Post by Ex-Rangers GM (Jon) on Jan 17, 2014 11:10:38 GMT -6
Texas Rangers Top Prospects for 2013 [Sickels]
Xander Bogaerts, SS, Grade A: A Grade A prospect who should do everything well except steal bases. Power should steadily increase. Not hype, he is for real. [BOS]
Trevor Bauer, RHP, Grade A-: He needs to improve his control, thus the slight ding in his grade from last year, but I still see him as an elite prospect who can be a number one starter. He has little left to prove in the minors, and my thinking is that he's bright and motivated enough to outgrow any personality conflicts. [CLE]
Matt Smoral, LHP, Grade B-: Big lefty from the 2012 draft, possibly a steal in the supplemental round though we haven't seen him pitch yet due to the broken foot that knocked his stock down. Power southpaw with impressive fastball and slider potential. [TOR]
Jorge Alfaro, C, Grade B-: Grade A tools, Grade C- current skills. Great arm but threw out just 15% of runners. Lots of raw power, but poor contact and plate discipline (16/84 BB/K in 272 at-bats). Turns 20 in June so he is young enough to figure things out, but a perfect example of the high risk/high reward player who could become a star or a Double-A washout.
Nomar Mazara, OF, Grade B-: Bonus baby held his own in AZL at age 17. Also has strikeout issues. Star potential if he can refine it, could move 10 spots up on this list with a strong '13 showing.
Wyatt Mathisen, C, Grade B-: Somewhat raw, especially on defense, but has the tools to stick behind the plate and projects as a solid bat as well. Showed good plate discipline in rookie ball. [PIT]
Brandon Jacobs, OF, Grade C+: At this point, the C+ guys could be listed in just about any order depending on taste. I'll go with Jacobs here, the tools hound who had a disappointing season in High-A but is young enough at age 22 to rebound effectively. Everybody seems to have forgotten about him. [BOS]
C.J. Edwards, RHP, Grade C+: Very high upside arm came out of nowhere to dominate short-season ball, thanks to mechanical refinement and sudden step forward with secondary pitches. Not bad for a previously obscure 48th round pick.
Hanser Alberto, SS, Grade C+: Another product of Texas emphasis on up-the-middle players, would get more attention in another system. Fast, has some pop, good glove. Hit .299/.327/.410 with 24 steals between two levels of A-ball at age 19.
Nick Martinez, RHP, Grade C+: Athletic former shortstop, nice sleeper prospect pointed out to me by Rangers expert Jamey Newberg. Easy to overlook due to 4.83 ERA in Low-A, but component ratios were much better, he's got a live arm, a nice delivery, and secondary stuff is improving.
Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+: Tweener type looked frustrated early in 2012, repeating Triple-A despite having had a good season there in '11, but he turned things around in the second half and finished strong. Looks like a fourth outfielder with a touch of power. [MIL]
Other Grade C+: Jairo Beras, OF; Lisalverto Bonilla, RHP; Kellin Deglan, C; Leury Garcia, INF; Roman Mendez, RHP.
2013 Draftees: Dustin Peterson, SS [SD], Thomas Milone, OF [TB]
OTHERS: Alec Asher, RHP; Preston Beck, OF; Cory Burns, RHP; Zach Cone, OF; Keone Kela, RHP; Will Lamb, LHP; Kevin Matthews, LHP; Yohander Mendez, LHP; Joe Ortiz, LHP; Victor Payano, LHP; Eduard Pinto, OF; Jose Ramirez, RHP (NYY); Drew Robinson, 3B; Ryan Rodebaugh, RHP; Bryce Stowell, RHP (CLE); Jose Valdespina, RHP; Collin Wiles, RHP; Coty Woods, RHP.
UNRANKED: Jordan Akins, OF; Richard Alvarez, RHP; Mike Bianucchi, OF; Richard Bleier, LHP; Wilfredo Boscan, RHP; Jacob Brigham, RHP; Andrew Carignan, RHP (OAK); Fabio Castillo, RHP; Yefry Castillo, C; Abel De Los Santos, RHP; Ovispo De Los Santos, RHP; Vincent DiFazio, C; Andrew Doyle, RHP; Cody Eppley, RHP; Edwin Escobar, LHP; Kennil Gomez, RHP; Matt Hague, 1B (PIT); Mark Hamburger, RHP; Kyle Hendricks, RHP; Jared Hoying, OF; Brett Jacobson, RHP (MIN); Mike Kirkman, LHP; Luis Marte, SS; Teodoro Martinez, OF; Chris Masters, LHP (ATL); Carlos Melo, RHP; Tommy Mendonca, 3B; Justin Miller, RHP; Dylan Owen, RHP; David Perez, RHP; Zach Phillips, LHP (BAL); David Renfroe, 3B (BOS); Jimmy Reyes, LHP; Josh Richmond, OF; Ben Snyder, LHP; Robert Stock, C (STL); Tomas Telis, C; Matt Thompson, RHP; Braden Tullis, RHP; Jose Vallejo, 2B; Miguel Velazquez, OF; Matt West, RHP; Johan Yan, RHP.
