Soto expects to be ready to play March 15

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Injured catcher Geovany Soto will take batting practice with the team on Friday and expects to be ready to play in a game on March 15.

"Obviously, we are not going to push it," Soto said. "When we decided to go through with the procedure of going through the surgery, we are going to make sure."

Soto had arthroscopic surgery late last month to remove a bone in his left ankle. He entered camp as the No. 1 catcher, but the Rangers also signed J.P. Arencibia, who started the last three seasons in Toronto, to be his backup.

"I'm slowly progressing so I can hit [March 15]," Soto said. "I'm feeling good. I'm hitting in the cage and everything is feeling good. That's where we are."