Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospects

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TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Joey Gallo, 3b/of
2. Lewis Brinson, of
3. Nomar Mazara, of
4. Luis Ortiz, rhp
5. Dillon Tate, rhp
6. Eric Jenkins, of
7. Josh Morgan, ss/3b
8. Andy Ibanez, 2b
9. Leodys Taveras, of
10. Michael Matuella, rhp

Coming off a disastrous 2014 season with the third-worst record in baseball, the Rangers at least had hope that better health could reverse their fortune in 2015 after injuries ravaged the team the previous year.

Then before the 2015 season even began, Yu Darvish went down for the year with Tommy John surgery and Jurickson Profar had shoulder surgery that would wipe out his second straight season. Derek Holland threw one inning in April before going on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. By May 3, the Rangers were 8-16 and looked like they might stay in last place in the American League West the rest of the season.

Instead, the Rangers stayed competitive under first-year manager Jeff Bannister. After they pulled off a blockbuster trade for Cole Hamels on July 31, the Rangers entered August just 50-52. Then they went on a rampage, going on a 38-22 stretch to finish 88-74 atop the AL West.

The season ended on a bitter note, as Texas lost a 2-0 Division Series lead against the Blue Jays by dropping three straight to end the season, but on the whole the Rangers defied expectations and returned to their winning ways.

International scouting continues to be an organizational strength. That work came to fruition in 2015 when second baseman Rougned Odor emerged as one of the game’s top young big leaguers. Odubel Herrera, another Rangers signing out of Venezuela, went to the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft and had a productive season in Philadelphia, though the Rangers made up for his loss with a shrewd Rule 5 pick of their own in Delino DeShields Jr.

More young hitting talent is on the way and close to helping in Texas, with a talented trio at the upper levels in Joey Gallo, Lewis Brinson and Nomar Mazara. The Rangers have done a tremendous job of getting high-ceiling position prospects with high strikeout rates to make more contact, even while facing better pitching.

Several of those hitters have simplified their swings, improved their balance in their lower halves and in turn kept their heads locked in, which has helped them better recognize pitches, leading to improved plate discipline and contact rates.
On the pitching side, the Rangers have several prospects who throw a lot of strikes—including two with frontline potential in Luis Ortiz and Dillon Tate—but many of those pitchers have durability question marks, so the Rangers have to handle them carefully.

The depth in the system isn’t quite what it has been in previous years, thanks in parts to a series of trades highlighted by the Hamels deal that cost them three of their top prospects in outfielder Nick Williams, righthander Jake Thompson and catcher Jorge Alfaro.

Yet the young talent is still intact on the major league roster and more help from the farm is on the way in 2016, which should allow the Rangers to return to being a perennial threat in the AL West.

Last Year’s Rangers Top 10 Prospects

1. Joey Gallo, 3b/of

SCOUTING GRADES
Batting: 50
Power: 80
Speed: 40
Defense: 45
Arm: 70
Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools.

Born: Nov. 19, 1993. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 230. Drafted: HS—Las Vegas, 2012 (1st round supp). Signed by: Todd Guggiana.

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2015 Org.
2006	Edinson Volquez, rhp	Royals
2007	John Danks, lhp	White Sox
2008	Elvis Andrus, ss	Rangers
2009	Neftali Feliz, rhp	Tigers
2010	Neftali Feliz, rhp	Tigers
2011	Martin Perez, lhp	Rangers
2012	Jurickson Profar, ss	Rangers
2013	Jurickson Profar, ss	Rangers
2014	Rougned Odor, 2b	Rangers
2015	Joey Gallo, 3b/of	Rangers

Background: It was a Las Vegas sweep of the 2015 Baseball America awards, with Bryce Harper taking Major League Player of the Year honors and Kris Bryant winning Rookie of the Year. The next power-hitting monster out of Vegas is Gallo, who was once teammates with Harper when they were 8 and 9 years old and who worked with Bryant’s father Mike as a personal hitting coach. Signed for $2.25 million as the No. 39 overall pick in 2012. Gallo posted back-to-back 40-plus home run seasons in 2013 and 2014. He got off to a strong start in 2015, jumping from Double-A Frisco to the majors on June 2 when Adrian Beltre went on the disabled list. Gallo stayed there the rest of the month and homered off Clayton Kershaw, but when the strikeouts started piling up, he went back down to Triple-A Round Rock. He continued to show big power and too many whiffs with before heading back to Texas as a September callup.

