SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers assigned first-round pick Cole Ragans to shadow Cole Hamels Tuesday in hopes the veteran could impress some things about preparation on the 19-year-old.

Count Cole impressed.

Cole Hamels, that is.

Hamels, who has often cited veterans in the Philadelphia organization for helping him learn the craft of pitching when he was young, took to the assignment and asked for one consideration: That such opportunities happen again.

"I think it's very nice thing that they did with this idea," Hamels said. "I hope they do it more. [Ragans] wasn't afraid to ask questions. He was great with that. He interacted and that was the best part. It showed you he has a real desire. That's good to see."

Hamels on Wednesday did some work on his own. He pitched two innings in a simulated game, his first game-type action of the spring. Hamels threw 39 pitches, 22 for strikes. He broke off a wicked changeup for a swing-and-miss in the first inning. He spent the second trying to work on a curve ball that would not cooperate and break down through the zone.

Hamels is not hurt. With an extra week of camp, the Rangers are simply bringing him and several other pitchers along slowly. Among them were three guys who also pitched in the simulated game: Keone Kela, Matt Bush and Tony Barnette.

A quick observation on each:

Keone Kela: 18 pitches, 11 strikes. Very nice strikeout.

Matt Bush: Good news, hit 99 mph with fastball & was most often at 97. Bad news: Did not finish a planned inning; 18 pitches, 8 strikes.

Tony Barnette: Sharpest of group. 15 pitches, 12 strikes. Struck out first 3 hitters. Was asked to face another. Struck him out, too.