Toolsy, middle infielders are thick as thieves in this system. Between Jurickson Profar (SS), Leury Garcia (SS), Luis Sardinas (SS), Rougned Odor (2B), Hanser Alberto (SS), it’s quite possible this is the reason the big club is considering moving Ian Kinsler off second base with Profar knocking on the door and if the others continue to develop making it easier to replace Elvis Andrus at SS if they are unable to sign him in two years. Overall, this is a system going through a transitional phase, but the upside of talent is still one of the best in the game. -Dave England
Below are our top 16 prospects with 2013 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Jurickson Profar (20-SS) | The best position prospect in the game and he can do it all. He can hit, run, play defense, and could develop above-average power. His work ethic and makeup are great and there is little doubt that he will become a star in the Majors. -Jonathan C. Mitchell |
| 2 | Mike Olt (24-3B) | Olt has plus power and is a near plus defender at third base. He shows good patience at the plate and the ability to hit for average is there if he can cut down on the strike outs a bit. He is ready for the Majors but is blocked by a potential hall-of-famer in Adrian Beltre. I would like to see him traded because his glove at third is too good to be wasted at first. -JCM |
| 3 | Leonys Martin (25-OF) | Martin has spent a majority of the last two years at AAA with some cups of coffee at the big league level but he has yet to stick in a starting role thanks to a crowded outfield. With Hamilton no longer in the picture Martin should be the Rangers opening day center fielder. He is an above average runner with good defensive tools and the stuff to be an above average center fielder. He has a plus hit tool with a good approach at the plate and above average raw power. Martin profiles as an ideal leadoff hitter and I think we’ll here his name come around in rookie of the year voting this year. -Michael Schwartze |
| 4 | Martin Perez (22-LHP) | There was a lot of debate around Perez regarding whether he should be ahead or behind Buckel on this list but we ended up pacing the high ceiling lefty ahead at number 4 overall. Perez has put together back to back disappointing years at AAA and didn’t impress many people in his short stint with the Rangers last year but he is still only 21 and the potential is still there. He brings a plus fastball sitting in the mid 90s with nice sink and one of the best change-ups in the minors. Perez has number two potential but he’ll really need to work on developing his breaking ball if he wants to reach his potential and make it as a starter at the big league level. -MS |
| 5 | Cody Buckel (20-RHP) | Reminds me of Jeremy Hellickson with less of a change-up. Buckel throws five pitches (2-seam, 4-seam, change, curveball, cutter/slider) and all are at least average and throws them all for strikes. Like Hellickson, he is an undersized right-hander who does not overpower hitters but goes after them and has an advanced approach to pitching. Buckel may not have the ceiling that Perez has but I feel confident saying his floor is that of a back-end Major League starter. -JCM. Interview. |
| 6 | Rougned Odor (19-2B) | Odor really took off this last season and his game took huge strides forward. Odor has strong, muscular build and is a good athlete. He is a slick fielder and plays above-average defense at second. He has above average power for a second baseman and he should hit for a solid average at the next level. Odor has exciting potential and we could see him closer to the top of this list next season. -MS |
| 7 | Luke Jackson (21-RHP) | Jackson features a live fastball and developing breaking pitches. His awkward over-the-top delivery puts stress on his arm, but the trade-off is that he generates natural sink on the pitch because of this arm movement. He could develop into a back-end type in that he may never be particularly durable, but will be effective when on the mound. Still an interesting prospect none-the-less. -Spencer Schneier |
| 8 | Justin Grimm (24-RHP) | Grimm was a fifth-round pick in 2010. He’ll be 25 in August and is four years older than Buckel but upside is higher, could be number three starter with greater consistency to go with 90-94 heat. Great arm action, powerful breaking pitch and willingness to receive instruction. The team called him up last season to make two spot starts as injuries took their toll. He had one good start against the Astros and a poor one against the Tigers. Unless the Rangers sign another starter, he will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation to hold down until Colby Lewis comes back. -Dave England |
| 9 | Jorge Alfaro (19-C) | Jorge Alfaro has one of the highest ceilings in the entire system but his game is very raw. He has a big strong durable body and the potential to be a good defender behind the plate at the next level with a plus arm to go with. He has plus-plus raw power potential to all parts of the field but he’ll really have to work on his approach at the plate to reach his potential. Alfaro could be one of the best prospects in the game in a year or two and he’s a defiantly a name to keep your eye on if you are not already. -MS |
| 10 | Joey Gallo (19-3B) | Joey Gallo had arguably the best raw power in the 2012 draft and he got off to a great start in his professional career. He went on to hit 22 home runs in just 260 plate appearances between rookie ball and short-season. Gallo is very raw at the plate but his 80 grade power and plus arm are tantalizing. Gallo will really have to work on his swing and improve his contact at the plate if he wants to reach his potential. -MS |
| 11 | Luis Sardinas (19-SS) | At only 20 he will start in High-A in 2013. Very fast, great defensive tools, elite range. Hit .291 in Low-A last season and stole 32 bases. At the plate, a switch hitter with quick hands. Very fast but still growing into his frame, likely not to lose any speed when that happens. By the end of 2013, he could be in Double-A and just maybe in Texas sometime in 2014. One knock is his health, but if he can stay healthy, Sardinas has the combination of tools and skills to move quickly through the system. -DE |
| 12 | Wilmer Font (22-RHP) | Font has a plus fastball to go with a change-up that flashes above-average and a breaking ball that is still too inconsistent to grade as average. His lack of command and third pitch will likely keep him in the bullpen role he has pitched out of since last July but he has the chance to a high-leverage reliever and should spend a lot of time in Texas this year. -JCM |
| 13 | Ronald Guzman (18-1B/OF) | Signed for over $3M at age 16 thanks to his effortless swing that generates good bat speed and potential for plus power. At age 17 he hit .321/.374/.434 in his pro debut. He is limited to LF or 1B due to a weak arm and lack of speed but he was signed for that bat that, if it reaches it’s ceiling, can play anywhere on the diamond. -JCM |
| 14 | Lewis Brinson (18-OF) | Brinson is a plus defender with plus speed who should stay in center and actually beat Buxton in the Underarmor Games HR derby. He shows solid patience but needs to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline. -JCM |
| 15 | Neil Ramirez (23-RHP) | After a horrendous start in AAA (7.66 ERA 5.11 FIP) he was sent back down to AA where he improved, still showing the solid fastball/breaking ball combo, but lacked command and a third pitch. He will be given every opportunity to bounce back in 2013 but time is running out on him becoming that potential third starter. -JCM |
| 16 | Leury Garcia (22-SS) | In winter ball this year he played, SS, 2B, 3B, RF, and CF. At only 21 he has potential to be a super-utility player at the big league level. Garcia has standout defensive tools across the board, and tremendous arm strength. Speed-and-defense type. He could play shortstop and center field off the bench, and bring a lot of value and flexibility to a championship-level roster. Could be late 2013 call up to come off the bench. If not, I’m betting he’ll be around in 2014. -DE |
A few more: Nomar Mazara (OF), Jairo Beras (OF), Nick Williams (OF)
Be sure to follow @Mike_Schwartze, @FigureFilbert, @HistorianAndrew @JuniusWorth and @BaseballSpencer on Twitter, all of whom collaborated to put together these rankings.
