Landry Newsletter: The Legend of Bamboo Brad Miller

Hello friends! Welcome back to another edition of the Rangers Beat newsletter. Week 1 is in the books, and we’re gearing up for another season of Texas Rangers baseball. 

THE LEGEND OF ‘BAMBOO’ BRAD MILLER

Brad Miller assured the DFW media contingent that the Rangers’ clubhouse would soon be overflowing with plants, and hopefully some of his notable bamboo. 

A journeyman utility player, Miller spent two of his last three seasons with Philadelphia, where he was most known for bringing a lucky bamboo plant into the clubhouse amidst a seven-game losing streak in June 2019. At 1-4 in the first five games of ‘22, the Rangers could use a little bit of Bamboo Brad’s lucky plants. 

“I’m getting it,” Miller confirmed. “It’ll be here. There’s plenty of room in here for all my plants and everything. This place is unbelievable.”

Miller slid under the radar this offseason following the Rangers’ big-ticket signings of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, but the two-year deal has already paid off for the club. Miller hit a solo homer in the leadoff spot in Toronto on Opening Day and had a pinch-hit homer in Sunday’s win to close out the series against the Blue Jays.   

And off the field?

“He’s like an energizer bunny,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward jokingly said. 

Miller, alongside another outfield signing in Kole Calhoun, has brought energy and selflessness to a team that primarily uses platoons in the corner-outfield spots. Woodward noted that those two traits are important, especially for veteran guys in an inexperienced clubhouse. 

“[Guys like Miller and Calhoun] are huge for our culture,” Woodward added. “They bring energy every day — in game, in the clubhouse, in the dugout, on the plane. They’re just non-stop. Their engine never shuts off. To have that kind of personality, multiple guys like that. They just love baseball and they love being a part of this team.”

TRIVIA

What year was Nolan Ryan inducted into the Hall of Fame with a Rangers cap on his plaque?

A. 1992

B. 1997

C. 1999

D. 2004

JACK UPDATE

Highly touted pitching prospect Jack Leiter finally made his highly anticipated professional debut with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders last week, striking out seven in three innings of work. 

Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, is the son of former All-Star and World Series champion Al Leiter. 

“It felt really good. It was a long time coming,” Leiter told MLB Pipeline after the game. “Sort of anxiety built up to the first time competing for real, it’s been a long time. It felt good to get that one out of the way. We got the win, which is most important of all.”

It wasn’t a flawless outing by any means for MLB Pipeline’s No. 17 overall prospect. His command, something he’s constantly refining, was shaky, with only 33 of his 60 pitches going for strikes. But it was impressive for a guy who hasn’t pitched in a true competitive game since June 28, 2021 — Game 1 of the College World Series against Mississippi State. 

But regardless of the outcome, Leiter’s debut was just the start of what the Rangers hope will be a long and successful career with the organization. 

THREE AND OUT WITH TAYLOR HEARN

While this is normally a section where I ask Rangers players three questions about their interests off the field, I’m dedicating this one to the most wholesome postgame interview with Taylor Hearn, following his home-opening start on Monday. 

By now, everybody has seen the viral moment of Robyn Hearn, Taylor’s younger sister, asking him a question in the postgame press conference. 

“Was it a mentality difference? Or was there somebody in the stands or in the press box that you were itching to do well for?” Robyn jokingly asked to end the press conference. 

“I guess just being a big brother, you try to set the best example for you and try to basically do the best I can,” Taylor  said. “And hopefully be able to let you know that no matter what you go through, to not waver off your faith. For me to be able to sit here and tell you that I’m sitting here three years ago, after 2019, I wouldn’t even be able to believe you. But honestly, to have a very supportive sister like you means a lot. You sacrificed a lot just for me to be in this aspect, and I honestly can’t thank you enough.”  

It was a wholesome moment for the Hearn family. Both Robyn and Taylor were born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and grew up as Rangers fans. For Taylor to get the start in the home opener, to kick off the club’s 50th anniversary season, was special. 

The Royse City native said he had somewhere between 25-30 family members at the game to support him.

“I was kind of expecting myself to be a little bit more nervous, but everything felt normal to me,” Hearn said. “It was good to see family here. It was a lot of their first time seeing me pitch. So I thought it was awesome, especially with the Opening Day. I mean, how many families can say they have a cousin that plays Major League Baseball? I thought it was cool for them to be here.”

The moment between Taylor and Robyn truly showed what sports is about, beyond the wins and losses.

TRIVIA ANSWER

C. 1999

The flamethrowing pitcher was the first player to enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Rangers cap. 

50TH ANNIVERSARY

Monday’s home opener was filled with ceremonies surrounding the Rangers’ 50th anniversary of their relocation from Washington, D.C., to Texas in 1972. 

The Vandergriff family was front and center for it all. 

The late Tom Vandergriff is the former mayor of Arlington who spent years working to bring Major League Baseball to the Metroplex. After coming up short almost a decade prior when American League owners shut down the relocation of the Kansas City Athletics, Washington Senators owner Bob Short and Vandergriff came to an agreement in 1971 that would move the organization to Arlington for the start of the ‘72 season. 

Vandergriff’s son, Victor, and grandson, Parker, both threw the “Texas Toss” pitch prior to the game to Rangers legend Tom Grieve, who was a member of that very first Rangers team in 1972. 

The national anthem was performed by Vanessa Vandergriff Watters, Valerie Vandergriff Kelton and Katharine Vandergriff Rice. Vanessa, Tom Vandergriff’s daughter, was a student at Arlington High School when she sang “The Star Spangled Banner” for the Rangers’ first game at Arlington Stadium on April 21, 1972. Valerie is his other daughter and Katharine is his granddaughter. 

“I think my dad would be so proud and so happy with all of this,” Vanessa said. “I really do, and it’s very touching and very rewarding to me. And I think all of our family says the same. This was always a very big dream of my dad’s, and it’s just great to see and to see this beautiful complex and the stadium, I think he would be really thrilled.”

FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW

To subscribe to Rangers Beat, visit this page and mark “Rangers Beat” from our newsletter list. Make sure you’re following the Rangers or that they’re checked as your favorite team.