Top 20 Rangers PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

by John Sickels on Jul 15, 2006 5:51 PM EDT in News

Top 20 PRE-SEASON Rangers Prospects in Review

This is the PRE-SEASON list. That means it was generated BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED and that the grades were PRE-SEASON. Anyone complaining about the grades based on 2006 performance will be smacked up the side of the head with a Kelly Dransfeldt autographed bat.

1) Eric Hurley, RHP, Grade B+
5-5, 3.87 in 17 starts for Class A Bakersfield, 100/30 K/BB in 95 innings, 85 hits allowed. Doing well, quite overpowering at times, still sharpening up his command within the strike zone.

2) Edinson Volquez, RHP, B+
4-6, 3.32 in 18 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma, 107/63 K/BB in 103 innings, just 73 hits allowed. Control still an issue but making major progress overall.

3) John Danks, LHP, B+
Combined 7-6, 4.23 in 17 starts between Oklahoma and Double-A Frisco, 101/32 K/BB in 89 innings. Still erratic but very promising.

4) Thomas Diamond, RHP, B+
9-4, 3.90 in 19 starts for Frisco, 115/57 K/BB in 95 innings, 76 hits allowed. Like Danks, still somewhat erratic but still very promising.

5) Ian Kinsler, 2B, B
Hitting .327/.390/.551 in 49 games for the Rangers. Doing just fine.

6) Taylor Teagarden, C, B
Out for the year with Tommy John surgery.

7) John Mayberry Jr., OF, B
Hitting .247/.331/.432 with 11 homers for Class A Clinton. Showing some power but overall numbers are not very good for a college guy in the low minors.

8) Joaquin Arias, SS, B-
Hitting .263/.301/.364 with 19 steals in 77 games for Oklahoma. Disappointing, showing speed and athleticism but not much else. Status has slipped but still young.

9) Johnny Whittleman, 3B, B-
Hitting just .228/.327/.366 in 84 games for Clinton. Good strike zone judgment, but overall production has been much less than anticipated. Still very young.

10) Jason Botts, OF-1B, C+
Hitting .312/.370/.604 in 42 games for Oklahoma, but .220/.317/.360 in 20 games for the Rangers. Needs playing time, has nothing left to prove in the minors.

11) Armando Galarraga, RHP, C+
5.49 ERA in nine starts for Frisco, 38/13 K/BB in 41 innings, 56 hits allowed. I never thought he was as good as everyone said, but despite the 5.49 ERA he is showing good control. Innings limited thus far by elbow problem.

12) Michael Schlact, RHP, C+
5.59 ERA in 18 starts for Bakersfield, 3-9 record, 54/42 K/BB in 97 innings, 122 hits allowed. All numbers are mediocre or worse. Status slipping.

13) Travis Metcalf, 3B, C+
Hitting .205/.284/.296 in 84 games for Frisco. Swing might be "too long" to succeed at this level.

14) Vince Sinisi, 1B, C+
Traded to San Diego. Hitting a combined .258/.330/.342 between Frisco, Oklahoma, and Double-A Mobile. Just one homer in 89 games. Lack of power a major issue and will likely preclude him from having a significant major league career unless it improves.

15) Michael Kirkman, LHP, C+
11.05 ERA in 29 innings combined between Clinton and Arizona League Rangers. 47 walks in those 29 innings. Blech!

16) Wes Littleton, RHP, C
Combined 1.23 ERA between Oklahoma and Frisco, 40/12 K/BB in 44 innings. Ready to help in the Rangers pen I think.

17) Mike Nickeas, C, C
Combined .262/.380/.352 in 38 games between Bakersfield and Frisco. Will need to show more pop than that to get a chance.

18) Marshall McDougall, 3B, C
Limited to just 14 at-bats by injuries. Was released at the end of June.

19) Omar Beltre, RHP, C
Pitching in the Dominican Summer League, 0.77 ERA in five games so far. Sample and level too low to mean much at this point.

20) Anthony Webster, OF, C
Hitting combined .298/.352/.435 in 79 games between Frisco and Oklahoma. Having a good year and proving that his A-ball numbers were not a total fluke.

Comment:
I've gone back-and-forth about the DVD trio for over a year, but all three seem to be doing OK right now, Volquez and Danks in particular. Hurley is still quite promising as well. It is good to see Kinsler doing well, but my doubts are growing about Arias. The system needs more depth, but they're making progress.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Pitchers

That has to be the best pitching foursome in any organization. They were all rated B+ coming into the season and are all producing at or above that level this season.

by rwperu34 on Jul 15, 2006 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

where does haigwood fit into this organization?

he was recently aquired in a trade with philly, and i am interested as to what people think he will end up doing. his numbers have exceeded his stuff at almost every stop he has been at. he doesn;t have great splits against lefties, so i wouldn't expect him to become a loogy. he was traded for a fairly high ceiling bullpen arm, so i doubt that the plan would be to move him to the bullpen in any capacity.

looking at the ranger's pitching situation, millwood is signed longterm and loe is ranger property for a good amount of time. are adam eaton and vicente padilla both eligible for arbitration after this season? that is 4/5 starters. with the dvd trio also performing well, where does that leave haigwood in the organization?

by overlord on Jul 15, 2006 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Freeeeeeee

Both Eaton and Padilla are free agents at the end of this year.

When you take into account that Koronka, Rheinaker, and Loe aren't that good, I would imagine you have up to four openings in the Rangers rotation next year. Maybe you bring some of the young guys along as relievers to start out, but surely all five will get their shot at a rotation spot within the next three years...unless someone gets traded.

by rwperu34 on Jul 16, 2006 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions

My guess is

one of either Eaton or Padilla will re-sign.

I also expect the Rangers to go out and get someone in free agency this year (Lilly, Mulder, Pettie, Armas, ect...).

In my mind that leaves 2 spots at the back of the rotation for Koronka, Rheinacker, Loe, Wasdin (yuck!), Rupe, Volquez and Danks to compete for.

I agree that the HDVD quartet plus probably Haigwood will all get a shot at the rotation within the next 3 years, but I don't think any of them will make the '07 rotation coming out of spring. (Volquez would have the best shot at that, IMO.)

"When you can hit, you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young.

by thedirkatron on Jul 16, 2006 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Fox Mulder

I think Mulder could be a good signing by the Rangers, he's a fast worker and at least while he was with the A's he did a good job of keeping the ball on the ground. Sounds like it would be a good fit for them but it would be tough to seem him pitching in the west again and facing the A's.

Waiting for Travis Buck

by Furious George on Jul 16, 2006 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

mulder?

Mulder has been overrated for years now and his true skills are the ones on display this year. He is done as an effective pitcher, but some dumb team will probably shell out a ton of cash for him.

by Team Moneyball on Jul 16, 2006 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

not really surprised about arias

never showed any power or PD as a Yankee farmhand and hasnt since then either. completely dependent on avg and speed

by PooNani on Jul 15, 2006 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

is it

"Edison", or "Edinson"???

and boom goes the dynamite.

by Mean Dean on Jul 16, 2006 1:44 AM EDT reply actions

Edinson

"When you can hit, you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young.

by thedirkatron on Jul 16, 2006 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah

It's Edinson

John,
I think the assessment of Danks as "erratic" is a little off. He was just really bad early on, but for the last two months, he's been damn good.

by jeromechef on Jul 16, 2006 3:56 AM EDT reply actions

So far...

We've had some dissapointments this year on the prospect front, especially in the middle rungs of the system.

Mayberry, Whittleman, and Schlact have woefully underperformed.

Teagarden, Gallaraga, and Christian Santana have all been injured, and, though an injury does stunt developement time, there's still hope for them if they recover fully.

Arias is... well, he's still Joaquin Arias. I'm still a huge supporter of the Joaquin Machine, and I'm giving him a whole year in AAA before I'll even think of downgrading him in my mind.

But the HDVD trio have all stayed healthy and each has progressed at least some. That's a HUGE plus for the system. These 4 guys are our next big hope, and for them to all stay healthy and avoid regression is excellent for the system.

Also, guys not listed here who have been added to our system and/or made major leap forward in my mind include: Johan Yan, Omar Poveda, Tug Hulett (who I have a disgusting man-crush on), Daniel Haigwood, Kasey Kiker, and Chad Tracy.

The system is not in bad shape at all, IMO. There's always a lot of volatility in the middle rung of prospects, and so long as new guys are rising up to fill those gaps and the big guys stay on course, we'll be fine.

"When you can hit, you can hit, and he can hit." -Tom Grieve on Michael Young.

by thedirkatron on Jul 16, 2006 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

Prospects

Working in Frisco this summer I've been able to see alot Ranger prospects. Some I like while others might be a bit hyped.

Danks: I saw him for about 6 weeks before he got promoted to OKC. One start he would be lights out and the next start have no control. So like John said he is erratic despite good numbers.

Diamond: Like John said he's erratic but I think he'll turn out ok.

Galarraga: I haven't seen him throw since he's been injured but he's a nice guy to talk to.

Metcalf: He's struggled until this last homestand. Looks like he's beginning to pull himself out of a season long slump.

Nickeas: He's really struggled with the bat in Frisco. Hitting around .200

One guy I like is Kevin Richardson. He's old for the Texas League but plays good defense and has some pop in his bat. I could see him in a reserve role up in Arlington.

Jesse Chavez has a power arm coming out of the pen and if he finds consistant command of his pitches, he would work well as a set up man.

by valpoguy7772 on Jul 17, 2006 2:31 AM EDT reply actions