Scouting Report: Even baseball’s most experienced scouts marvel at Gallo’s majestic power. It’s a true 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and it rivals anyone except possibly Giancarlo Stanton. He dazzles in batting practice, and while he has a pull-conscious approach, he can go deep to any part of the park in games. It’s easy power that he generates with tremendous strength, quick hands and bat speed, along with excellent leverage and loft. Gallo made major strides in 2014 with his contact rate, and through the first two months of 2015, he appeared to be heading in the right direction, mashing in Double-A while trimming his strikeout rate from 40 percent at that level in 2014 to 34 percent in 2015. But in the major leagues and in Triple-A, Gallo’s swing got longer, he struggled to recognize pitches and chased too many balls off the plate, leaving him with too many holes. Gallo played 2015 as a 21-year-old, the same age as college juniors just getting acclimated to pro ball, so he’s already ahead of schedule with plenty of time to make adjustments. He has to work to keep his swing short—something that will always be a challenge with his long levers—and learn that he doesn’t have to swing for the fences every time. Gallo walked 14 percent of the time in the minors in 2015, so even if he’s a .250 hitter, he should draw plenty of walks and have the power to be a middle-of-the-order force. There aren’t many third basemen who stand 6-foot-5, like Gallo, but he’s quite athletic for his size, though a below-average runner. With his hands, agility and plus arm, he could stick at third base. Yet with Beltre under contract for one more season, Gallo has also seen time in left field and would fit well in either corner spot.

The Future: Not quite ready for the big leagues, Gallo should return to Triple-A to open 2016. If is able to make the proper adjustments to that level and is dominating the Pacific Coast League early, he could be up quickly, with a chance to develop into a star.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Frisco (AA)	.314	.425	.636	121	21	38	10	1	9	31	24	49	1
Round Rock (AAA)	.195	.289	.450	200	20	39	9	0	14	32	27	90	1
Texas (MLB)	.204	.301	.417	108	16	22	3	1	6	14	15	57	3

2. Lewis Brinson, of

Born: May 8, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Coral Springs, Fla., 2012 (1st round). Signed by: Frankie Thon.

Background: Strikeouts and injuries held back Brinson his first two full seasons, but he was one of the breakout prospects of 2015, soaring through three levels and ranking second in the minors in slugging.

Scouting Report: Brinson’s transformation came from a combination of physical and mental adjustments. Adding strength to his lower half helped him improve his balance with a stronger base. That helped him keep his head locked in, which allowed him to track pitches better. Notorious for chasing breaking balls, Brinson developed a plan to zone in on hitting the fastball. He doesn’t yet punish breaking balls but now has learned to lay off more of them out of the zone and take advantage of his excellent bat speed and plus power to crush the fastball. Brinson has gotten better at using the whole field, though he could still use the opposite field more . His speed and arm are both plus, with the range to be a plus defender in center field.

The Future: If Brinson can be even an average hitter, he will be an above-average player because of his other skills. If his offensive growth plateaus, he could end up along the lines of Cameron Maybin, but his power-speed combination gives him the upside of Adam Jones.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
High Desert (Hi A)	.337	.416	.628	258	51	87	22	7	13	42	31	64	13
Frisco (AA)	.291	.328	.545	110	14	32	8	1	6	23	6	28	2
Round Rock (AAA)	.433	.541	.567	30	9	13	1	0	1	5	7	6	3

3. Nomar Mazara, of

Born: April 26, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 215. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011. Signed by: Rodolfo Rosario/Mike Daly.

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2015 Org.
2006	Kasey Kiker, lhp	Did not play
2007	Blake Beavan, rhp	Diamondbacks
2008	Justin Smoak, 1b	Blue Jays
2009	*Matt Purke, lhp	Nationals
2010	Jake Skole, of	Yankees
2011	Kevin Matthews, lhp	Rangers
2012	Lewis Brinson, of	Rangers
2013	Alex Gonzalez, rhp	Rangers
2014	Luis Ortiz, rhp	Rangers
2015	Dillon Tate, rhp	Rangers
*Did not sign

Background: When the Rangers signed Mazara for a then-record $4.95 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, other teams believed it was a massive overpay. Mazara has justified the faith of the Rangers’ international scouts, becoming one of the top prospects in baseball.

Scouting Report: Mazara’s swing and approach have evolved since signing, toning down a giant, out-of-control leg kick that caused timing issues and instead employing a smaller toe tap. That adjustment improved his balance and allowed him to see the ball better, with Mazara trimming his strikeout rate while advancing to the upper levels of the minors without sacrificing his power. He’s a smart, mature hitter with a good plan at the plate. Mazara has good bat control, uses the whole field and has the plus raw power. Mazara has become a reliable defender in right field, even if he’s a well-below-average runner who lacks first-step quickness and is still prone to youthful mistakes. His best defensive tool is a plus arm with precise accuracy, which helped him collect 16 assists.

The Future: Mazara projects as an above-average regular in the middle of the lineup, likely playing left field with right fielder Shin-Soo Choo under contract through 2020. He will start 2016 in Triple-A and is on the 40-man roster, so he will be up by September, if not sooner.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Frisco (AA)	.284	.357	.443	409	57	116	22	2	13	56	47	92	2
Round Rock (AAA)	.358	.409	.444	81	11	29	4	0	1	13	5	10	0

4. Luis Ortiz, rhp

Born: Sept. 22, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230. Drafted: HS—Sanger, Calif., 2014 (1st round). Signed by: Butch Metzger.

Background: The Rangers drafted Ortiz No. 30 overall and signed him for $1.75 million. He pitched effectively in his first full season with low Class A Hickory, though he missed two and a half months toward the end with elbow tendinitis. He returned and finished the season with four scoreless, one-hit innings in Hickory’s championship playoff run.

Scouting Report: Ortiz combines power stuff with touch and feel. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and can bump 97, with excellent command for his age to both sides of the plate with a sound, repeatable delivery. Ortiz has a putaway slider with good tilt, coming out of his hand on the same plane as his fastball before snapping off with late, tight break. He has shown progress with a changeup that could become an average or better pitch, but it’s still inconsistent. He also sprinkles in an occasional curveball. Durability is a concern with Ortiz, who also missed time in 2014 with forearm tightness. The Rangers have had to be conservative with him because of his poor conditioning, with Ortiz growing sideways and carrying a body reminiscent of Joba Chamberlain.

The Future: Ortiz has the highest ceiling among the organization’s pitching prospects, with frontline starter potential if he can get in better shape and stay on the mound. If he does, he could move quickly, with high Class A High Desert his next stop.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Hickory (Lo A)	4	1	1.80	13	13	0	0	50	45	1	9	46	.238

5. Dillon Tate, rhp

Born: May 1, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 165. Drafted: UC Santa Barbara, 2015 (1st round). Signed by: Todd Guggiana.

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Leonys Martin, 2011		$5,000,000
Nomar Mazara, 2011		$4,950,000
Mark Teixeira, 2001		$4,500,000
Jairo Beras, 2012		$4,500,000
Dillon Tate, 2015		$4,200,000

Background: Tate pitched sparingly as a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, but he emerged as the Gauchos’ closer as a sophomore, then moved into the rotation as a junior. His stock rose quickly, with the Rangers drafting him fourth overall in 2015 and paying $4.2 million to sign him.

Scouting Report: Tate has an extremely quick arm, with a fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and can reach 98 with good tailing life, though it can come in on a flat plane. He has a pair of plus pitches in his fastball and hard slider, a mid-to-upper 80s weapon that stays on plane with his fastball until the end when it has late, tight break to miss bats. Tate didn’t have much need for a changeup but it has improved the more he’s thrown it, projecting as a possible average third pitch. He mixes in an occasional cutter as well. Tate held his stuff deep into games as a starter, though it faded down the stretch in college. There is some effort to his high-energy mechanics, but the ball comes out of his hand with ease and he’s a good athlete who repeats his delivery and throws strikes.

The Future: Tate could be a fast-track guy with a chance to get to the big leagues by 2017. While there’s a chance he ends up in the bullpen, the Rangers took him at the top of the draft to be a starter, with a chance to pitch at the front of the rotation.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Spokane (SS)	0	0	0.00	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	3	3	.000
Hickory (Lo A)	0	0	1.29	4	4	0	0	7	3	1	0	5	.130

6. Eric Jenkins, of

Born: Jan. 30, 1997. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 170. Drafted: HS—Cerro Gordo, N.C., 2015 (2nd round). Signed by: Jay Heafner.

