Well let me look into my crystal ball and tell you exactly what will happen in the future. If I, or anyone else, could predict that, we’d be rich. Future closers (if that’s what happens to Beavan) don’t impress me, nor do back-of-the rotation guys (Kiker).

Why will Main and Holland be All-Stars?

Why will Feliz not live up to his potential?

You can’t just say random things and then not back them up……

Kiker will end up in the back of the pen.

If Feliz doesn’t figure it out as a starter, he will make a great closer… He may even start off in the pen, post All-Star break 09’.

Could be the best of the bunch. 17 year old who pitched last season in the Northwest League against competition generally half a decade older than him. Has a fastball that sits 91-93 and he can dial it up to 95. A nice curve he can drop in for strikes almost at will which was rated the best curveball in the NWL. And a change that he is getting used to tat shows flashes of being a plus pitch.

I wouldn’t be suprised to see him split time next year between High and Low A. Rangers front office personnel have said he has the highest ceiling of any prospect in the system.

Also Wilfredo Boscan. 18 years old who pitched alongside Perez in the NWL last year with impeccable control and simply does not allow flyballs (which would be a godsend in the Rangers ballpark).

Then there are guys like Neil Ramirez, Wilmer Font, Carlos Pimental, Tim Murphy, Robbie Ross, Kennil Gomez, Omar Poveda, and more that make us Ranger fans absolutely giddy.

Out of everyone you listed, I believe the two that will flame out will be Kiker and Beavan, and here is why.

Beavan for me is easy. His drop in velocity has to be at least thought of as a big concern because he was known and thought to be a hard throwing mid to high 90’s types. Now you can say whatever you will like “he was working on a change this year, or first year jitters”, but honestly I think he could potentially become a big bust.

Kiker ends up failing because this organization failed on him. There will come a point where a decision has to be made about keeping him. I think he gets lost in the shuffle big time now, and ends up gone when that time comes. He could possibly succeed in another organization and maybe could benefit from a change or scenery.

Main and Holland, I believe become your future all stars and here is why.

Main is a stud, a beast if you will. In his short professional career he is the most talented in my eyes right now. Yes, these pitchers like Feliz and Perez have more upside, but Main is polished now and hasn’t even reached his potential.

Thomas Diamond becomes a big time relief pitcher also based on his big time heat.

And I’m not knocking on any of these talents.

Holland, well, I’m on that bandwagon big time. My reason is simple, diamond in the rough.

Feliz and Perez will both become major league players with potential to become big time players if if they want it.

Feliz being a big time closer due to his big time heat.

Perez potentially your number 3 punch to a rotation headlined by Holland and Main.

Michael Main Interview
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/11/17/prospect-interview-series-michael-main.html

Wilfredo Boscan Interview
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/11/22/prospect-interview-series-wilfredo-boscan.html

Neil Ramirez Interview
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/8/16/prospect-interview-series-neil-ramirez.html

Tim Murphy Interview
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/8/12/prospect-interview-series-tim-murphy.html

Kasey Kiker Interview
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/8/25/prospect-interview-series-kasey-kiker.html

Fall Instructional League Reports:
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/10/4/rangers-fall-instructional-league-report-part-i.html
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/10/11/rangers-fall-instructional-league-report-part-ii.html

Top 25:
http://www.bbtia.com/home/2008/10/27/the-bbtia-top-25-prospect-rankings-fall-08-edition.html

The Rangers pitching prospects go out and suck, or be good with another team. (like Danks and Volquez)

so here we go…
i think Feliz could be a Ervin Santana clone… Not really a number one, but with a great fastball. I dont think the Rangers will settle on him being just a closer b/c they simply cant, and maybe wont settle on that after what they’ve been through on the rotation. At the same time, Feliz simply doesnt seem like he has the secondary offerings to make him a number #1. His secondary offerings will be decent enough to make him a quality starter who keeps his ERA under or around 4.00 with a good amount of Ks. After seeing how rediculously good his FB is in person, i have to believe he will be able to rely on it to at least get ML out on a regular basis.

Derek Holland and Michael Main are the guys i would look to as a Rangers fan to find the true top end of the Rotation guys we have been looking for. They both have the makeup, stuff, and secondary stuff to be the LHP, RHP at the top end of championship quality rotation.

Blake Beaven seems like he may not reach the highest of expectations he was drafted to be, the true number 1 with really nice velo. But i really think its dumb to limit him to just a bullpen role after a really, really good statistical year at full season class A. I’ll give him the #4 role behind Feliz in the rotation.

Kiker is the one guy out of that list that i definitely can envision in the bullpen. He has the makeup and the lack of makeup to be the type of guy who can pitch the one or two innings against mostly lefties and be really effective.

to your list of Ranger pitchers, you need to listen to bigsteve, cause he’s right. It’s Wilfredo Boscan. If you look at his numbers, and he was young for his league, you’ll wonder how come he’s not at the very top of the list presented here. More than a 1 K per inn pitched. High ground ball rate. Ratio of K/BB is 6.4. What’s not to like about that? I guess everyone holds the fact that he hasn’t reached 95mph yet against him. On the Rangers Community Prospect list he comes in at 13. Jeez!

Beavan will end up being a closer.

Kiker will be a solid back of the rotation starter.

I think I’d swap that around, given this year’s results.