Xander Bogaerts, SS, Grade A: A Grade A prospect who should do everything well except steal bases. Power should steadily increase. Not hype, he is for real. [BOS]
Trevor Bauer, RHP, Grade A-: He needs to improve his control, thus the slight ding in his grade from last year, but I still see him as an elite prospect who can be a number one starter. He has little left to prove in the minors, and my thinking is that he's bright and motivated enough to outgrow any personality conflicts. [CLE]
Matt Smoral, LHP, Grade B-: Big lefty from the 2012 draft, possibly a steal in the supplemental round though we haven't seen him pitch yet due to the broken foot that knocked his stock down. Power southpaw with impressive fastball and slider potential. [TOR]
Jorge Alfaro, C, Grade B-: Grade A tools, Grade C- current skills. Great arm but threw out just 15% of runners. Lots of raw power, but poor contact and plate discipline (16/84 BB/K in 272 at-bats). Turns 20 in June so he is young enough to figure things out, but a perfect example of the high risk/high reward player who could become a star or a Double-A washout.
Nomar Mazara, OF, Grade B-: Bonus baby held his own in AZL at age 17. Also has strikeout issues. Star potential if he can refine it, could move 10 spots up on this list with a strong '13 showing.
Wyatt Mathisen, C, Grade B-: Somewhat raw, especially on defense, but has the tools to stick behind the plate and projects as a solid bat as well. Showed good plate discipline in rookie ball. [PIT]
Brandon Jacobs, OF, Grade C+: At this point, the C+ guys could be listed in just about any order depending on taste. I'll go with Jacobs here, the tools hound who had a disappointing season in High-A but is young enough at age 22 to rebound effectively. Everybody seems to have forgotten about him. [BOS]
C.J. Edwards, RHP, Grade C+: Very high upside arm came out of nowhere to dominate short-season ball, thanks to mechanical refinement and sudden step forward with secondary pitches. Not bad for a previously obscure 48th round pick.
Hanser Alberto, SS, Grade C+: Another product of Texas emphasis on up-the-middle players, would get more attention in another system. Fast, has some pop, good glove. Hit .299/.327/.410 with 24 steals between two levels of A-ball at age 19.
Nick Martinez, RHP, Grade C+: Athletic former shortstop, nice sleeper prospect pointed out to me by Rangers expert Jamey Newberg. Easy to overlook due to 4.83 ERA in Low-A, but component ratios were much better, he's got a live arm, a nice delivery, and secondary stuff is improving.
Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+: Tweener type looked frustrated early in 2012, repeating Triple-A despite having had a good season there in '11, but he turned things around in the second half and finished strong. Looks like a fourth outfielder with a touch of power. [MIL]
Other Grade C+: Jairo Beras, OF; Lisalverto Bonilla, RHP; Kellin Deglan, C; Leury Garcia, INF; Roman Mendez, RHP.
2013 Draftees: Dustin Peterson, SS [SD], Thomas Milone, OF [TB]
OTHERS: Alec Asher, RHP; Preston Beck, OF; Cory Burns, RHP; Zach Cone, OF; Keone Kela, RHP; Will Lamb, LHP; Kevin Matthews, LHP; Yohander Mendez, LHP; Joe Ortiz, LHP; Victor Payano, LHP; Eduard Pinto, OF; Jose Ramirez, RHP (NYY); Drew Robinson, 3B; Ryan Rodebaugh, RHP; Bryce Stowell, RHP (CLE); Jose Valdespina, RHP; Collin Wiles, RHP; Coty Woods, RHP.
UNRANKED: Jordan Akins, OF; Richard Alvarez, RHP; Mike Bianucchi, OF; Richard Bleier, LHP; Wilfredo Boscan, RHP; Jacob Brigham, RHP; Andrew Carignan, RHP (OAK); Fabio Castillo, RHP; Yefry Castillo, C; Abel De Los Santos, RHP; Ovispo De Los Santos, RHP; Vincent DiFazio, C; Andrew Doyle, RHP; Cody Eppley, RHP; Edwin Escobar, LHP; Kennil Gomez, RHP; Matt Hague, 1B (PIT); Mark Hamburger, RHP; Kyle Hendricks, RHP; Jared Hoying, OF; Brett Jacobson, RHP (MIN); Mike Kirkman, LHP; Luis Marte, SS; Teodoro Martinez, OF; Chris Masters, LHP (ATL); Carlos Melo, RHP; Tommy Mendonca, 3B; Justin Miller, RHP; Dylan Owen, RHP; David Perez, RHP; Zach Phillips, LHP (BAL); David Renfroe, 3B (BOS); Jimmy Reyes, LHP; Josh Richmond, OF; Ben Snyder, LHP; Robert Stock, C (STL); Tomas Telis, C; Matt Thompson, RHP; Braden Tullis, RHP; Jose Vallejo, 2B; Miguel Velazquez, OF; Matt West, RHP; Johan Yan, RHP.