Baseball America Rangers Top 30 (2001-2007)

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 1:00 AM CDT

I thought this would be an interesting thing to talk about since we really can't spend our days talking about signing Beavan or trading Teixeira anymore. Here are the Rangers Top 30 lists from Baseball America as published in the 2001-2007 Prospect Handbooks. There are some names on here I don't recognize and others that I haven't even thought about in years. Interstingly, Jason Botts is the only player to appear on all seven lists. Sorry for the length, but I don't know how to format it any other way.

2001

Carlos Pena
Jovanny Cedeno
Jason Romano
Kevin Mench
Joaquin Benoit
Colby Lewis
Mike Young
Aaron Myette
Andy Pratt
Hank Blalock
David Mead
Travis Hafner
David Elder
Scott Heard
Ryan Duttfurth
Jose Morban
Spike Lundberg
Omar Beltre
Domingo Valdez
Greg Runser
Jason Botts
Alan Webb
Kelly Dransfeldt
Danny Kolb
Cody Nowlin
Chris Russ
Nick Regilio
Sixto Urena
Jason Bourgeois
Corey Lee

2002

Hank Blalock
Mark Teixeira
Mario Ramos
Colby Lewis
Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Dittfurth
Joaquin Benoit
Jovanny Cedeno
Kevin Mench
Jason Hart
Jason Bourgeois
Omar Beltre
Andy Pratt
Jose (Juan) Dominguez
Jason Romano
Travis Hafner
Laynce Nix
Patrick Boyd
Gerald Laird
Kelvin Jiminez
Justin Duchscherer
Nick Regilio
Jason Botts
Scott Heard
Travis Hughes
Jose Morban
Chris Russ
Reynaldo Garcia
CJ Wilson
Greg Runser

2003

Mark Teixeira
Colby Lewis
Ben Kozlowski
Laynce Nix
Gerald Laird
Drew Meyer
Ryan Ludwick
C.J. Wilson
Travis Hughes
Jason Bourgeois
Jason Hart
Marshall McDougall
Jose (Juan) Dominguez
Kelvin Jiminez
A.J. Murray
Ryan Dittfurth
Nick Regilio
John Barnett
Jermaine Clark
Mario Ramos
Chris O'Riordan
Ramon Martinez (Nivar)
Erik Thompson
Patrick Boyd
Kiki Bengochea
Derek Van Dusen
Jason Botts
John Koronka
Nate Gold
Julin Charles

2004

Adrian Gonzalez
John Danks
Ramon Nivar
Juan Dominguez
Vince Sinisi
Gerald Laird
Wes Littleton
Jason Bourgeois
Drew Meyer
Josh Rupe
Kelvin Jiminez
Anthony Webster
Ben Kozlowski
Edwin Moreno
Erik Thompson
C.J. Wilson
Kameron Loe
Will Smith
Jason Botts
Ryan Snare
John Hudgins
A.J. Murray
Jeremy Cleveland
Patrick Boyd
Matt Lorenzo
Nick Regilio
Nate Gold
Frankie Francisco
Justin Echols
Marc LaMacchia

2005

Thomas Diamond
John Danks
Joaquin Arias
Ian Kinsler
Chris Young
John Hudgins
Juan Dominguez
Adrian Gonzalez
Josh Rupe
Vince Sinisi
Jason Botts
Edinson Volquez
Eric Hurley
Juan Senreiso
Michael Schlact
Matt Lorenzo
Nick Massett
Kameron Loe
Wes Littleton
K.C. Herren
Anthony Webster
Ramon Nivar
Jason Bourgeois
Mike Nickeas
Drew Meyer
Erik Thompson
John Bannister
Nick Regilio
Jeremy Cleveland
Ryan Wing

2006

Edinson Volquez
John Danks
Thomas Diamond
Joaquin Arias
Eric Hurley
Ian Kinsler
Armando Galarraga
Jason Botts
Taylor Teagarden
John Mayberry Jr.
Johnny Whittleman
Josh Rupe
Michael Schlact
C.J. Wilson
Scott Feldman
Fabio Castro
Travis Metcalf
Vince Sinisi
John Hudgins
Jose Vallejo
Cristian Santana
Kevin Mahar
John Bannister
Anthony Webster
Mike Nickeas
Steve Murphy
Omar Beltre
Drew Meyer
Omar Poveda
Manuel Pina

2007

John Danks
Eric Hurley
Edinson Volquez
Thomas Diamond
John Mayberry Jr.
Joaquin Arias
Kasey Kiker
Nick Massett
Jason Botts
Josh Rupe
Chris Davis
Marcus Lemon
Taylor Teagarden
Omar Poveda
Armando Galarraga
Chad Tracy
Ben Harrison
John Whittleman
Fabio Castillo
Francisco Crucetta
Wes Littleton
Daniel Haigwood
Freddy Guzman
Michael Schlact
Anthony Webster
Jesse Ingram
Doug Mathis
Danny Ray Herrera
Jose Vallejo
Jacob Rasner

Who are some of the players you were sure would be stars and didnt turn out? Who turned out that you never thought would be anything?

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Comments

well

you definitely met the 300 characters limit...

I cannot wait to see 2008's list. Sure some will lose prospect status, but there will be far more intirguing additions...

