Lions play Q&A with visiting Rangers
Ranger pitchers
One question asked of the three Rangers was where they're from. Buechele, whose son Shane is a quarterback at the
Leclerc noted the difference between where he grew up, that "baseball was everything" in that region and in
Gardewine talked about the importance of doing something you enjoy.
"If you're not having fun, I feel like you're in the wrong sport," said the 25-year-old right-hander.
Gardewine said he ran cross country and played football and basketball in high school.
"I think it's good for kids to be in all sports," he said. "It helps you get better with your social skills."
Gardewine said he went to college on a basketball and baseball scholarship but learned that baseball was for him when he pitched a no-hitter in his first college game. The Lion players applauded the mention of Gardewine's no-hitter.
Buechele, who set a major league record for third basemen with a .991 fielding percentage in 1991, talked about the mental part of the game.
"I saw so many players that had more talent...that didn't make it to the big leagues," he said. "Physical strength is one thing. Mental strength is another."
On the subject of physical strength, one of the Lions asked what was the most important workout in the weight room.
"That depends like if you are a hitter, I don't know. But if you are a pitcher, you have to do a lot of lower body and shoulders. That's the most important," said Leclerc, who finished last season as the Rangers' closer, nailing down his last 12 save opportunities to wind up with a 1.56 earned run average.
"I would say for me personally, it's squats," said Gardewine, who appeared in three games last season for the Rangers.
"A lot of hand strength," said Buechele. "They do arms, backs. They do full body workouts. Upper body and a lot of leg. I don't know if you guys are surprised when you hear these pitchers saying.
'Look, lower half.' They work their lower half a lot. I think that's huge. Not just in pitching but whatever you do in baseball."
Buechele agreed with Gardewine about enjoying the game "number one" but talked about putting the work in to be a better player.
The Lions' 2019 baseball season begins on
The Rangers pitchers and catchers will report for spring training on
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