Rule 5 pick Delino DeShields earns spot on Texas Rangers roster

The Texas Rangers announced yesterday that Rule 5 draft choice Delino DeShields has made the Opening Day roster.

DeShields received 43 at-bats for the Rangers in spring training, hitting .256/.319/.465 with four walks, 10 strikeouts, and five steals. He officially makes the team as a reserve outfielder. He spent much of his minor league career at second base and while he is very erratic in the infield, he does provide an option there that could be useful for roster flexibility purposes.

DeShields was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round in 2010 from high school in College Park, Georgia. The son of former major leaguer Delino DeShields, the Rangers rookie is not technically a "junior" (although he is often referred to as such) since he has a different middle name (Diaab) than his father (Delino Lamont).

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He had an effective 2013 season with High-A Lancaster in the California League (.317/.408/.468 with 51 steals) but found the going more difficult after moving up to Double-A Corpus Christi last season, hitting .236/.346/.360 with 54 steals and 11 homers. The Astros were down on him after his Texas League struggles and thus left him unprotected for the Rule 5 draft last December.

DeShields must stay with the Rangers all season or be offered back to the Astros for $25,000. His speed, power, defensive flexibility, and major league bloodlines are intriguing for fantasy owners as well as the real life team, but his minor league track record is erratic and it remains to be seen how he will adapt, how much he will play, and how patient the Rangers will be if he struggles.