Dell Diamond Will Serve As Alternate Training Site For TX Rangers

ROUND ROCK, TX — Dell Diamond in Round Rock will serve as an alternate training site for the Texas Rangers ahead of the Triple-A baseball season in April, officials said.

Round Rock Express announced Tuesday a group of 20 to 28 players not added to the Rangers’ 26-man Opening Day roster will report to Round Rock to continue preparation for the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) season.

“We are grateful to Mike Daly, Paul Kruger and the entire Rangers player development staff for allowing us to host their Alternate Training Site,” Round Rock Express General Manager Tim Jackson said. “Many of the players that will report to Dell Diamond in April will likely be members of the Express at some point in 2021, so for them to be able to familiarize themselves with this great ballpark and the city of Round Rock will be a huge benefit as we head into the summer.”

The alternate training site concept was created during the canceled 2020 MiLB season and provides a secondary location within close geographic proximity to each Major League Baseball club for players to train and be ready to quickly and safely be called up if necessary, officials said.

At MLB’s request, the alternate training site model will be implemented for the month of April after the start of the Triple-A baseball season was postponed until early May.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with Round Rock and for the Express to host our Alternate Training Site in Central Texas,” Texas Rangers Assistant General Manager Mike Daly said. “This is an exciting first step towards baseball returning to Dell Diamond in 2021.”

Authorities said the group of players attending the Alternate Training Site is expected to be determined and announced prior to Rangers Opening Day on Thursday, April 1.

Those players will report to Round Rock in early April with workouts at Dell Diamond expected to begin the week of Sunday, April 4.

The Round Rock Express open the 2021 Triple-A West League season on Thursday, May 6 at home against the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Officials said the Round Rock Express and Texas Rangers are working with MLB to develop a plan that would allow for limited fan attendance at select workouts, scrimmages and potential exhibition games.

Additional information regarding potential fan attendance at the Texas Rangers Alternate Training Site is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Authorities said Dell Diamond will continue to serve as Williamson County’s largest COVID-19 vaccination hub while concurrently hosting the Texas Rangers Alternate Training Site.

Approximately 5,000 COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered per day in Dell Diamond’s east parking lot. For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations at Dell Diamond, residents are encouraged to visit RRExpress.com.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Williamson County: Where To Get Vaccinated For Week of March 22

Nearby Counties Encouraged To Get Vaccinated In Williamson

Round Rock Named One Of Best Cities To Buy A House In America