Texas Rangers Top 20 Prospects - Scott's Blog

Scott's Blog

Texas Rangers Top 20 Prospects

Posted on November 10, 2008 at 01:21 PM.

Picking up where we left off as the minor league seasons came to an end, I'm going to update my ranking of the Rangers' top 20 prospects monthly until the 2009 season begins, when the column will resume its weekly run. Things can change in the off-season. There are fall and winter ball performances to take into account. Players are added and subtracted by way of trades.
And then there are players who move up on lists like this in as relatively anonymous a setting as Fall Instructional League.
Like the new number one did a year ago.
This month's Top 20 minor league prospects:
1. DEREK HOLLAND, LHP, Double-A Frisco (number 2 last month)
If Holland had been the 25th pick in the draft in 2006, his 2008 season would have been jaw-dropping. The fact that he was taken in the 25th round in 2006 makes his 2008 season (14-2, 2.05 in 29 starts, including the Texas League playoffs, with 175 strikeouts in 171.1 innings, a .201 opponents' batting average, and four home runs allowed) all that more amazing a story. The Rangers' Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year will almost certainly get a non-roster invite to major league camp in February.
2. NEFTALI FELIZ, RHP, Double-A Frisco (1)
Feliz was a 19-year-old with all of 56.1 stateside, short-season innings when Texas insisted that he be included in last summer's Mark Teixeira trade with the Braves, who had signed him for a relatively modest $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic. Credit great Rangers scouting, from A.J. Preller to Don Welke to Keith Boeck, who collectively had a solid book on the flamethrower before the Rangers even began trade talks with the Braves.
3. JUSTIN SMOAK, 1B, Low A Clinton (5)
One of baseball's best offenses may have another Mark Teixeira on the way. Smoak, who had a big Fall Instructional League showing and is now facing near-ready pitching prospects in the Arizona Fall League, could come fast.
4. MICHAEL MAIN, RHP, Low A Clinton (4)
Tim Hudson logged 268 innings over 49 minor league appearances (24-10, 3.22) before reaching the big leagues. Be my guest if you want to bet on Main needing another 185 minor league innings before he gets to Arlington. If stuff and makeup were the only measure, he might be ready now.
5. ELVIS ANDRUS, SS, Double-A Frisco (3)
Andrus is a difference-maker defensively, a natural leader, and at age 19 he wasn't overmatched at the plate in Class AA, hitting .311 over the final three months of the season after returning from a broken finger.
6. TAYLOR TEAGARDEN, C, Texas (UR)
Teagarden is a difference-maker defensively, a natural leader, and in his first run through the American League, he wasn't overmatched at the plate, hitting .319/.396/.809 in 47 at-bats. He reenters the list even though he finished the season in Arlington, because he didn't exhaust his rookie status.
7. MARTIN PEREZ, LHP, Short-Season A Spokane (10)
You've heard all about his eye-opening stuff, his command of three plus pitches. The added good news is that he's a confident but mature 17-year-old who isn't going to let the Johan Santana comps go to his head. There are organizations in which he'd be the number one pitching prospect.
8. MAX RAMIREZ, C, Triple-A Oklahoma (6)
Outshined by the splashier big league debuts of his Frisco teammates Chris Davis and Teagarden, Ramirez had one of the best offensive seasons (.350/.444/.636) of anyone in minor league baseball in 2008. He will be an impact bat in the major leagues.
9. ENGEL BELTRE, CF, Low A Clinton (11)
Beltre is a potentially unique talent who plays center field like a young Junior Griffey and is capable of doing anything offensively. His Clinton numbers (.283/.308/.403) may not jump off the page, but as the Midwest League's youngest position player the 18-year-old racked up 43 extra-base hits and stole 31 bases in 130 games.
10. BLAKE BEAVAN, RHP, Low A Clinton (8)
If you're concerned that Beavan's velocity dipped a bit in 2008 from his high school days, consider that the 19-year-old went 10-6, 2.37 in his first pro season, pounding the strike zone against older competition. Imagine what he's going to do when the velocity comes back.
11. JULIO BORBON, CF, Double-A Frisco (7)
Even though he commanded a major league deal as a supplemental first-round pick in 2007, Borbon probably exceeded expectations in 2008, hitting .322/.363/.427 between High A Bakersfield and AA Frisco. A big league debut in 2009 is possible.
12. NEIL RAMIREZ, RHP, Short-Season A Spokane (12)
A broken hand cost Ramirez some needed innings in Fall Instructional League, but he'll be good to go in the spring. His fastball movement and power curve give him a chance to break out in a big way in 2009.
13. WILFREDO BOSCAN, RHP, Short-Season A Spokane (14)
Boscan is not as high-profile as the pitchers beneath him on this list, and some who are not on the list at all, but he's extremely polished for an 18-year-old. A plus curve and a plus change complement a solid fastball, and he commands it all.
14. ERIC HURLEY, RHP, Texas (UR)
Rangers Ballpark may not be Hurley's ideal venue, but he's tough mentally and stands to be a perennial double-digit winner who chews up innings. That's a valuable commodity.
15. KASEY KIKER, LHP, High A Bakersfield (9)
Opinions differ on what role Kiker is ultimately best suited for, but nobody doubts that he's a winner. His 5-5, 4.73 mark in Bakersfield wasn't great, but the California League can disguise solid pitching progress. He'll fare better in Frisco.
16. WILMER FONT, RHP, Rookie-Level Arizona League (13)
Font's lost 2008 season (4.1 innings) means the 18-year-old's 2009 workload will be limited as well. There may not be a righthander in the system with a better assortment of stuff. Think about that.
17. OMAR POVEDA, RHP, High A Bakersfield (15)
Holding his own at age 20 in the California League, the 6'4", 200-lb. righthander introduced an improved breaking ball and struck out 97 hitters in 90.2 innings. Poveda may be the Rangers' toughest 40-man roster decision next month.
18. JOSE VALLEJO, 2B, Double-A Frisco (16)
The Rangers' Minor League Defender of the Year could find himself on the German Duran path in 2009, transitioning from full-time second baseman to a guy who plays all over the infield in AAA. Vallejo could surface in Texas next season, bringing game-changing speed.
19. TOMMY HUNTER, RHP, Triple-A Oklahoma (17)
Hunter was rushed in 2008 but has the makeup to use the big league adversity he experienced to his advantage. Projects to be an innings-eater at the back end of a big league rotation.
20. ROBBIE ROSS, LHP, Unassigned (19)
We probably won't see Ross make his pro debut until the short-season leagues kick off in June, but anticipation is high. He's another key figure in an increasingly deep stable of lefthanders in the Rangers' system.