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Ranger Prospect Rankings

Prospect eligibility for this list is based on the qualifications for rookie status by Major League Baseball. All hitters have less than 130 Major League at-bats, and all pitchers have less than 50 innings pitched and less than 45 service days between April and August. This is a continually changing list that may get longer or shorter based on the number of players that have a chance to make an impact at the big league level. Underlined names are linked to their player profiles. The link to the prospect rankings by their position is directly below.

Prospects by Position Rankings

1. Derek Holland - Breakout season showed improving success at three levels. Must start out strong in 2009 to stay atop the list.
2. Neftali Feliz - Best fastball in all of minor leagues. If he improves his offspeed stuff, he's a true #1 starter.
3. Justin Smoak - Arguably the best college bat in the 2008 draft with Pedro Alvarez. Should move quickly through the minors.
4. Michael Main - Spring Training injury limited his 2008 season. Flashed the pure stuff of an ace in fall instructs.
5. Taylor Teagarden - Already a defensive catching whiz, most questions lie with the bat. Should be solid big league regular.
6. Wilfredo Boscan - No one posted better numbers in the Spokane rotation. Solid pitch mix and command should lead to success.
7. Elvis Andrus - Good arguments for higher ranking. Still has enough questions about bat to wonder about his long-term projection.
8. Martin Perez - Pitched well as 17 year-old in Northwest League, but not good enough to warrant higher ranking based on just age.
9. Max Ramirez - Opposite of Teagarden. Projects as solid big league hitter, questions about catching skills.
10. Tommy Hunter - Pitched in four levels in one year, excelling in three. Solid rotation option in Joe Blanton mold.
11. Blake Beavan - Loss of velocity is concern, but not enough to bump down on list. Candidate for breakout season in 2009.
12. Engel Beltre - All tools, no polish. Good season in Bakersfield in 2009 could make Beltre a top prospect in minors.
13. Tim Murphy - Great pro debut. Lack of pitching experience means higher ceiling than most college draftees.
14. Neil Ramirez - Electric stuff, erratic command. If he manages to harness curveball, could be a fast mover.
15. Kasey Kiker - Pivotal year in 2009. Has stuff to manage AA, but can he stay healthy and durable?
16. Eric Hurley - AAA showing Hurley's faults. Might improve, but shows all the components of an Arlington bust.
17. Julio Borbon - Strong argument for higher ranking. Proving the ability to do anything asked of him.
18. Robbie Ross - Polished high school draftee. Has to prove the same things as Kiker.
19. Joe Wieland - Excellent pro debut jumps high school draftee into spotlight. Must prove strong start wasn't fluke.
20. Guillermo Moscoso - Offseason acquisition has excellent fastball movement, poor health record.
21. Carlos Pimentel - Handled Northwest League with grace. Must improve command, but is strong candidate for good 2009.
22. Marcus Lemon - Polish makes up for weaker tools. Excellent command of the zone means he'll continue to stay in discussions.
23. Wilmer Font - Has the natural talent of Feliz, but no results. Has to stay healthy and have strong season.
24. Jose Vallejo - Bat finally awoke in 2008. Game-changing speed and versatility are his keys to success.
25. Omar Poveda - Returned from injuries later in season to earn 40-man spot. Excellent changeup is best hope.
26. Greg Golson - Plus tools, but horrible command of the strike zone. Must improve on career-best 2008 season.
27. Mitch Moreland - Tore up Midwest League in full-season debut. Must continue hitting to stay relevant.
28. John Whittleman - Becoming too patient as a hitter. Has to unleash natural talent soon or will bust.
29. Andrew Laughter - Reached AA in full-season debut. Has the relief mix to be a setup man quite soon.
30. Doug Mathis - Shoulder injury limited 2008 season after strong start. Could be valuable swing man in near future.
31. Joaquin Arias - Good MLB numbers as fill-in for Ian Kinsler. Must improve arm strength to be infield option.
32. Matt West - Bit of a disappointing season. Must begin hitting with Hickory in 2009.
33. Beau Jones - Good pitch mix makes him lefty setup option. Could be in Arlington out of the bullpen this year.
34. Renny Osuna - Hit his way onto the list. Solid backup option.
35. Miguel de los Santos - Great return from Tommy John surgery. Must prove durable to continue starting.
36. Mike Ballard - Seems to know how to win. Should get one more chance to start with Oklahoma City.
37. Clark Murphy - Great pro debut at the plate. Streakiness in high school is still a concern.
38. Joseph Ortiz - Youngest in Midwest League. Small stature will limit him to full-time relief.