Background: The Rangers drafted Jenkins in the second round at No. 45 overall and paid him an above-slot $2 million bonus before sending the speedster to the Rookie-level Arizona League. Jenkins finished with low Class A Hickory, then broke his right hamate bone at the end of instructional league.

Scouting Report: Jenkins may have the fastest hands in the organization. He has loose wrists and a short, line-drive stroke. He doesn’t always repeat that swing though, losing his balance and letting his shoulders fly out early. That causes his swing to get in and out of the zone too quickly, creating more strikeouts than scouts expected as an amateur. His pitch recognition skills are solid and he shows the patience to take his walks. Jenkins is an explosive athlete with 70 speed, going 28-for-31 stealing bags. Jenkins has a lean frame with room to add much-needed strength. He has sneaky power with a chance for 8-12 home runs, but his swing isn’t conducive for loft. In center field he has good range and an average arm.

The Future: Jenkins fits the mold of toolsy, premium athletes the Rangers have targeted in recent drafts. He could develop into an everyday center fielder, with his first full season starting next year back in Hickory as long as his hand is healed.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
AZL Rangers (R)	.249	.342	.339	177	35	44	4	6	0	13	23	57	27
Hickory (Lo A)	.389	.421	.444	18	3	7	1	0	0	1	1	4	1

7. Josh Morgan, ss/3b

Born: Nov. 16, 1995. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Orange, Calif., 2014 (3rd round). Signed by: Steve Flores.

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average	Nomar Mazara
Best Power Hitter	Joey Gallo
Best Strike-Zone Discipline	Josh Morgan
Fastest Baserunner	Chris Garia
Best Athlete	Lewis Brinson
Best Fastball	Connor Sadzeck
Best Curveball	Brett Martin
Best Slider	Luis Ortiz
Best Changeup	Yohander Mendez
Best Control	Collin Wiles
Best Defensive Catcher	Pat Cantwell
Best Defensive Infielder	Michael De Leon
Best Infield Arm	Joey Gallo
Best Defensive Outfielder	Lewis Brinson
Best Outfield Arm	Nomar Mazara

Background: After signing for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2014, Morgan led the Rookie-level Arizona League in OBP. Moved up to low Class Hickory in 2015, Morgan continued to show strong on-base skills with a polished hitting approach before a broken right index finger ended his season in early August.

Scouting Report: Morgan is a smart player with good plate discipline. He recognizes breaking balls and doesn’t chase many pitches outside the strike zone. He has a simple, compact stroke without much movement. He has quick hands, good bat control and makes contact at a high rate, backspinning the ball and using the middle of the field. Morgan can sneak a ball over the fence to his pull side, but his power is well below-average, with an profile that will always be tilted toward getting on base over power. The Rangers also had Michael De Leon at Hickory, so Morgan split time between shortstop and third base. A slightly above-average runner, Morgan is a steady defender who doesn’t have the pure range many teams seek at shortstop, but his hands, feet and instincts help him, along with a solid-average arm.

The Future: As Morgan gets stronger and learns to drive the ball with more authority, his ability to put the ball and play and draw walks could make him a top-of-the-order hitter. He should make the jump to high Class A High Desert in 2016.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Hickory (Lo A)	.288	.385	.362	351	59	101	15	1	3	36	45	53	9

8. Andy Ibanez, 2b

Born: April 3, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 183. Signed: Cuba, 2015. Signed by: Jose Fernandez/Roberto Aquino/Gil Kim/Thad Levine.

Background: Ibanez stood out in Cuba from a young age, leading the country’s 16U national league in batting (.458) and slugging (.703) in 2011, playing in the 16U World Cup that year and the 18U World Cup in 2013. Ibanez was the youngest player on Cuba’s 2013 World Baseball Classic team, though he didn’t play much there, and hit well in the 2014 World Port Tournament. After leaving Cuba, Ibanez went through a change in representation before signing with Texas for $1.6 million, widely considered a bargain by other organizations.

