Taste Test: The Rangers' Over-the-Top New Ballpark Snacks at Globe Life Park

Baseball is back, and with it, Globe Life Park in Arlington is rolling out new ballpark snacks. They're not quite on the same level as the State Fair of Texas’ annual over-the-top food offerings, but the Rangers have some curious new foods this season.

Of all the new ballpark food items, the Dilly Dog ($10) has gotten the most attention. It’s a jumbo beef hot dog stuffed into a hollowed-out dill pickle, then battered and fried. It’s a corny dog upgraded.

The flavors are there. The pickle and hot dog are a satisfying pair — savory, crunchy and sour. The cornmeal batter is soft and pillowy. The only issue is that it fell apart almost completely after a few bites. This new ballpark item would be better enjoyed with a knife and fork. Serving the Dilly Dog on a stick is really just a gimmick.

Skip the Home Run Ham Fries ($7.50). In theory, they should be a home run; the ham is thick-cut and good quality. But the breading overwhelms the fries with its blandness. Not only is there way too much batter on the fries, but it completely lacks seasoning.

The Triple B ($16) is the item we were most wary about trying. It’s a bacon, brisket and bologna sandwich topped with Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce and stuffed in a soft roll. The ballpark is generous with the meat. You get two thick slices of bologna, a few strips of bacon and a pile of brisket. Add some onions and relish from the hot dog condiment stands to bring much-needed texture and acidity to the assault of meat.

Not all of the new items are meat-based. There are a few new offerings at the ballpark vegan stand, including vegan nachos ($13) with housemade vegan chili, vegan cheese sauce, veggies and vegan meat crumbles. There’s also a new vegan Top N Go Frito Pie ($8.75) with vegan chili, vegan cheese and, you guessed it, Fritos.

The Lay’s Home Plate Chicken Sandwich has also gotten a lot of buzz. It's priced at a whopping $27.50, and the chicken is crusted with Lay’s potato chips and is 10-12 inches in diameter, the size of a plate.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Seventh-Inning Cinnamon Roll ($10), a cinnamon bun that is deep-fried, drizzled with chocolate and raspberry sauces, and dusted with powdered sugar. We were worried a pastry dipped in batter and then fried would be too dough heavy, but this treat really works. It’s the perfect end to a deep-fried ballpark food extravaganza.

Globe Life Park, 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington