Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2013 (3) | 2012 (2) | 2011 (15) | 2010 (2) | 2009 (1)
2013 Affiliate Records
MLB: [91-72] AL West
AAA: [73-71] Pacific Coast League – Round Rock
AA: [70-70] Texas League – Frisco
A+: [77-62] Carolina League – Myrtle Beach
A: [76-63] South Atlantic League – Hickory
A(ss): [38-38] Northwest League — Spokane
Graduated Prospects
Leonys Martin (OF); Jurickson Profar (INF); Martin Perez (LHP); Nick Tepesch (RHP); Tanner Scheppers (RHP)
The Run Down
The fact that the Rangers can graduate Jurickson Profar, Leonys Martin, and Martin Perez all in the same summer, and return the next spring with a farm system that continues to rank among the best in baseball should speak volumes about the savvy of the organization’s procurement and development systems. Texas is heavily involved of all aspects of baseball development, and the top ten I’ve listed here features prospects who were drafted, signed out of Latin America, or acquired via trade. The mix of talent as a whole is oozing with high-impact potential, and while this group brings perhaps a smidge more risk than other orgs near the top of the league, it still needs to be considered among the top tier of fantasy farms.
Top Ten Fantasy Prospects
1. Nick Williams, OF: This system is chock full of potential fantasy beasts, and truthfully, there are arguments to be made for Rougned Odor or Jorge Alfaro to headline this list. But in a group of prospects, each of whom carries loud impact tools, I’ve settled on he who boasts the loudest tools for the top spot: Outfielder, Nick Williams. In his first year of full-season ball, the 20-year-old showed a little bit of everything, batting .293/.337/.543 with 48 XBH (17 HR) and 8 SB in 440 PA with Low-A Hickory. If everything comes together, this could be an Andrew McCutchen-type producer. ETA: 2016
2. Rougned Odor, 2B: Odor brings an all around offensive skill set that will surely make him a highly coveted MI asset in the fantasy game. There’s 20 HR power potential, there’s 30 SB potential, and there’s significant upside in the AVG department. His 2013 line provided a glimpse: .303/.362/.472, 58 XBH (11 HR), 31 SB through 565 PA between High-A and Double-A. If I’m ranking 2B prospects, I give the top spot to Kolten Wong given his advanced state of development, but if we’re looking only at upside, Odor takes the cake. ETA: Late 2014
3. Jorge Alfaro, C: I wrote 550 words on Alfaro back in September. Click here for that post. He’s the best catcher prospect in the game for fantasy purposes, so read it… if you’re into that sort of thing. ETA: 2015
4. Michael Choice, OF: Choice arrived in the Texas org this offseason via trade with Oakland. He was still with the Athletics when I wrote their MiLB preview, and in it, I had this to say: “At age 24, there’s not much left for Choice to prove in the minors. A consistent producer with 20 HR potential and enough stick to hit north of .300, Choice is ready for an extended look with the big club. He’ll have to compete for playing time in a crowded Oakland outfield, but he should begin the season on the major league roster.” The scenery has changed, but the opportunity has not. Choice looks primed to begin 2014 as the Rangers’ fourth outfielder. ETA: 2014
5. Joey Gallo, 3B: Joey Gallo punishes baseballs. More specifically, he punishes fastballs. The 20-year-0ld masher swings through off-speed stuff at an alarming rate, but when you throw him cheese, he sends it over the wall — 40 homers in 2013 at Low-A Hickory. Gallo’s 37% whiff rate doesn’t bode well, but if he can make progress on that end, the power production could reach an otherworldly dimension. He’ll step up to High-A in 2014, with a chance to reach the upper levels before year’s end. ETA: 2016
6. Lewis Brinson, OF: As much as Gallo whiffs, Brinson does so even more. The 19-year-old struck out at a 38% clip in 2013, but still managed to knock 21 homers and swipe 24 bags at Low-A Hickory. Brinson is tooled-up with speed, pop, and plenty of swagger, and the fantasy upside is of the extreme high-impact variety. Still, there are adjustments to be made before that upside can be attained. ETA: 2016
7. Nomar Mazara, OF: When the MiLB season opened last spring, Mazara, age 17 at the time, was assigned to Low-A Hickory for a full-season gig. The Rangers took an aggressive cousre with the toolsy outfielder, and it resulted in an unspectacular line: .236/.310/.382, 13 HR. Scouting reports on Mazara, however, remain glowing. Evaluators still project a plus hit tool and big time long-term power. Those of us who play in dynasty leagues do a lot of box score scouting, but in this case, it’d be wise to pay attention to what the talent scouts are saying. Look for Mazara to repeat Low-A in 2014. ETA: 2017
8. Alex Gonzalez, RHP: A pitcher! Gonzalez would rank considerably higher in a different org, but from a fantasy perspective, it’s tough to slot him ahead of any upside bat listed above. Regardless, Gonzalez made 14 starts in 2013, posting a 3.80/1.43/35 line in 42 IP between Spokane and Myrtle Beach. The 22-year-old out of Oral Roberts University is ready for upper levels baseball, and he should get the bump to Double-A when camp breaks this spring. The long-term outlook has him looking like a mid-rotation starter, but there’s potential in his arsenal (FB/SL/CH) to exceed that projection. ETA: 2015
9. Luke Jackson, RHP: Judging by stuff alone, I like Jackson more than Gonzalez, but inability to harness his impressive FB/CB/CH repertoire has evaluators pegging him for a bullpen. For now, the Rangers will continue to develop the 22-year-old as a starter. Jackson will get 2014 started at Double-A, and if he finds more consistency in spotting his pitches, he’ll be a hot topic in prospect chatter this summer. ETA: 2015
10. Luis Sardinas, SS: Sardinas shows great range, hands, and arm at short, and while those skills have him projecting nicely as a big league prospect, they don’t do much for us in the fantasy game. Not to imply that the 20-year-old doesn’t offer potential on the offensive side of things — he hit .288/.342/.348 with 32 stolen bases in 125 games between High-A and Double-A in 2013. Sardinas will return to Double-A to begin 2014. ETA: 2015
2013 Texas Rangers MiLB Preview
