MiLB Top 10 Prospects Flashback: 1998 Texas League

No Minor League Top 10 Prospects ranking in BA history has produced more value, as measured by WAR, than the Texas League class of 1998. Among its top 10 were five future all-star position players, plus Freddy Garcia, the ace of the 2001 Mariners, the winningest team in history.  

1998 Texas League Top 10 Prospects

No	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1	Adrian Beltre	3B	San Antonio	Dodgers	12,130	84.1
2	Troy Glaus	3B	Midland	Angels	6,355	34.3
3	J.D. Drew	OF	Arkansas	Cardinals	6,153	46
4	Freddy Garcia	RHP	Jackson	Astros	2,264	38.1
5	Carlos Beltran	OF	Wichita	Royals	11,031	67.9
6	Ruben Mateo	OF	Tulsa	Rangers	951	-1.6
7	Angel Pena	C	San Antonio	Dodgers	206	0.1
8	Carlos Febles	2B	Wichita	Royals	1,892	0.8
9	Peter Bergeron	OF	San Antonio	Dodgers	1,256	-4
10	Lance Berkman	OF	Jackson	Astros	7,814	55.9

Adrian Beltre (No. 1) spent half the season in the Texas League, hitting .321 with 13 homers in 64 games, and the other half in the big leagues as a 19-year-old. “He can do just about everything,” one manager said. Curiously, Beltre’s fielding at third base was viewed as his “weakest area” at the time; he went on to win five Gold Gloves in 21 big league seasons.

Troy Glaus (No. 2), the third overall pick in 1997, was in Anaheim by the end of 1998. In the Texas League, he showed “above-average power,” and “good mobility and arm strength.”

J.D. Drew (No. 3) made his affiliated debut in the Texas League, where he was viewed as the “complete package,” before moving quickly to Triple-A after 19 games on his way to St. Louis. Drew was lauded for “his compact swing, his speed, his arm and his effortless defense.”

Carlos Beltran (No. 5) showed “the physical tools to be a superstar.” His five-tool ability was on display, including a “nice arm, good speed and a quick, powerful bat.”

Lance Berkman’s (No. 10) bat was regarded as “something special” by his general manager. In the TL he “showed power from both sides of the plate” but not much defensive acumen.

Freddy Garcia (No. 4) was regarded as a “classic power pitcher” who hit 98 mph. The Astros traded him to Seattle for Randy Johnson during the 1998 season. “He’s got a good hook and a very live fastball,” one manager reported. “The only thing holding him back is his command.”   

Texas League All-Time BA No. 1 Prospects

Players listed with career major league plate appearances/innings and FanGraphs WAR. Stats for active players current through mid August.

Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1981	Steve Sax	2B	San Antonio	Dodgers	7,632	22.6
1982	Darryl Strawberry	OF	Jackson	Mets	6,326	41.5
1983	Sid Fernandez	LHP	San Antonio	Dodgers	1,867	34.3
1984	Calvin Schiraldi	RHP	Jackson	Mets	553	2.5
1985	Juan Nieves	LHP	El Paso	Brewers	491	2.6
1986	Shawn Hillegas	RHP	San Antonio	Dodgers	515	0.8
1987	Gregg Jefferies	3B/SS	Jackson	Mets	6,072	20.2
1988	Ramon Martinez	RHP	San Antonio	Dodgers	1,896	24.6
1989	Ray Lankford	OF	Arkansas	Cardinals	6,675	39.8
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
1990	Anthony Young	RHP	Jackson	Mets	460	1.7
1991	Ivan Rodriguez	C	Tulsa	Rangers	10,270	69.2
1992	Raul Mondesi	OF	San Antonio	Dodgers	6,369	26.5
1993	Ben Van Ryn	LHP	San Antonio	Dodgers	16	-0.2
1994	Darren Dreifort	RHP	San Antonio	Dodgers	873	6.0
1995	Johnny Damon	OF	Wichita	Royals	10,917	44.4
1996	Paul Konerko	1B	San Antonio	Dodgers	9,505	24.0
1997	Fernando Tatis	3B	Tulsa	Rangers	3,468	6.8
1998	Adrian Beltre	3B	San Antonio	Dodgers	12,130	84.1
1999	Rick Ankiel	LHP	Arkansas	Cardinals	242	4.3
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2000	Roy Oswalt	RHP	Round Rock	Astros	2,245	53.9
2001	Hank Blalock	3B	Tulsa	Rangers	3,928	9.2
2002	Mark Teixeira	3B	Tulsa	Rangers	8,029	44.7
2003	Chin-Hui Tsao	RHP	Tulsa	Rockies	97	-0.3
2004	Felix Hernandez	RHP	San Antonio	Mariners	2,730	56.9
2005	Howie Kendrick	2B	Arkansas	Angels	6,375	31.1
2006	Alex Gordon	3B	Wichita	Royals	7,142	32.0
2007	Colby Rasmus	OF	Springfield	Cardinals	4,119	18.4
2008	Dexter Fowler	OF	Tulsa	Rockies	5,819	21.2
2009	Mat Latos	RHP	San Antonio	Padres	1,153	16.7
Year	Player	Pos	Team	Org	PA/IP	WAR
2010	Mike Moustakas	3B	Northwest Arkansas	Royals	4,571	16.3
2011	Mike Trout	OF	Arkansas	Angels	5,372	74.4
2012	Jurickson Profar	SS	Frisco	Rangers	1,924	4.2
2013	George Springer	OF	Corpus Christi	Astros	3,433	25.1
2014	Joey Gallo	3B	Frisco	Rangers	1,655	9.5
2015	Julio Urias	LHP	Tulsa	Dodgers	207	3.9
2016	Alex Bregman	SS/3B	Corpus Christi	Astros	2,345	21.1
2017	Walker Buehler	RHP	Tulsa	Dodgers	348	7.8
2018	Fernando Tatis Jr.	SS	San Antonio	Padres	3,468	6.8
2019	Gavin Lux	SS	Tulsa	Dodgers	82	0.2