Jose Trevino Still Impresses Rangers Brass

ARLINGTON—Jonathan Lucroy will be the Rangers’ catcher in 2017, and for a few more if he agrees to a contract extension this offseason.

Keeping Lucroy long-term is a front-burner item for general manager Jon Daniels, even though the top defensive catcher in the minor leagues in 2016 is poised to jump to Double A and perhaps beyond in 2017.

But nothing more than this season is on the mind of Jose Trevino, who was awarded a minor league Rawlings Gold Glove after a terrific season with high Class A High Desert. His goal is to win another.

“Can I do it again? That’s the biggest question,” said Trevino, who spent a second straight postseason in the Arizona Fall League. “That’s all last year’s stuff. Keep working. Don’t get complacent. Go home, think about a couple things you need to work on and keep hammering until it’s second nature and you work until you’re good at it.”

There doesn’t appear to be much Trevino needs to improve after he posted a .998 fielding percentage over 950 chances. He also notched 102 assists and threw out 47 of 98 (48 percent) of basestealers.

Trevino, 24, said that he can improve his receiving and wants to throw out more runners or shrink their leads from bases. He watches video of Lucroy, who is widely considered a premium pitch-framer and throwing catcher.

“I love to watching catching,” Trevino said. “You pick up little things. They don’t always relate to you, but you can somehow work it into your arsenal.”

A sixth-round pick from Oral Roberts in 2014, Trevino receives praise from his teammates and coaches for managing games. Perhaps the biggest test for any pitching staff was throwing in hitter-friendly High Desert, where the team that did the best job limiting damage often won.

“My go-to line was, ‘Hey, we get to hit again, too,’ ” he said.

Trevino provided some of the thunder. The Rangers don’t view him as one dimensional after he batted .303 with 30 doubles, nine homers and 68 RBIs last season.

RANGER ROUNDUP

• Righthander Austin Bibens-Dirkx, signed from independent ball by the Rangers midway through the 2016 season, was re-signed to minor league contract. He posted a 3.04 ERA in 13 starts in the Venezuelan League.

• The Rangers also signed outfielder Matt Lipka and infielder Jason Martinson to minor league deals.

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