Texas Rangers Top 5 Prospects
Just a little over a year ago, this was easily a bottom ten farm system. What changed? Well, trading for two top 15 prospects as well as drafting another certainly helps. The Rangers are now among the top farm systems in baseball.
1. 1B Justin Smoak
Who?: Smoak is the best college hitting prospect since… well… Matt LaPorta last year. But that’s still pretty good! He had absolutely fantastic college production, with a career 62 HR, 151 BB and 107 K while improving every year from his debut season’s .303/.407/.586 and 1:1 K:BB ratio. Smoak is a switch-hitter who can rake from both sides of the plate, but he hits RHP better than LHP. He’s not good defensively, but with that bat, I just don’t care.
Projection: An offensive monster.
2. RHSP Neftali Feliz
Who?: Probably the biggest reason the Braves will regret the Teixeira trade. Salty and Andrus have been disappointing, while Harrison was never expected to be a centerpiece, but Feliz is the kind of prospect that GMs have nightmares about trading. Feliz’ fastball consistently sits at 94-96, and his slider and change look like above-average pitches. Feliz owned the Mid-West league with 106 Ks and 28 BB in 82 IP, leading to a surprising double-promotion straight to AA. Feliz has more than held his own as a 20-year-old in the hitter-friendly Texas League, striking out 35 in 30.1 IP. The biggest concern is his workload. Feliz has already thrown 70 more innings than he did last year, way over the 30 IP threshold that you hope never to pass. His innings have been limited, held under 4 IP in his last 4 outings, but you have to wonder if it’s about time to just shut him down completely.
Projection: Feliz is one of the few pitching prospects who you can say has true ace potential.
3. C Max Ramirez
Who?: Speaking of prospects you have nightmares about trading, Ramirez was acquired from the Indians for… Kenny Lofton. Ouch. Ramirez has always had an excellent plate approach - he has a career .312/.414 BA/OBP - and this year he’s really tapped into his power potential in a big way. Ramirez has hit .354/.450/.646 with 56 K, 57 BB, 35 XBH and 17 HR in 289 minor AA PA. His stats are inflated by a not-even-close-to-maintainable .405 BABIP, but they’re impressive nonetheless. The question is whether he’ll be able to stick at catcher, or if he’ll even be given the chance to in the Rangers’ backstop logjam, but he’s still playing catcher everyday so you can hope.
Projection: A top-notch offensive-oriented C or a good hitting 1B.
4. LHSP Derek Holland
Who?: Holland is really a big breakout story. Holland throws 92-95 MPH with his fastball, and his second plus pitch is a change-up instead of the usual breaking ball. I like that. Holland had no issues in Low-A (92 K/29 BB in 93.2 IP), did even better in the California League (37 K/5 BB in 31.0 IP), and if his first start is any indication, he’ll do just fine in AA as well - an 8 IP, 10 K, 1 BB shutout.
Projection: Holland projects as perhaps a #3 pitcher, with maybe even #2 upside.
5. RHSP Michael Main
Who?: Main is the 3rd piece of a Rangers prospect trio that can rank among the best pitching prospect combos in the minors, whether you’re looking at the A’s, Rays or O’s. Main, the Rangers’ first round pick from last year, features mostly a low 90s FB with a plus slider. Main missed time with a rib injury this year, but has been pretty impressive when healthy. In his pro career so far, Main has faced 293 hitters, striking out 77 (26.3%) and walking 30 (10.2%).
Projection: A mid-rotation starter.
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