produce winning players at the big league level.

"We want them to have an open mind about development, with the notion there are times when you're going to have to change something about our game because the coaches know there are some modifications needed to succeed at the big leagues," Luhnow said. "The players have to be willing to accept that and potentially take a step back before they take two steps forward."

Luhnow doesn't want the players to lose sight of the fact the Minor Leagues is about development and becoming the best they can be to help the Major League team.

"That's my main message to them, and the traditional messages of working hard and that they're professionals and have to behave themselves on and off the field and listen to the coaches," he said.