1)
| Player: Hans Crouse | |||||
| Position(s): RHP | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: Low A | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 180 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: I ran into the area scout for a team that was targeting Hans Crouse in the 2017 draft but wound up going a different direction, and that scout gave Crouse one of the better compliments a prospect can get. “He is a capital D Dude and he knows it when he is on the mound too.” Translation, Crouse has full belief he is better than any batter that steps into the box, and he is usually right. His fastball sits mid-90s but regularly flirts with triple digits. The slider is a plus pitch while his change has shown really well at times but is very raw. The delivery has plenty of effort leaving some concern he may move to the bullpen in time, where he would be dominant, but he has enough command that he could stick in a rotation, and pitch near the front of one at that. | |||||
2)
| Player: Cole Winn | |||||
| Position(s): RHP | Opening Day Age: 19 | 2018 Highest Level: DNP | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 190 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: State player of the year in Colorado his junior year, then California his senior year, Winn was selected 15th overall last June, although he has yet to make his pro debut. He did throw some in instructs, where he showed off his plus fastball and curve while also mixing in a slider that has shown potential of getting to plus and a fading change that can play above average. His delivery is controlled and repeatable leaving little doubt he will stick in the rotation and could be a quicker moving high school draft pick thanks to his rare polish after spending most his high school career in a cold weather state. | |||||
3)
| Player: Leody Taveras | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: High A | |||
| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 190 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: A lock to be able to stick in center, Taveras’ upside is only limited by his ability to hit, which isn’t much of a concern. He is more advanced from the left side of the plate than the right despite a slightly more exaggerated leg kick, but he gets bat-to-ball well from both sides. He does let go with one hand a bit early when hitting right handed, which saps any power that may be there. He has an approach at the plate and a frame that can definitely add strength. If he can get to the point where he is able to hit 15-20 home runs a season, he will be a valuable member of the big league club for a long time. | |||||
4)
| Player: Bubba Thompson | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: Low A | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 185 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Texas loves their athletic outfielders, Thompson could have been an SEC quarterback had the Rangers not gone over-slot to $2.1M after drafting him 26th overall in 2017. Being a two-sport star in high school leaves him somewhat raw, especially when it comes to his reads in the outfield, where athletically he should be a center fielder but he needs to improve his routes to stick there. He has a body that should add plenty of strength, so I anticipate a move to right in his future, where he has enough arm to be a plus defender there. At the plate, he has a line drive swing, but he takes big hacks limiting the amount he is able to barrel up the ball. When he connects the ball goes a long way, so some improvement to his approach at the plate and he can become a quality bat not only for power, but average as well. | |||||
5)
| Player: Julio Pablo Martinez | |||||
| Position(s): OF | Opening Day Age: 22 | 2018 Highest Level: Short A | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 5’9” | Weight: 175 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: For Martinez to remain this high a prospect, he has to prove he can stick in center, something I believe he can do. He has plus speed but the reads are currently well below average in the outfield, making up for them with his athleticism. He does not have the arm to play right, so if he slows too much or the reads don’t improve, he would become a left fielder where his profile simply won’t play as well. He has a smooth swing that gets long at times, but the bat control allows him to barrel up the ball often. He has an advanced approach at the plate that could see him jump to AA at some point this year despite not seeing any time in a full season league yet. | |||||
6)
| Player: Taylor Hearn | |||||
| Position(s): LHP | Opening Day Age: 24 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 210 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Possessing a mid-90s fastball that can touch triple digits is made even more difficult given the fact he can mix in a change that has shown signs of being plus. The question with Hearn is whether or not he will be able to make one of his breaking balls consistent enough to stick as a starter. He has dealt with injuries in the past but he has a solid delivery with a repeatable 3/4 arm slot that provides plenty of downhill plane along with run in both his fastball and change. If he does move to the bullpen, his two plus pitches could make him a dominant late inning guy, while an improved breaking ball could make him a mid-rotation starter. | |||||
7)
| Player: Jonathan Hernandez | |||||
| Position(s): RHP | Opening Day Age: 22 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 175 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Hernandez walked more batters than you would like, but it wasn’t a terrible number, the real concern came with his misses within the zone that allowed him to be hit hard at AA last season despite his elite stuff. The fastball sits as high as 97 with run and his slider is a wipeout pitch. He also mixes in a solid curve and change that could allow one to argue he has the best stuff in the Rangers system. The concern comes in the command, previously mentioned, and delivery. There is a lot of head whip and effort in the delivery with a whipping low 3/4 arm slot. There is belief he will have to settle into a bullpen, but if he puts it all together, he does have the upside of a number two starter. | |||||
8)
| Player: Anderson Tejeda | |||||
| Position(s): SS | Opening Day Age: 20 | 2018 Highest Level: High A | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 185 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: I am probably lower than most but I just don’t have a great feel for his profile. His build is that of a middle infielder, but his game is one of a guy destined for a corner. He has a cannon arm and decent glove but takes a while to get the ball out and lacks the fluidity I like from a middle infielder. At the plate, he has a big leg kick and an all-or-nothing swing that works given his plus raw power. He has some trouble getting to the power in game action thanks to his inconsistent contact, which could hold him back from reaching his potential. If he can make better contact to get to his power and stick up the middle, he could be a top 100 prospect, but if he moves to third and the contact doesn’t improve, he may fall off my top 10 Rangers prospects. | |||||
9)
| Player: Joe Palumbo | |||||
| Position(s): LHP | Opening Day Age: 24 | 2018 Highest Level: AA | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 170 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Palumbo is unique in the aspect his curve is a true plus pitch despite it not being a big 12-6 breaker. Instead it has a mild bump in it but absolutely falls off the table in more a 1-7 breaking motion. Add to that a fastball with plenty of downhill plane out of a high 3/4 slot that can run up to 96, and you have a very good pitch combination. His delivery is repeatable allowing him to pitch with good command and the change has improved to be at least a league average pitch. He doesn’t have huge upside but could be one of the better number four type starters in the minors right now. | |||||
10)
| Player: Cole Ragans | |||||
| Position(s): LHP | Opening Day Age:21 | 2018 Highest Level: DNP | |||
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 190 lbs. | ||
| Quick Report: Out all of 2018 after Tommy John surgery, Ragans was sitting up to 95 with a plus change and above average curve before the surgery. He is proof that good mechanics don’t always prevent arm issues, as he has a very smooth and repeatable delivery that should allow him to improve his command now that he is healthy. The 3/4 slot delivery and long stride allows him to have the fastball play up even more and create some downhill plane on the fastball. If he is healthy all season and improves his command, he may be one of the top 2-3 pitchers in the Rangers organization, although I have seen too many Rangers pitching prospects lack development in recent years, so I remain cautious in my optimism. | |||||
Others of Note:
Tyler Phillips – RHP – 21 – High A
A.J. Alexy – RHP – 20 – Low A
Mason Englert – RHP – 19 – DNP
Brock Burke – LHP – 22 – AA
THREE QUARTER SLOT 
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