Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus recently published his list of the top eleven Rangers prospects and while a number of these guys weren’t drafted by the Rangers, it’s nice to have a restocked farm system principally after the trades of Eric Gagne and Mark Teixeira. Neftali Perez, who came over in the Braves trade for Teixeira, is the lone five star prospect and he looks to be a good one. He dominated his short season leagues at the ripe young age of 19 and he’ll make his Low A debut this spring. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see Perez in a Rangers uniform at some point in 2009.
Eric Hurley comes in at number two and while he’s major league ready, I think he’ll get some more seasoning at the Triple A level. He pitched very well at Double A but struggled in his Triple A stint. Elvis Andrus, another guy the Rangers got from the Braves, checks in at number three and he’s the highest position player. He’s your typical slick fielding, little punch short stop who has quite to bit to prove in 2008 when he gets bumped up to Double A.
Engel Beltre, who came over from the Red Sox in the Gagne trade, made the list at four and the outfielder will play his first full season in the minors in 2008. 2007 first round draft pick, Michael Maine, rounds out the top five. Goldstein also opines on the Rangers trade for Josh Hamilton, which happened a week or so ago. I was definitely intruiged but with the holes in the pen, I’m surprised they gave up a top notch younger talent like Edinson Volquez to get him.