Scouting Report: Ibanez doesn’t have one standout tool or flashy athleticism, but he has a strong track record of hitting in Cuba. going back to his days in Cuba’s junior leagues and in three seasons in Serie Nacional, where he hit .267/.377/.435 with more walks (33) than strikeouts (28) in 280 at-bats as a 20-year-old in his final season in 2013-14 with La Isla De La Juventud. He has a quick, short swing, good bat control and a line-drive approach with occasional power, though he’s more of a doubles threat than a home run hitter. Ibanez has a thicker build for a middle infielder and is a below-average runner. He is an instinctive, high baseball IQ player who won a gold glove one season in Cuba, though he’s more of a steady fielder than an above-average defender.

The Future: After a long layoff from competitive baseball, Ibanez spent time in the Rangers’ Dominican academy before playing winter ball in Colombia, where he was one of the league’s best hitters. Given his time off and age, Ibanez might start in low Class A Hickory, but he could move quickly through the Rangers’ system if he progresses as the team believes he can.

2015 Club (Class)

AVG

OBP

SLG

RBI

Did not play

9. Leodys Taveras, of

Born: Sept. 8, 1998. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015. Signed by: Willy Espinal/Gil Kim/Thad Levine.

PROJECTED 2019 LINEUP
Catcher	Jose Trevino
First Base	Mitch Moreland
Second Base	Rougned Odor
Third Base	Joey Gallo
Shortstop	Elvis Andrus
Left Field	Shin-Soo Choo
Center Field	Lewis Brinson
Right Field	Nomar Mazara
Designated Hitter	Prince Fielder
No. 1 Starter	Cole Hamels
No. 2 Starter	Yu Darvish
No. 3 Starter	Derek Holland
No. 4 Starter	Luis Ortiz
No. 5 Starter	Martin Perez
Closer	Keone Kela

Background: Willy Taveras played seven major league seasons as an outfielder, leading MLB with 68 stolen bases in 2008. His cousin, Leodys, is another quick-twitch athlete and was one of the most well-rounded prospects on the international market when he signed with Texas for $2.1 million on July 2, 2015.

Scouting Report: With a lean, athletic build, Taveras is a smooth player could have five average to plus tools, playing the game calmly and under control. He’s a sweet-swinging switch-hitter who’s more advanced from the left side, with a clean, fluid stroke that’s direct to the ball with a good bat path. Taveras performed well in games before signing, and while some scouts had reservations about his pitch recognition, he can hit good velocity. Since signing, he has shown more ability to stay back on pitches longer and done a better job of managing his at-bats. Taveras drives the ball well for his age, and with his size and big, strong hands, there’s considerable physical projection for his power to grow. Taveras has plus speed with an easy gait and a strong arm, so while his outfield reads and routes need to improve, he has the tools to stick in center field.

The Future: Taveras might start his career in the Dominican Summer League, but he could join the Rookie-level Arizona League club when their season begins a few weeks later.

2015 Club (Class)

AVG

OBP

SLG

RBI

Did not play—Signed 2016 contract

10. Michael Matuella, rhp

Born: June 3, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 220. Drafted: Duke, 2015 (3rd round). Signed by: Jay Heafner.

Background: After the 2014 college season at Duke, Matuella was a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, but health issues derailed any chance. In the summer of 2014, Matuella was diagnosed with spondylosis, a chronic back condition. He returned in the spring of 2015 for his junior year and didn’t show quite the same stuff, then had Tommy John surgery in April. Despite the health concerns, the Rangers signed Matuella for $2 million, well above slot in the third round.

Scouting Report: When healthy, Matuella showed four quality pitches with good control, starting with a two-seam fastball that sat 92-96 mph at hit 98 as a sophomore with plus life. His power curveball cranks up to the low-80s with good depth and grades out as plus, while his mid-80s slider flashes above-average as well. He hasn’t needed to use his changeup much, but it has shown the makings of developing into an average pitch. Matuella has a ceiling of a frontline starter, but he never threw more than 60 innings in a season at Duke and is a major medical risk. Some scouts have likened him to Tanner Scheppers, whom the Rangers also drafted and signed after significant injury questions caused him to slip in the draft, and Scheppers has had an inconsistent career as a reliever.

The Future: The Rangers do not expect Matuella to return to games until May or June, and the club is targeting 80-100 innings for him in 2016.

2015 Club (Class)

ERA