Texas Rangers Breakout prospects

[SamHell]

I thought I would throw out a few prospects I am expecting to have a big year in 2012. Please share your thoughts about these prospects or any under the radar prospects from your favorite team.

Matthew West RHP
23 year olds pitching in A- ball are not normally considered candidates for breaking out but West spent his first four years in the Rangers system playing third base. He totally dominated the Northwest League with 35 K's and one BB in 24 innings in his first year on the mound. He has a mid 90's fastball and a nasty slider to go along with a closer mentality. He should begin the season in A+ Myrtle Beach and could move very quickly up the ranks.

Chris Hanna LHP
Another one of the Rangers smallish lefties, Hanna held his own against older competition at Spokane. Projects as a mid-to back end of the rotation starter. Not very exciting until you realize that Robbie Erlin had the same projection as well. Should get his first shot at a full season league in Hickory.

Tomas Tellis C
Played well in Hickory as a 20 year old. Adequate defense and and emerging power make him an interesting prospect. He only stuck out 35 times in almost 500 AB's. On the downside, he only had 18BB. If he can harness some of his aggression at the plate without losing pop, he has a chance to be a useful major league player one day.

 

[Jaypers]

I have my eye on Jordan Akins.

 

[SamHell]

I have my eye on Jordan Akins.

He has the tools to be a stud. I haven't heard if he will start the season in Hickory or wait til short season Spokane. His potential is exciting.

 

[Jaypers]

This just in.


Rangers Acquire Kelvin De La Cruz
By Tim Dierkes [February 21 at 1:58pm CST]
The Rangers acquired lefty Kelvin De La Cruz from the Indians, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. De La Cruz was designated for assignment a week ago to open a 40-man roster spot for Casey Kotchman.

De La Cruz, 23, posted a 4.19 ERA, 9.9 K/9, 6.0 BB/9, and 0.31 HR/9 in 86 Double-A innings last year, his second stint at the level. A year ago, Baseball America ranked him 24th among Indians prospects, citing diminished stuff after an '09 elbow strain. De La Cruz dropped out of BA's Indians top 30 this year and will be a project for the Rangers.

 

[bradical]

Julio Borbon - going to be an All-Star this year.

 

[SamHell]

Julio Borbon - going to be an All-Star this year.

PCL All Star?

 

[Gonzaleznut]

Julio Borbon - going to be an All-Star this year.

Give me some of the stuff you are smoking.

No chance in hell.

 

[emarc27]

I like Jorge Alfaro a lot. Im not sure what his status is, but I've heard nothing but good things.

 

[tramers]

I'm ready for some Crawdad baseball :!: :!: :!:

 

[Zymco]

Julio Borbon - going to be an All-Star this year.

Leonys Martin is a lot better in my opinion.

 

[bradical]

Julio Borbon - going to be an All-Star this year.

Leonys Martin is a lot better in my opinion.

CF is definitely his job to lose. If Borbon can reignite the flashes of brilliance and speed he had at the end of 2010, then my high hopes for him will not go unpromised.

 

[mwashuc06]

Hopefully Luke Jackson picked up his SP Elite Auto /99 for 5 dollars a few months ago.

 

[MadHandle11]

I thought I would throw out a few prospects I am expecting to have a big year in 2012. Please share your thoughts about these prospects or any under the radar prospects from your favorite team.

Matthew West RHP
23 year olds pitching in A- ball are not normally considered candidates for breaking out but West spent his first four years in the Rangers system playing third base. He totally dominated the Northwest League with 35 K's and one BB in 24 innings in his first year on the mound. He has a mid 90's fastball and a nasty slider to go along with a closer mentality. He should begin the season in A+ Myrtle Beach and could move very quickly up the ranks.

Chris Hanna LHP
Another one of the Rangers smallish lefties, Hanna held his own against older competition at Spokane. Projects as a mid-to back end of the rotation starter. Not very exciting until you realize that Robbie Erlin had the same projection as well. Should get his first shot at a full season league in Hickory.

Tomas Tellis C
Played well in Hickory as a 20 year old. Adequate defense and and emerging power make him an interesting prospect. He only stuck out 35 times in almost 500 AB's. On the downside, he only had 18BB. If he can harness some of his aggression at the plate without losing pop, he has a chance to be a useful major league player one day.

That's a solid list there SamHell.

Matt West was amazing last summer for how little time he had spent on the mound. With a full season to develop in 2012, he might shoot all the way to Arlington by year's end. His stuff his electric (high-90's with a few blips on the radar gun of 100) but he is a bit of a headcase; that's the only thing I could see derailing him.

Hanna has decent stuff with good location and lots of moxie. He's a gamer who gets the most of his tools.

I like Alfaro but he is a long ways away from Texas. Lots of holes in his swing and some questions about his maturity. Light-tower power and a cannon behind the plate; just needs it to translate to games.

Looking forward to seeing what they do in 2012!

 

[WJCIII]

Matt West is a straight up dirtbag. Good arm, but he's got a lot of growing up to do if he's ever going to fit into a major league clubhouse.

 

[SamHell]

I don't consider Alfaro to be under the radar anymore. He is pretty well known by now. He is very raw but has one of the highest ceilings in the system along with Akins.

Matt West is a bit of a hot head but I think that will settle down the closer Arlington gets in his sights.

That Luke Jackson card is a steal considering what they initially sold. He was a slight disappointment at Hickory and Cody Buckel stole some of his spotlight. I look forward to seeing what he does this year.

From what I am reading, Martin will begin the season at AAA unless he just kills it in spring training. I think Washington is looking to play Gentry against lefties in CF and Hamilton in left. Josh would move back to CF against righthand pitching.

 

[RANGERS25]

That's so messed up. Julio borbon has shown flashes of bRilliance but no one pays attention to it because of the hamilton hype a few years back. If you go back to 2010 when everyone preached that Hamilton was on a role during inter league play, Borbon was actually playing better than Hamilton and had a better batting avg during that 15 game span. It's what I've always said. You can't always take out a player because of the lefty righty match up. Wash did that all the time with borbon and it made me sick. How is the guy supposed to stay hot and bat consistently when he's in and out of the lineup. Why not take out Hamilton against lefty's then if that's the case.