Time Machine

Remember those time machine things we did as kids where you would put stuff that you liked or were popular that year in a box and open them many years later to reminisce? Well, here's my time machine for the Texas Rangers, consisting of all their top prospects. Seeing as the Rangers have probably never had this much talent in their farm system in the history of their franchise, I thought a list of all of them would be a good idea. Hopefully, we'll be able to look back on this years later and say "Wow!"

I've listed the Rangers prospects by position in a rough order of future impact and raw potential.

* - Players who have already seen substantial playing time this year in the majors

Catcher

1. Taylor Teagarden: Defensive difference-maker
2. Max Ramirez: Offensive difference-maker
3. Jarrod Saltalamacchia*
4. Cristian Santana: Only 19, but much ahead developmentally of Teagarden at the same age.
   
5. Leonel de Los Santos

Corner Infielders

1. Justin Smoak: The entire package - monster power from both sides of the plate and flawless defense. In other words, Mark Teixeira's replacement.
2. Chris Davis*
3. Travis Metcalf*
4. Johnny Whittleman
5. Matt West
6. Mitch Moreland: He probably should be on the list for pitchers; he is being converted to a reliever because his path to the majors is blocked by Smoak.
   

Middle Infielders

1. Elvis Andrus: At worst, he'll be an Edgar Renteria type player. At best, who knows?
   
2. German Duran*
3. Joaquin Arias*
4. Jose Vallejo: One of the fastest prospects in the system; he will probably become a super-utility infielder like German Duran.
   
5. Marcus Lemon: Son of former big-leaguer Chet Lemon
   

Outfielders

1. Julio Borbon: A speed demon with decent power
2. Engel Beltre: No ceiling to this 18-year old's potential; he could be a superstar. He plays like a young Griffey Jr.
3. Brandon Boggs*
4. Nelson Cruz*: This 28 year-old "prospect" tore up Triple A before tearing up the majors the last month of the season. His time is now.
5. John Mayberry Jr.: He's still toiling in the minors after being drafted in the 2005 first round. Considering the Rangers passed over better outfielders like Jacoby Ellsbury and Colby Rasmus to draft him, he can be considered a bust now. Oh yeah, he was a John Hart pick. (On a side note, the Red Sox had a ridiculous draft that year. They drafted Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie, and Michael Bowden all between picks 23 and 47. The first four have all had success in the majors, while Bowden is the Sox's current #2-rated prospect. That is how you build a baseball team.)
   
6. Miguel Velazquez
7. David Paisano
   
8. Miguel Alfonzo
   
9. Chad Tracy
10. Joey Butler
    
11. Tim Smith: If we're lucky, he will be a Rusty Greer-type player with less power and more speed
    
12. Juan Polanco

Starters

1. Neftali Feliz: One of the top prospects in the nation, but still has a bit to go developmentally
2. Derek Holland: Absolutely dominant; a case can be made for Holland as THE #1 prospect for the Rangers
3. Michael Main: He is the complete package, both physically and mentally. He also played the outfield in high school, and he would be a top-5 outfielder prospect if the Rangers switched him. There are comparisons to Adam Wainwright.
   
4. Martin Perez: The last pitcher besides Martin Perez to debut in the Northwest League (mostly reserved for players with at least 2 years of pro experience) right after turning 17: Felix Hernandez; Perez is often compared to Johan Santana.
5. Eric Hurley*: Mentally tough innings-eater
6. Blake Beaven: His big, flamethrowing arm matches his big mouth.
7. Matt Harrison*
8. Kasey Kiker: Will most likely end up as a closer or set-up man
9. Neil Ramirez
10. Wilmer Font
11. Wilfredo Boscan: Had a ratio of 70 strikeouts to 11 walks this season..
12. Omar Poveda: The signs point to him being a durable power pitcher - over 150 innings pitched each of the last two season, and he averages a strikeout an inning
    
13. Tommy Hunter*: Of all the pitchers drafted in 2007, only Hunter, David Price, and Brett Cecil had success at all three levels of the minors. Only Hunter and Price made appearances in the bigs.
    
14. Robbie Ross: The Rangers are excited about this lefty, who they drafted in the 2nd round this year.
    
15. Zach Phillips
16. Joe Wieland
17. Thomas Diamond: The only part of the heralded DVD trio left in the Rangers system (Danks-Volquez-Diamond). Also the only part of the DVD trio that is a bust.
18. Mike Ballard
19. Michael Schlact: Chien-Ming Wang starter kit; or a really poor man's Roy Halladay
    
20. Carlos Pimental
21. Fabio Castillo
22. Kyle Ocampo
23. Tim Murphy: There are Andy Pettitte comparisons, but he could also be a late-inning reliever.
24. Luis Mendoza*
25. Beau Jones
26. Doug Mathis*
27. Tae Ahn: The Rangers' first significant signing from Asia. He was one of the hottest pitchers in Korea last year before he had a rough senior year of high school in 2008.
    
28. Johan Yan: The Rangers are trying this former third-baseman's Adrian Beltre-like arm on the mound

Relievers

1. Pedro Strop: Strop and Madrigal are both converted position players who the Rangers acquired due to roster move mistakes by other clubs. More importantly, they will compete to be the Rangers' future closer. Strop was once ranked as the Rockies' #9 prospect.
2. Warner Madrigal*
3. Andrew Laughter
4. Kea Kometani
   
5. Brennan Garr
6. Corey Young: Projects to be a lefty specialist
7. Ryan Schlecht
8. Jared Hyatt
   
9. Reinier Bermudez
10. Joseph Ortiz

Pitcher is definitely the Rangers' deepest position from top to bottom, followed by catcher. The Rangers' infielders are a bit weaker, but compared to other teams, the Rangers are still loaded in the infield. Outfield is definitely their weakest position. Besides Borbon and Mayberry Jr. most of the other top Rangers outfield prospects are still considered developmental projects - they have no outfield depth at all. However, the current wave of outfield prospects - Marlon Byrd, Nelson Cruz, Brandon Boggs, and David Murphy (you could even add Josh Hamilton to that group) - show enough promise that I think the Rangers will be fine at outfield until the next wave.

Have faith in Jon Daniels, and keep a close watch on the Rangers. There is a bright future for this franchise.