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The first person to make Chris Woodward feel like he belonged in the bigs was at his Rangers debut -- as an opponent

ARLINGTON -- It was the slightest of gestures in the sea of controlled chaos that is opening day's pre-game ceremony.

A fist pounded lightly against a heart. A point across the field. It's the kind of thing nobody would notice. Chris Woodward did, but only because he was looking. How could he not? As he took the field for his first official game as Rangers manager, standing on the opposite foul line was the guy who has meant the most to his development in professional baseball: Cubs third base coach Brian Butterfield.

"He was the first guy who ever made me feel like a big leaguer," Woodward said.