Drew Robinson, in his second major-league spring training with the Rangers, is vying for a significant role this season. Robinson, who turns 26 in April, entered camp as part of the competition to split time in left field. To confirm his spot, Robinson is playing more often than other guys, which makes for lots of long days. Here is a look, with accompanying photos from Dallas Morning News photographer Smiley Pool, inside one day in the life of a young player at spring training:

5:57 a.m.

05:57 AM -- Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson arrives at the team's spring training complex about an hour before sunrise to begin his workday on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Surprise, Ariz. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

For a 1 p.m. game, Drew Robinson rolls out of bed about 5:20 a.m. during spring training. He wants to be at the Rangers spring-training camp before 6 a.m. because his regular group of workout partners - all young players - try to be mindful of veterans and clear the weight room before the veterans arrive. Robinson is sharing a room with fellow Las Vegan Joey Gallo at the extended-stay hotel two blocks from camp. He throws on a pair of sweats, gets to camp about 5:45. And almost every day, veteran Shin-Soo Choo, the Rangers' most noted early-riser, is already at his locker.

7:03 a.m.

After a banana and some yogurt, Robinson joins Gallo, Rougned Odor, Ryan Rua, Nomar Mazara, Jurickson Profar and Ronald Guzman for a weight workout. Some mornings, it includes some work on the pool treadmill. Some mornings, the group instead does yoga for flexibility.

"It's a really good group," Robinson says. "We're trying to outdo each other, push each other. It makes the workouts really better. It just gets you locked in for the day. If I don't do it, I don't feel as loose. And I'm really big on form."

7:48 a.m.

07:48 AM -- With early morning temperatures still hovering in the upper 30's, Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson blows on his hands to warm them before hitting in the batting cage. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Robinson grabs an egg white, ham, mushroom and spinach omelet - and a waffle with some peanut butter - from the team's chef and then heads to the batting cages for some warmup swings. It's been colder than usual this spring, so maybe it takes a few more swings to get loose. Robinson usually takes about 40-50 swings during this session, split between soft underhand tosses from coaches and typical batting-practice type pitches. Oddly, the left-handed hitter begins with a handful of swings from the right side. A little later, he takes more swings from the right. Is he suddenly working on becoming a switch-hitter?

"Usually, I just do it to get loose, or sometimes, when I'm in a slump to break up the routine," he said. "Today, I told [assistant hitting instructor Damon Mashore] that I was going to take an extra round just screw around with you."

10:10 a.m.

10:10 AM -- Drew Robinson blows a bubble while taking fielding practice with teammates, from left, Destin Hood, Nomar Mazara, Willie Calhoun, Carlos Tocci and Jose Cardona. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Positional drills. Among Robinson's projects this spring is a challenge to make himself a better center fielder. While Carlos Tocci may end up as the primary backup center fielder, versatility is a must for Robinson as he strives to make himself an everyday option. During this period, he will work on charging balls in the outfield and on other daily specific drills. On this particular day, as the outfielders go back on a ball, instructor Dwayne Murphy, standing just a few feet away, tosses them another to force them to look off the ball in flight, to catch the toss, then relocate the ball in the air. Also, at 12:30 before some 1 p.m. games, they will try to hit balls directly into the sun.

11:04 a.m.

11:04 AM -- Robinson pauses to poses for a selfie with a fan while going between stations during morning workouts on the practice fields. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

For fans, one of the great elements of spring training is the access to the players. The Rangers' Surprise campus is among the most fan-friendly. As Robinson moves from station to station doing various hitting drills, he stops to take a selfie with some fans.

"My mom, dad and little sister were out here the weekend before," he said. "And these ladies had been talking to them and getting to know them. They were talking like they were part of the family by the end of the weekend. So I stopped for a photo."

12:50 p.m.

12:50 PM -- Robinson puts pine tar and rosin on his helmet before a spring training baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Almost time for the national anthem. On this early spring day, Robinson is not starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that has been a rarity. Going into the final week of spring, Robinson led the team in plate appearances. He will still get in this game, so there is still a routine.

"If I'm not starting, I just kind of hang out for the first couple of innings," he said. "Around the third inning, I'll start to get loose. I had a Red Bull. Games get a little slow sometimes."

3:38 p.m.

03:38 PM -- Robinson singles to right field off of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Andrew Robinson during the seventh inning against the Dodgers. He later scored in the inning on a double by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

The Red Bull must have worked. Robinson enters the game in center field in the sixth inning for Delino DeShields and singles in the seventh, but he apparently doesn't pick up on the game's most interesting matchup. He's facing Los Angeles right-hander Andrew Robinson - a matchup of Andrew Robinson vs. Drew Robinson.

"It's not the same," he says. "My birth name is actually Drew."

4:33 p.m.

04:33 PM -- Robinson (center) walks off the field with pitcher Nick Gardewine (left) and first baseman Ronald Guzman after a 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

The game is over, but Robinson's day at the park, now going on nearly 12 hours, isn't. He will grab a snack then do quick dips in the hot and cold tubs before showering.

"I'm really slow after games," he said. "I'll just sit for a few minutes sometimes."

5:22 p.m.

05:22 PM -- Nearly 12 hours after he arrived at the complex, Robinson ends heads to the parking lot at the end of his workday after a spring training baseball game on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Surprise, Ariz. (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

Finally ready to head back to the hotel, Robinson grabs the night's prepared meal from the plan he has subscribed to - on this night it is ribs, green beans, mashed potatoes, watermelon, apple sauce and a roast beef snack - and makes the short trip back to the hotel. He will eat, watch a little TV and likely be in bed by nine.

"He's a good roommate," Gallo said. "He's clean and doesn't mind helping out with the grocery bills. He's great to sit around and talk baseball and hitting with. And he goes to bed early. Oh, and he's good looking; it's always nice to have a good-looking roommate. We're going to live together during the season, too."

Twitter: @EvanPGrant