Looking Back: Rangers Top Prospects of 2010 Review
With the season winding down, I thought it would be appropriate to look back at my 2010 top prospect lists and see how I did in my projections and how each team’s farm system held up over the course of the season.
This needs to be emphasized: the list below reflects each prospect’s status prior to the 2010 season. This is not a new list. Please keep that in mind.
The next team up is the Texas Rangers:
1. Neftali Feliz | RHP | Age – 22 | Grade – A-
I actually rated Feliz as the 15th best prospect in baseball, which was behind Perez and Smoak despite ranking him No. 1 here because I became more convinced Feliz would ultimately end up in the bullpen. I’m still unsure what the Rangers have in store for Feliz in the years to come. Nevertheless, he’s had an excellent season.
2. Martin Perez | LHP | Age – 19 | Grade – A-
It’s been a frustrating year for Perez. He’s been battling his mechanics, which I think in turn has hurt both his control and overall stuff. I captured video of his most recent start, which makes three starts by Perez I now have on tape from this year. In all three starts, Perez is using a different set of mechanics. Click here and click here for updated scouting reports on Perez…
3. Justin Smoak | 1b | Age – 23 | Grade – A-
Traded to Seattle, Smoak has disappointed so far at the big league level, though the sample size is small. Loved him coming out of South Carolina, but the time it’s taking him to adjust to advanced level pitching has been somewhat of a mystery to me. It might be time to check out his swing and see if any bad habits have developed.
4. Tanner Scheppers | RHP | Age – 23 | Grade – B
Looking at Scheppers’ stats, I was surprised by how ordinary they were. The big culprit is probably the Rangers decision to stretch Scheppers out over multiple innings plus the recent string of poor outing in which he’s given up runs in five of his last six appearances including one in which he gave up seven runs. He’s probably wearing down as the season comes to an end. He’ll be fine in the long run.
5. Robbie Ross | LHP | Age – 20 | Grade – B-
He’s had a nice season and continues to keep the ball on the ground…not the highest upside guy in the world, but I like him.
6. Michael Main | RHP | Age – 21 | Grade – B-
Was doing alright until he was traded to San Francisco, where he’s imploded since. Hasn’t pitched since late July.
7. Danny Gutierrez | RHP | Age – 23 | Grade – B-
Suspended to start the season, he’s been back since mid-June and took a while to really shake the rust off. But he’s been better of late.
8. Wilmer Font | RHP | Age – 19 | Grade – B-
Misses bats at a high rate, but command continues to be an issue. He’s been on the DL since early July.
9. Mitch Moreland | 1b/OF | Age – 24 | Grade – B-
Not a star, but should have a long and productive Major League career.
10. Kasey Kiker | LHP | Age – 22 | Grade – B-/C+
Just an awful season. A complete disaster.
11. Miguel Velazquez | OF | Age – 21 | Grade – C+
Had such a strong April, but he’s really done nothing since.
12. Jurickson Profar | RHP/SS | Age – 16 | Grade – C+
I had to rank Profar considering the hype surrounding him entering the year. I’ve only begun to sift through the video I’ve been able to grab on him, but so far I’m been impressed by what I’ve seen.
13. Robbie Erlin | LHP | Age – 19 | Grade – C+
I can pat myself on the back with my aggressive ranking of Erlin. He’s had a fantastic year.
14. Max Ramirez | C/1b | Age – 25 | Grade – C+
Power has not returned to 2008 levels and he’s not much of a prospect when he’s not hitting for power.
15. Braden Tullis | RHP | Age – 20 | Grade – C+
This was also an aggressive ranking…obviously not as successful as Erlin, but he’s had a nice season. He’ll be somewhere on next year’s list, but a few guys in the organization have passed him.
16. Guillermo Moscoso | RHP | Age – 26 | Grade – C+
Has had an OK season…fits better out of the bullpen.
17. Tomas Telis | C | Age – 19 | Grade – C+
He hasn’t struggled, but in his second season in the Arizona Rookie League, his numbers are actually down a bit. Not sure how I should judge him.
18. Carlos Pimentel | RHP | Age – 20 | Grade – C+
Has age on his side, but he hasn’t had a good season…
19. Engel Beltre | CF | Grade – C+
A breakout season for Beltre, but he’s struggled adjusting to Double-A pitching…
20. Blake Beavan | RHP | Age – 21 | Grade – C+
Traded to the Seattle Mariners…he comes off across better on film than his numbers indicate, but he does need to miss more bats. Click here for an updated report on Beavan…
21. Edwin Escobar | LHP | Age – 18 | Grade – C+
Traded to San Francisco…shown some good potential, but his command needs work. He’s still very, very young.
22. Tommy Mendonca | 3b | Age – 22 | Grade – C+
Not much to see here…hasn’t been able to hit pro pitching
23. Wil Boscan | RHP | Age – 20 | Grade – C+
His K% has rebounded well from 2009 levels.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order) – Jose Monegro (RHP) | Marcus Lemon (2b) | Luis Sardenas (SS) | Kennil Gomez (RHP) | Zach Phillips (LHP) | Corey Young (LHP) | Neil Ramirez (RHP) | Pedro Strop (RHP) | Andrew Doyle (RHP) | Omar Poveda (RHP) | Richard Bleir (LHP) | Vincent DiFazio (C) | Fabio Castillo (RHP) | Joe Wieland (RHP) | Ben Snyder (LHP) | Jason Ogata (LF) | Richard Alvarez (RHP) | Michael Bianucci (LF) | Chad Bell (LHP) | Michael Kirkman (LHP) | Matt Thompson (RHP) | Sean Blackwell (RHP)
It was noted last year the Rangers had a bunch of players in the Honorable Mention section or very young, mostly Latin American players not mentioned at all, who could breakthrough and become legit prospects in this organization. And that is just what we have seen this year.
Just looking at the Honorable Mentions, I’ll have to compile a list of the more highly regarded pitching prospects that have broken out this year. The list includes Neil Ramirez, Matt Thompson, Joe Wieland, Chad Bell, and Michael Kirkman, a group that consists of potential middle and back of the rotion starts or possible converts to the bullpen. Shortstop Luis Sardenas has held his own offensively while showing off excellent defensive potential.
And then we have the emergence of prospects not mentioned at all. Many are Latin American prospects who are playing their first year of pro ball in America, among them being Oduber Herrera, Christian Villanueva, and Teodoro Martinez. Miguel de los Santos is a pitcher with poor control, but a tremendous ability to rack up the strikeouts. Also worth keeping an eye on are Ruben Sierra Jr. and right handed pitcher Jacob Brigham.
The Bottom Line
This is what good depth, good drafting, and investing in the future of your organization can do for you. Despite a few disappointments with some of the top guys in the organization, numerous prospects have stepped up in their place. By the same token, the Rangers were still able to take some of those prospects and use them in a trade for Cliff Lee to help the big league club in their push for a World Series. And they didn’t have to deplete the system to do so either. Invest in the future, stockpile young talent, and you won’t have to pin your hopes on one or two players having to make it.
