Texas Rangers

Michael Young added to Fan Fest schedule

Here it is if you're looking for it for tomorrow with the addition of Michael Young.

Diamond Club – Line A *Diamond Club lines form on the Main Concourse behind Sections 3-9.

10:00 a.m. Josh Hamilton

Noon Chris Davis

1:00 p.m. Ian Kinsler

2:00 p.m. Taylor Teagarden and Jose Vallejo

3:00 p.m. Matt Harrison and Warner Madrigal

4:00 p.m. John Bannister and Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Diamond Club – Line B

10:00 a.m. Kevin Millwood and Tommy Hunter

11:00 a.m. Ron Washington, Rudy Jaramillo and Johnny Narron

Noon David Murphy

1:00 p.m. Scott Feldman and Guillermo Moscoso

2:00 p.m. Travis Metcalf and Doug Mathis

3:00 p.m. Luis Mendoza

4:00 p.m. Brandon McCarthy and Omar Poveda

The Newberg Report * Located in the Diamond Club

10 a.m. Michael Young

11:00 a.m. Michael Ballard, Derek Holland, and Kasey Kiker

Noon Blake Beavan, Andrew Laughter, and Tim Murphy

1:00 p.m. Neftali Feliz, Michael Main, and Kevin Richardson

Majestic Grand Slam Gift Shop * Majestic Grand Slam Shop lines form in Center Field.

10:00 a.m. Mike Jeffcoat, Bobby Jones, Ray Burris, and Ellis Valentine

11:00 a.m. Scott Coolbaugh, Larry Hardy, Jeff Russell, and Curtis Wilkerson

Noon Dave Barnett, Jose Guzman, Josh Lewin, Eric Nadel, and Eleno Ornelas

1:00 p.m. Pete O’Brien, Bill Fahey, Tom Grieve, and Dan Smith

2:00 p.m. Steve Buechele, Dave Hostetler, Mike Simms, and Bill Stein

3:00 p.m. Rich Billings, Jeff Kunkel, Frank Lucchesi, and Jim Sundberg

One autograph per person is allowed. Personalization and posing for photographs with players are not

permitted. Autograph schedule is subject to change without notice.

The new unis will debut on Opening Day

Josh Hamilton modeled the new red tops Friday. The Rangers will wear them only at home games and on special occasions. They will be worn Opening Day and for Saturday night games. Team president Nolan Ryan also said they would be worn during a special Red Out weekend. Ryan said the reason for wearing them at home games only is because the uniforms were wanted by the home fans. And yes, it's all about merchandising. The new threads are available now. They will also be on sale Saturday at Fan Fest. Just in time for Valentine's Day. What do you think of the new look?

- Anthony Andro

Rangers meet with Sheets

General manager Jon Daniels confirmed that the Rangers met with free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets and his agent, Casey Close, on Wednesday in Arlington. Sheets, a Dallas resident, was also seen playing long toss at Rangers Ballpark on Wednesday and Thursday along with his former pitching coach/current Rangers pitching coach, Mike Maddux.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers to unveil new uniforms

The Rangers will unveil new home, road and alternate uniforms at 11:30 a.m. today. We'll post picutures as soon as we have them.

Prospect gold

ESPN baseball analyst Keith Law concurs with Baseball America that the Rangers have the No. 1 farm system and he lists three of Texas' prospects in his top 25. Only Tampa Bay also has three prospects listed in the top 25.

Nine Rangers' prospects cracked Law's top 100 prospects in baseball, starting with flame-throwing young right-hander Neftali Feliz at No. 4.

First baseman Justin Smoak (15) and left-handed pitcher Derek Holland (21) also made the top 25.

Other Rangers prospects listed:

37, Martin Perez, LHP; 39, Elvis Andrus, SS,  64, Michael Main, RHP; 70, Taylor Teagarden, C; 77, Max Ramirez, C; 85, Julio Borbon, OF.

