Background: The Rangers No. 2 prospect last year after reaching Double-A as a 19-year-old, King struggled offensively in 1998. His season ended prematurely because of a right thumb injury. Strengths: King has outstanding hands behind the plate, a release that is regularly in the 1.8-1.9 second range and exceptionally quick feet. The Rangers give him high praise for his maturity in handling a game, and they point to the improvements made by the Tulsa pitching staff as a product of his work. Weaknesses: King is a front-foot contact hitter who doesn't take advantage of his natural strength and hand quickness at the plate. The Rangers also are concerned with his weight, and they placed him on a supervised conditioning program this winter. The Future: In retrospect, too much may have been expected out of the young catcher in 1998 at Double-A. His offensive struggles last year may be a blessing though as it will give the Rangers more time to develop him as Rodriguez' eventual successor.
Top 100 Rankings
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone