SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Former Rangers infielder Michael Young will be stepping up to the plate on Saturday at Globe Life Park. Young will be the first batter up at the Rangers Swing For Your Seats event.
The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Fans who place a 25 percent deposit on a full- or half-season 2016 Rangers ticket plan will have the opportunity to take three swings to try to hit a home run out of Globe Life Park. If they are successful, that season-ticket plan is free for the upcoming season up to $10,000 per account.
• Rangers Spring Training info
Batters will take their swings off a pitching machine from home plate and must be the account holders. All batters will be announced by the voice of Globe Life Park, Chuck Morgan. To register for the Swing for Your Seats event, please visit texasrangers.com/homerun.
Young played for the Rangers from 2000-12 and then retired after one year with the Phillies and the Dodgers. He hit 185 home runs with a career-high of 24 in 2005.
Chirinos catches Hamels
Cole Hamels was among 14 pitchers who threw in the bullpen on Friday during the first official workout for pitchers and catchers. Robinson Chirinos was his catcher. Chirinos did not get a chance to work with Hamels in a game last season and is eager to build a relationship with him.
"I was able to catch some of his side sessions in the bullpen last year," Chirinos said. "It will be good to have a relationship with him, catch him and make him feel comfortable with me behind the plate."
Darvish impresses Gimenez
Yu Darvish, recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, threw 25 pitches off flat ground to catcher Chris Gimenez during Friday's workout. He could graduate to the front of the mound next week as he shoots for a mid-May return.
"I was very impressed," Gimenez said. "He said he wasn't trying to throw hard, and the ball was really coming out well ... nice and easy."
First workout for pitchers
The 14 pitchers who threw on Friday were all starting-rotation candidates. In addition to Hamels and Darvish, the others who threw in the bullpen were Colby Lewis, Martin Perez, Derek Holland, Nick Martinez, Cesar Ramos, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Nick Tepesch, A.J. Griffin, Myles Jaye, Phil Klein, Anthony Ranaudo and Yohander Mendez.
The Rangers have 14 relievers who will throw on Saturday. Rookies Connor Sadzeck and Jose Leclerc are considered starters but will also throw with the relievers on Saturday.
Count pitching coach Doug Brocail among those who are eager to see Griffin's progress. Griffin won 14 games for the Athletics in 2013 before missing 2014-15 while recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery.