1/22/12

Fangraphs - Top 15 Prospects: Texas Rangers


 

Top 15 Prospects: Texas Rangers


1. Jurickson Profar, SS
BORN: Feb. 20, 1993
EXPERIENCE: 2 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2009 international free agent
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 1st
The Rangers organization already has a dynamic young shortstop in Elvis Andrus but Profar gives them a second potential all star player at that position. In fact, he has the potential to be even better than the incumbent. Playing well below the league average age in ’11, Profar showed an outstanding understanding of the strike zone, and he showed his advanced understanding of the game by going to the plate with an idea of what he wanted to do. In the field, the young player has a strong arm and excellent range. He could develop into a plus defender in time. Look for Profar to begin 2012 in high-A ball but he could see double-A by mid-season.

2. Martin Perez, LHP
BORN: April 4, 1991
EXPERIENCE: 4 seasons
ACQUIRED: 2007 international free agent
2010-11 TOP 10 RANKING: 2nd
Perez split 2011 between double-A and triple-A where he posted solid but unspectacular numbers. However, if you consider the fact he was playing against players four to six years older than him, on average, his results look much better. The young southpaw pitched effectively at double-A but the promotion to triple-A saw his hits-per-nine-innings rate jump from 8.15 to 13.22 H/9. Perez did suffer from some bad luck and his triple-A ERA of 6.43 must taken with a grain of salt if you consider his FIP of 3.98. There is enough depth in the Rangers rotation, especially if the club signs Japanese import Yu Darvish, to expect the Venezuelan hurler to head back to triple-A for some more seasoning in 2012.

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