Texas Rangers

By Aaron Fitt
December 8, 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, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Neftali Feliz, rhp 2. Derek Holland, lhp 3. Justin Smoak, 1b 4. Elvis Andrus, ss 5. Martin Perez, lhp 6. Taylor Teagarden, c 7. Engel Beltre, of 8. Michael Main, rhp 9. Julio Borbon, of 10. Max Ramirez, c/1b

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Max Ramirez Best Power Hitter Justin Smoak Best Strike-Zone Discipline Justin Smoak Fastest Baserunner Greg Golson Best Athlete Greg Golson Best Fastball Neftali Feliz Best Curveball Martin Perez Best Slider Warner Madrigal Best Changeup Derek Holland Best Control Derek Holland Best Defensive Catcher Taylor Teagarden Best Defensive Infielder Elvis Andrus Best Infield Arm Elvis Andrus Best Defensive Outfielder David Paisano Best Outfield Arm Greg Golson

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Taylor Teagarden First Base Justin Smoak Second Base Ian Kinsler Third Base Michael Young Shortstop Elvis Andrus Left Field Julio Borbon Center Field Engel Beltre Right Field Josh Hamilton Designated Hitter Chris Davis No. 1 Starter Neftali Feliz No. 2 Starter Derek Holland No. 3 Starter Martin Perez No. 4 Starter Michael Main No. 5 Starter Matt Harrison Closer Blake Beavan

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Ruben Mateo, of Newark (Atlantic 2000 Ruben Mateo, of Newark (Atlantic 2001 Carlos Pena, 1b Rays 2002 Hank Blalock, 3b Rangers 2003 Mark Teixeira, 1b Angels 2004 Adrian Gonzalez, 1b Padres 2005 Thomas Diamond, rhp Rangers 2006 Edinson Volquez, rhp Reds 2007 John Danks, lhp White Sox 2008 Elvis Andrus, ss Rangers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Colby Lewis, rhp (1st supp.) Japan 2000 Scott Heard, c Out of baseball 2001 Mark Teixeira, 1b Angels 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 2008 Justin Smoak, 1b Rangers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mark Teixeira, 2001 $4,500,000 Justin Smoak, 2008 $3,500,000 John Danks, 2003 $2,100,000 Vincent Sinisi, 2003 $2,070,000 Thomas Diamond, 2004 $2,025,000

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Though the Rangers missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, 2008 was a success in the broader context of the franchise's long-term vision. Texas remained steadfast in its dedication to rebuilding through scouting and player development, a commitment the organization embraced just before the 2007 trading deadline, when general manager Jon Daniels traded superstar Mark Teixeira and lefthander Ron Mahay to the Braves for a five-player ransom.

That blockbuster looked good for the Rangers at the time, and it looks even better now. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and lefty Matt Harrison are poised to become big league regulars after spending large chunks of 2008 in Arlington. Precocious Elvis Andrus performed well beyond his years in Double-A and looks like a franchise shortstop in the making. And best of all, flamethrowing righty Neftali Feliz established himself as one of the best pitching prospects in the minors, rocketing from short-season ball in 2007 to Double-A by the second half of 2008.

Joining Feliz in that ascent to Double-A and to the ranks of elite prospects was lefthander Derek Holland, who saw his velocity spike into the upper 90s by season's end. That duo, combined with the emergence of young Latin American hurlers like Martin Perez, Wilfredo Boscan and Kennil Gomez and the continued steady development of recent first-round picks Michael Main, Blake Beavan and Kasey Kiker gives Texas its deepest stable of high-end pitching prospects ever.

The Rangers also are rich with quality catching, a rare luxury. Saltalamacchia, Gerald Laird, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez present a catching logjam at the top of the system, while Manuel Pina, Jose Felix, Leonel de los Santos and Tomas Telis offer depth at lower levels. The organization also is stocked with premium athletes (such as outfielders Julio Borbon and Engel Beltre and middle infielders Andrus, Jose Vallejo and Joaquin Arias) and power bats (including first basemen Justin Smoak and Mitch Moreland). Smoak was the first-round pick in Texas' 2008 draft crop, which Baseball America rated No. 1 in the game.

With all that impact talent and depth, it's easy to see why many talent evaluators regard the system as the best in baseball.

Even newly installed team president Nolan Ryan is focused on the farm, instituting new organization-wide policies aimed at developing power pitchers. Specifically, Rangers pitching prospects will throw more live batting practice, do more sprinting, and work with expanded pitch counts in certain situations. Ryan also wants to instill an attitude of fearlessness among the pitchers to prepare them for the challenge of working in hitter-friendly Arlington.

All the hullaballoo over player development overshadowed the 79-83 major league club, but there were encouraging developments at that level as well. Acquired for Edinson Volquez from the Reds in a trade that was a boon for both teams, Josh Hamilton hit .304 with 32 home runs and an American League-leading 130 RBIs while emerging as the face of the Rangers franchise. Rookies Chris Davis and David Murphy combined to slug 32 home runs, and Ian Kinsler turned in an all-star campaign at second base. The Rangers led the majors in scoring (901 runs) but also posted the worst ERA (5.97) in baseball.

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