39. Chad Tracy - Strong season followed by awful AFL stint. Solid hitter could be ML pinch-hitter.
40. Jonathan Greene - Strikes out tons, but has good power. Needs to find positional home and bat against righties.
41. Kennil Gomez - Excellent season before shoulder problems shut him down. Candidate to move up the lists quickly in 2009.
42. Tomas Telis - Transitioned to catcher and still hit in the DSL. Could turn some heads in his stateside debut.
43. Reinier Bermudez - Cuban pitcher tore up the DSL at an older age. Could come on quickly as relief option in 2009.
44. Kyle Ocampo - 2007 bonus baby had solid pro debut. Will look for continued success in Hickory.
45. Leonel de los Santos - Excellent defense, sub par bat. Needs to start hitting before he's labeled the next Manny Pina.
46. Tim Smith - Excelled at Clinton. Must show that he can hit more advanced pitching.
47. Manny Pina - Starting to finally hit. Could be backup in Arlington soon with his glove.
48. Thomas Diamond - Rough return from Tommy John surgery followed by more injuries. Needs to finally show some results.
49. Joey Butler - Good pro debut, but wore down late. Character will be pivotal in helping others develop.
50. Fabio Castillo - Good stuff, but awful 2008. A repeat of A ball is needed.
51. Geuris Grullon - Repeat of the AZL landed better results. Strikeouts and ground balls make him excellent relief prospect.
52. Richard Bleier - 2008 college draftee had solid pro debut. Pitchability is key to further success.
53. Brennan Garr - Injuries becoming a concern. Has the stuff to be a good relief option when healthy.
54. Corey Young - 2008 college draftee came from nowhere. Now considered future LOOGY.
55. Cristian Santana - Strong prospect from a year ago busted in 2008. Must learn to take pitches before he'll improve.
56. Ian Gac - Showed power potential in 2008. Strikeouts will limit his long-term success.
57. Mark Hamburger - Late-season acquisition has potential. May reach AA in 2009.
58. Josh Lueke - Struggled a little in Bakersfield. Strikes out hitters, but has some shaky outings. Will improve.
59. Zach Phillips - Inconsistency becoming maddening. 2009 is likely his last chance to start.
60. Mike Bianucci - Excellent pro debut as 2008 college draftee until breaking his hand. Solid hitting approach.
61. Ryan Schlecht - 2008 college draftee had incredible debut. Must prove it wasn't a fluke in 2009.
62. Matt Thompson - Above-slot 2008 high school draftee had horrible debut. Has components for success, but must learn to pitch.
63. Tanner Roark - 2008 draftee with intriguing background. Good candidate for breakout season.
64. Evan Reed - Fell off the radar with rough season at Bakersfield. Was just too hittable. Might become reliever.
65. Steve Murphy - Repeat of AA showed some power. Still strikes out too much and walks too little.
66. Ben Harrison - Finally returned from shoulder injury strong. Strikes out a lot, but has decent power.
67. Carlos Melo - Offseason acquisition had strong pro debut in DSL. Stateside debut to come in 2009.
68. Ryan Falcon - Good season again in 2008. Stuff doesn't profile well against more advanced hitting.
69. Ezequiel Rijo - Good results in the DSL, but questionable stuff. Should come stateside in 2009.
70. Tae-Kyeong Ahn - 2008 international signee with mid-level stuff. Pro debut should show what's to come in 2009.
71. Michael Schlact - Starting to regress in AA. Final starting chance to come in 2009.
72. Jared Bolden - 2008 college draftee showed very little in pro debut. Needs to have strong 2009.
73. Jared Hyatt - Biggest surprise of 2008. Must continue to prove himself against advanced hitting.
74. Justin Gutsie - 2008 college draftee had ups and downs in debut. Must find command to succeed in 2009.
75. Craig Gentry - Starting to be squeezed by Julio Borbon. Doesn't profile as Major Leaguer.
76. David Paisano - Strong defensive skills are years ahead of his bat. Has short amount of time left to show he can hit.
77. Kea Kometani - Was shelled in AAA. Must keep pitches down if he is to see Arlington.
78. Dennis Guinn - 2008 college draftee had so-so debut. Might hit for power, but pays for it with batting average.
79. Eric Fry - Good 2008 campaign, but questionable on skills. Full-season league debut to come in 2009.
80. Ryan Tatusko - Struggled with inconsistent role in 2008. Likely squeezed out of a rotation spot again.
81. Yoon-Hee Nam - Reliever had solid 2008 campaign. Will show true colors with full-season debut in 2009.
82. Dustin Majewski - Great numbers at AA at an older age. Still doesn't profile to make it as a big leaguer.
83. Jake Brigham - Return from Tommy John surgery still to come. Will move up this list greatly with strong return.
84. Esdras Abreu - 2008 international signee was best bat the Rangers signed. Might not be stateside in 2009.