Rangers farm report: Minor-leaguers speaking same language as Rangers, helping ease transition to majors

(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)

ARLINGTON — When general manager Chris Young restructured Rangers player development toward the end of last season, one of the reasons for the changes was to streamline messaging from the big-league club throughout all levels of the farm system.

A big buzz word during the offseason was continuity. All minor-league coaches would be on the same page with what the major-league staff was preaching to big-leaguers, which would allow minor-league players to hit the ground running each time they hit a new level.

Manager Chris Woodward has seen it all season, and is seeing it now with infielder Josh Smith up from Triple A Round Rock.