SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Outfielder Nomar Mazara popped out and grounded out in his first two at-bats of the spring in the Rangers' 10-1 loss to the Brewers on Sunday. The Rangers weren’t looking at the results as much as Mazara’s approach at the plate.

Mazara has been a productive player for the past three years, but the Rangers obviously expect more out of him. The goal is for Mazara to get the ball in the air more than he did last year.

Mazara’s 55.1 percent ground-ball rate last season ranked ninth out of 186 hitters who put at least 300 balls in play. His average launch angle of 5.3 degrees was also 13th lowest among that group of 186.

But perhaps even more damaging to Mazara was that he grounded 53.1 percent of his hard-hit contact (95+ mph exit velocity), which was third highest among hitters who put at least 150 hard-hit balls in play.

The Rangers aren’t just telling Mazara to hit the ball higher. Hitting coach Luis Ortiz is working on an adjustment in Mazara’s swing, trying to sync up his hands and his feet. That will help with his timing and contact.

“If you get to the right contact point, the elevation point will take care of itself,” Ortiz said.

Mazara has the pop as his 43.1 percent hard-hit rate was within the top 20 percent of those 186 full-time hitters. That’s why the Rangers believe there is potential to unlock more slugging if he can get more of his hard contact in the air.

“I worked really hard in the offseason,” Mazara said. “I want to be the man I know I can be. I just want to be healthy. I am not worried about results because the results are going to come if I work hard.”

Sadzeck, Romano impress

Rangers pitchers had a rough day on Sunday but not two pitchers trying to win a job in the bullpen. Connor Sadzeck, who is out of options, struck out the side in the eighth and Jordan Romano, the Rule 5 pick from the Blue Jays, struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.

“I thought Romano at the end was pretty impressive,” manager Chris Woodward said. “The tempo, attacking the zone. Pretty impressive arm.”

The Rangers know about Sadzeck. He pitched 9 1/3 innings for them in September, allowing one run on six hits and striking out seven. But he also walked 11. He needs to be able to command his fastball and then put away hitters with his breaking pitches.

“If he gets ahead, you can see with the slider and the curveball, it’s nasty,” Woodward said. “He’s got wipeout stuff if he gets ahead of hitters.”

Davis, McDonald honored

Rangers co-chairman and managing general partner Ray Davis was inducted into the City of Surprise Sports Hall of Fame before Sunday’s game. Davis, who is in camp this weekend, has been one of the Rangers' principal owners since August 2010. This is the Rangers' 17th season training in Surprise.

Amber McDonald, who was the 2016 Texas Rangers Fan of the Year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday’s game. She has been an active supporter of the Miracle League and Keeper of the Game Foundations.

Rangers beat

• The Rangers' only run on Sunday was a home run by Carlos Tocci. He did not hit one all of last year, but he has shown increased strength and aggressiveness at the plate this spring.

• The Rangers have acquired international slot bonus money from the Orioles in exchange for pitcher David Lebron. He was their 26th-round pick out of the University of Tampa in the 2018 MLB Draft.

Up next

Mike Minor is scheduled to pitch for the Rangers against the Indians in Goodyear on Monday. Also scheduled to pitch are left-handed bullpen candidates C.D. Pelham and Jeffrey Springs. Lance Lynn is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Mariners in Goodyear.