   -- JIM REEVES

Vizquel believes he can still be an everyday player

A conference call with the newest Texas Rangers player, Omar Vizquel, just wrapped. The 20-year veteran said that he will welcome whatever roll the Rangers have for him, but he believes he can still play everyday and he plans to prepare as though he will be the Opening Day shortstop.

Vizquel also said that he doesn't know much about Elvis Andrus, other than he is a fellow Venezuelan. But he has enjoyed mentoring young players in the past and believes he can help Andrus prepare for being an everyday big-league shortstop.

General manager Jon Daniels said that Vizquel provides a safety net should Andrus not make the club out of spring training, but Daniels doesn't expect Andrus to fail. Vizquel was signed, Daniels said, because he can still make an impact -- not necessarily just to be Andrus' mentor.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers get Vizquel

Omar Vizquel, the winner of 11 Gold Gloves, has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rangers. The shortstop will be invited to spring training, where he will compete to be the utility infielder. He could also serve as a mentor to his countryman, Elvis Andrus.

The Rangers have also invited catcher Adam Melhuse to camp. He was on the Opening Day roster last year but was released after injuring his hand in late April.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hurley has surgery, out for season

Starting pitcher Eric Hurley has undergone surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and likely won't pitch this season. Dr. Keith Meister performed the operation, which also included work to fix a frayed labrum. Hurley, a right-hander, is expected to begin a throwing program in three to four months.

The former top prospect, who made his major-league debut last season, felt discomfort while trying to prepare for 2009 and recover from a shoulder injury he suffered last season. Hurley went through a rehabilitation program that lasted through December, but discomfort lingered. He met with orthopedist Lewis Yocum earlier this week.

"We were hopeful that rehab would allow Eric to avoid surgery. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way," general manager Jon Daniels said. "I thought he could have impacted our club this year, but with the proper program, that should be realistic for the following season."

-- Jeff Wilson

Notes from the winter camp

Here are a few things gleaned from Tuesday's media availability at the Rangers pitching camp.

Those throwing Tuesday were Neftali Feliz, Tommy Hunter, Brandon McCarthy, Andrew Laughter, Warner Madrigal, Michael Main and Tim Murphy.

Feliz doesn't speak English very well, but one statement he made translated easily. It was 102. That's the fastest he's been clocked at throwing a fastball. Yikes.

Team president Nolan Ryan spent a few minutes talking with Hunter after his throwing session. It looked like he was talking about his arm slot.

The new seats behind home plate are going to drastically reduce the amount of foul territory. New pitching coach Mike Maddux said it's going to make the park even more hitter friendly. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia likes it because it will likely cut down on the increase in foul balls. Just how many people sit there remains to be seen. The home plate seats have a rather steep price of $205 for regular games and $220 for the premier games.

Thomas Diamond feels as good as he has in the last couple of years. Diamond threw Monday and said his ankle and right arm both felt fine.

Kevin Millwood will throw a side session for the first time since last season Wednesday. Millwood is at the camp working out.

Also seen Tuesday were second baseman Ian Kinsler and third baseman Travis Metcalf.

Brandon McCarthy has a problem a lot of us would like. He can't eat enough food. His 7,000 calorie a day diet has made him hate eating.

The Rangers are scheduled for an ESPN national broadcast May 3 against the White Sox. The Rangers are also slated for FOX games May 16 and May 23 (thanks Kinsler homer).

The two best promotions this year look to be May 2 and May 16. Fans get a Nolan Ryan statue May 2 and a Josh Hamilton bobblehead May 16. The May 16 game also features a Robert Earl Keen postgame concert, if you're into that sort of thing.

- Anthony Andro

Wilson, Rangers agree

One more down. One more to go.

The Rangers have avoided arbitration with reliever C.J. Wilson, who agreed to $1.85 million with unspecified performance bonuses. He was 2-2 with 24 saves and a 6.02 ERA last season, which was cut short by an elbow injury in August.

With Wilson's deal done, the Rangers have only one more arbitration-eligible player -- outfielder Marlon Byrd. Both sides are said to be exchanging figures today.

-- Jeff Wilson