Virtual reality training in baseball? Rangers OF David Dahl is giving it a try with positive early results – The Dallas Morning News

SURPRISE, Ariz. This is how new technology becomes trendy in a clubhouse.

On Tuesday afternoon, preparing to face San Francisco veteran Johnny Cueto, David Dahl donned a pair of virtual reality glasses and opened the app sent to him by a former minor league teammate. It was a little bit of a lark. He had only installed it on his computer on Mondays off day. But he picked up his bat, peered into the glasses and tracked Cuetos pitches in 3D.

Then he went 3 for 3.

Sold.

The program, WIN Reality, was designed by Chris ODowd, the son of former Colorado general manager Dan ODowd. Its been making its way to different teams over the last three years after the Tampa Bay Rays partook in a pilot program. It may start to gain popularity in the Rangers clubhouse.

The program is designed to provide hitters with exercises designed to promote earlier recognition of pitches, better feel for how a particular pitchers particular pitches move in real time and an improved ability to identify a ball/strike.

I felt like it helped, Dahl said Wednesday. But obviously when you get a couple of hits, you feel like it helps. I think Im going to continue to do it. It was something I was planning on doing this year after hearing some of the other guys talking about it through the league and how its helped them.

It dovetails with Dahls attempts to refine his control of the strike zone. Always more of a free swinger, he said he has taken more counts deep this spring than usual.

Im just trying to not swing at as many balls and trying to lock in on the strike zone, Dahl said. Its definitely hard to do. Im a swinger; I like to swing. So, Ive been aggressive. I want to be aggressive, but in the zone.

Dahl was in left field Wednesday against Arizona for the second straight day and just the third time this spring. He had been limited to DH duty for the first two weeks of games as he continued to build up arm strength after offseason shoulder surgery.

Briefly: With Wednesdays game, the Rangers began a stretch of five consecutive broadcasts on KRLD-105.3 FM. Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler will be providing the call.

-- LHP Brett Martin took a step towards bouncing back from back spasms that have prevented him from appearing in a game this spring with a bullpen session on Tuesday. It is unclear, though, when he would appear in a game.

-- Former Rangers minor leaguer Tim Dillard, known as much for his sense of humor as his fastball, has officially retired after 18 professional seasons and has joined the Milwaukee Brewers broadcast crew.

-- Rangers co-owner and President of Business Operations Neil Leibman joined a group of investors, including former NFL punter Jon Ryan, that has taken a significant stake in the Cleburne Railroaders of the independent American Association.

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Virtual reality training in baseball? Rangers OF David Dahl is giving it a try with positive early results - The Dallas Morning News