A Familiar Path For Isiah Kiner-Falefa

ARLINGTON—Baseball has a way of creating new challenges for players as they try to rise through the minor leagues—even for players who have reached the mountain top.

So, 21-year-old Isiah Kiner-Falefa isn’t the first to ever be asked to switch positions. The Rangers are deep at his natural position, shortstop, and his second position, second base, and even his third, third base.

Catcher, though, is a position at which every club struggles to find quality depth, so Kiner-Falefa was asked to do what many middle infielders before have been asked to do: strap on the gear and get behind the plate.

One of the Rangers’ two catchers, Robinson Chirinos, did it. Top catching prospect Jose Trevino did it as well.

Kiner-Falefa knows the history and also knows the value that versatile players can bring to big league clubs.

“It’s new, it’s interesting, but it’s going to help me out in the long run by adding versatility,” said Kiner-Falefa, a 2013 fourth-round pick out of high school in Hawaii. “It’s going to help me move on.”

He started 31 games at catcher at Double-A Frisco last season, more than any position but third base (42). He last played shortstop for 20 games in 2015.

The idea was first floated during 2015 instructional league, and Kiner-Falefa was a quick study. So quick that he caught Frisco’s home opener in 2016. His No. 1 goal is to continue developing relationships with pitchers on such a close level.

Kiner-Falefa, who has never homered as a professional, still doesn’t expect catching to be a full-time gig despite the commitment the Rangers have to him at the position, but he likes the idea of being a super-utility player.

The Rangers covet players who can play multiple positions to navigate through all 162 games.

“The flexibility, having guys like that on a team, is crucial,” manager Jeff Banister said.

RANGERS ROUNDUP

• The Rangers planned to send lefthander Yohander Mendez to Triple-A to open the season. Their top pitching prospect pitched at four levels in 2016, including the majors.

• The Rangers will take a long look at outfielder Cesar Puello to make the big league roster. The former Mets prospect was suspended in 2013 because of ties to the Biogenesis scandal and spent last season at Triple-A with the Yankees.

— Jeff Wilson covers the Rangers for the Fort-Worth Star Telegram