By Aaron Fitt
February 3, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)
Rangers Chat  Aaron Fitt	Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Elvis Andruz, ss 2. Chris Davis, 3b 3. Eric Hurley, rhp 4. Taylor Teagarden, c 5. Neftali Feliz, rhp 6. Michael Main, rhp 7. Kasey Kiker, lhp 8. Blake Beavan, rhp 9. Julio Borbon, of 10. Engel Beltre, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average German Duran Best Power Hitter Chris Davis Best Strike-Zone Discipline Johnny Whittleman Fastest Baserunner Jose Vallejo Best Athlete Michael Main Best Fastball Neftali Feliz Best Curveball Neil Ramirez Best Slider Eric Hurley Best Changeup Kasey Kiker Best Control Matt Harrison Best Defensive Catcher Taylor Teagarden Best Defensive Infielder Elvis Andrus Best Infield Arm Elvis Andrus Best Defensive Outfielder Julio Borbon Best Outfield Arm Engel Beltre

PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP

Catcher Taylor Teagarden First Base Jarrod Saltalamacchia Second Base Michael Young Third Base Chris Davis Shortstop Elvis Andrus Left Field Engel Beltre Center Field Julio Borbon Right Field Josh Hamilton Designated Hitter Ian Kinsler No. 1 Starter Eric Hurley No. 2 Starter Neftali Feliz No. 3 Starter Michael Main No. 4 Starter Blake Beavan No. 5 Starter Brandon McCarthy Closer Kasey Kiker

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Ruben Mateo, of Brewers 1999 Ruben Mateo, of Brewers 2000 Ruben Mateo, of Brewers 2001 Carlos Pena, 1b Rays 2002 Hank Blalock, 3b Rangers 2003 Mark Teixeira, 3b Braves 2004 Adrian Gonzalez, 1b Padres 2005 Thomas Diamond, rhp Rangers 2006 Edinson Volquez, rhp Rangers 2007 John Danks, lhp White Sox

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2007 1998 Carlos Pena, 1b Rays 1999 Colby Lewis, rhp Athletics 2000 Scott Heard, c Out of baseball 2001 Mark Teixeira, 3b Braves 2002 Drew Meyer, ss Rangers 2003 John Danks, lhp White Sox 2004 Thomas Diamond, rhp Rangers 2005 John Mayberry Jr., of Rangers 2006 Kasey Kiker, lhp Rangers 2007 Blake Beavan, rhp Rangers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mark Teixeira, 2001 $4,500,000 John Danks, 2003 $2,100,000 Vicent Sinsi, 2003 $2,070,000 Thomas Diamond, 2004 $2,025,000 Drew Meyer, 2002 $1,875,000

RANGERS LINKS

Rangers' Team Page Rangers Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Rangers Top 10 Prospects 2007 Draft: Rangers (Basic Database) 2007 Draft: Rangers  (Advanced Database) 2007 Draft Report Cards: American League Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook

As it became apparent the Rangers were going to miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season in 2007, second-year general manager Jon Daniels faced some tough decisions, and he ultimately embraced a true commitment to rebuilding the organization from the ground up.

Texas limped out of the gates under first-year manager Ron Washington, finding itself in last place and 51⁄2 games back of the first-place Angels by the end of April. By the end of May, the Rangers trailed by 131⁄2 games, and when the deficit had stretched to 161⁄2 games by the end of June, Daniels had little choice but to look toward the future.

That meant trading franchise cornerstone Mark Teixeira to maximize the return for a player who faces free agency after the 2008 season. He did just that by shipping Teixeira to the Braves along with lefthander Ron Mahay for a bounty of five highly regarded prospects: catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Elvis Andrus, righthander Neftali Feliz and lefties Matt Harrison and Beau Jones.

Texas went even further by moving Eric Gagne and Kenny Lofton to the Red Sox and Indians, bringing back more prospects in outfielders Engel Beltre and David Murphy and catcher Max Ramirez, plus a young big league lefty in Kason Gabbard.

Those three deals highlighted the dramatic overhaul of the farm system, and what had been one of baseball's thinnest organization's is now one of its most talented.

The system's transformation was augmented by strong work in the draft by scouting director Ron Hopkins and his staff. The Rangers had five picks before the second round, which they used on a trio of high-upside prep righthanders (Blake Beavan, Michael Main and Neil Ramirez), a safe college righty (Tommy Hunter) and a college center fielder who could be the team's leadoff man of the future (Julio Borbon). And as usual, the Rangers were active in the Latin American market under international scouting director A.J. Preller, landing a solid crop led by Venezuelan lefthander Martin Perez.

The net result is greatly improved minor league depth, particularly on the mound. Developing impact pitchers long has been a challenge for the Rangers, whose 4.75 major league team ERA ranked 24th in baseball in 2007. Now a majority of their top prospects are pitchers, giving some reason for optimism. However, much of the high-ceiling talent remains in the lower levels of the minors, so it will take another couple of years before the Rangers will start seeing dividends in Arlington.

The Rangers expect to continue their rebuilding process in 2008, field a competitive team by 2009 and make a serious playoff run in 2010. In addition to the foundation in the farm system, Texas has whom it regards as a few core players to build around at the big league level, including outfielder Josh Hamilton (brought over in an offseason trade with the Reds for righthander Edinson Volquez), second baseman Ian Kinsler, righthander Brandon McCarthy, Saltalamacchia and shortstop Michael Young. The most significant major league bright spot from a gloomy 2007, Young recorded his fifth straight 200-hit season. Since 1940, only Young, Wade Boggs and Ichiro Suzuki have accomplished that feat.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team