"In the past, Brad Hawpe traveled to Denver or San Diego for an off-season appearance, and didn't mind it. This year, though, Hawpe enjoyed only making a short drive from his Westlake home to Burleson on Friday night for the second-to-last stop of the Rangers Winter Caravan.

"This was my shortest distance," said Hawpe, making his first public appearance since signing a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers earlier this off-season. "It's going to be great, and it's fun to do things like this in your hometown."

Hawpe, a former Saginaw Boswell High School star, knows spring training will be different from his previous ones. He doesn't have a guaranteed job. If he earns a roster spot, he will make $1 million.

Three seasons ago, Hawpe was an All-Star, hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs in 146 games for Colorado. He has struggled the last two seasons with an elbow injury and had reconstructive elbow surgery in June."