Yeah, well at least I'm housebroken.

by HypoLuxa on Aug 16, 2007 12:57 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah

I wanted to line them up neatly across the page because there is so much wasted space to the right of the lists, but that is apparently beyond my skill level.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions

2008 Lists...

I'm with you...With some of the breakout years guy on the farm have had, combined with the prospects the Rangers have brought in over the past couple of months, it'll be interesting to see how they line up against eachother...The farm is DEFINATELY miles ahead of where it has been over the last decade or so.

by N41D on Aug 16, 2007 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Assuming no Borbon

... I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

Hurley
Kiker
Beavan
Teagarden
Volquez
Main
Poveda
Andrus
Mabry
Duran
Davis
Harrison
Max Ramirez
Whittleman
Beltre
Feliz
Neil Ramirez
Murphy
Lemon
Phillips
Galarraga
Boggs
Arias
Diamond
Jones
Fry
Brigham
Tracy
Pimentel
Font

by hperl345 on Aug 16, 2007 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Poveda a little high

and Diamond a little low. Has he really fallen out of favor that badly? We're talking about a 1st round talent.

Josh Rupe? Or is he already an MLB entity according to your standards, right now?

Other than that, a solid list for sure.

"Really we should put Benoit in the rotation, he'd be Johann [sic] Santana but for 30 million less." - Sharky, Aug. 8 2007

by inactive lsb user on Aug 16, 2007 2:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Top 30

I have my own personal top 30 list as well, but I am too tired to type it tonight. I'll get it up tomorrow.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 2:58 AM CDT up reply actions

tmi

Lick by lick, mountains erode

by RangerMoto on Aug 16, 2007 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Top 30

I may have left someone off, but the list I did earlier was only a top 20 and I found some problems with it afterwards. Here is my top 30 as I see it now.

Hurley
Andrus
Kiker
Beavan
Teagarden
Volquez
Main
Duran
Harrison
Davis
Whittleman
Poveda
Ramirez, Max
Arias
Mayberry
Diamond
Ramirez, Neil
Feliz
Castillo
Borbon
Beltre
Lemon
Galaragga
Jones, Beau
Phillips
Vallejo
Reed
Hunter
Brigham
Font

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Rupe?

I honestly believe that Rupe will be a serviceable ML pitcher. So, could you clarify if he either needs to enter your top 20, or already be considered a ML pitcher?

"Really we should put Benoit in the rotation, he'd be Johann [sic] Santana but for 30 million less." - Sharky, Aug. 8 2007

by inactive lsb user on Aug 16, 2007 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Rupe

Honestly I forgot about him, but his track record of never being able to stay healthy would keep him out of my top 20.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I was going to

make a couple of comments, but I'll just list mine for contrast's sake:

1. Hurley
(2. Volquez, but will lose status)

Davis
Andrus
Kiker
Beavan
Main
Teagarden
Duran
Borbon
Whittleman
Feliz
Castillo
Beltre
M Ramirez - feel stupid listing him so low
Diamond - same with him
Poveda - breakout year and drops
Arias
Harrison
Mayberry
N Ramirez
Lemon
Galarraga - amazing that he had a comeback year and will probably drop anyway
Font - should probably be higher
Hunter
Santana
B Jones
West
Reed
Phillips
Pimentel

Notables I had to leave off:
Brigham
Vallejo
Schlact
Rupe
Mathis
Herren
Tracy
Boggs
Murray
Murphy
Murphy
Garr

The system doesn't really have a quality #2 prospect, and one of the HS pitchers (probably Kiker) will wind up ranked #2 for BA. Three isn't that strong either, but from there on the system is just incredibly deep. Guys like Beltre and Castillo will probably slide some just because it seems silly to rank guys like Mayberry, Arias, Diamond and Poveda in the mid-teens. That range is just really strong.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 17, 2007 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Zywica

Thanks for posting your own list. You obviously have Davis a lot higher than I do, but I think Davis could move up on mine. At the end of the season, if he maintains the high walk rate, I would move him up on my list. Whittleman could also drop if he continues to struggle in Bakersifled. If Beltre continues to hit well and show pop in the AZL, he could move up as well.

Even though the lists are made during the season and could change, it is still nice to make them and discuss them. Sounds like you noticed the same thing that I did. After you get to about #7 or #8, the next 20 or 25 players are all pretty much interchangeable.

by uthornfan on Aug 17, 2007 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah that last thing

is exactly what I noticed.

I really have no idea where to rank Davis. I don't see a clear #2, and he is really putting up some numbers, especially with the improved plate control in AA (hope that somehow continues).

by Brett Perryman on Aug 17, 2007 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

It's really nice

to look at that list and repeatedly think, "That's too low for that guy." Awsome problem to have.

by badradiorules on Aug 17, 2007 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

CJ

Interesting to see that as recently as 2006 he was our 8th best pitching prospect, right between Michael Schlact and Scott Feldman.

This is why I cringe when I see suggestions of trading any pitching prospects to fill holes for next years team. It is just a stupid thing for a rebuilding team to do.

Saltalamacchia: one player, six vowels.

by tricer on Aug 16, 2007 1:11 AM CDT reply actions

Trading pitching...

for anything but pitching is foolish for this franchise. You do NOT give up young arms when you're the Texas Rangers, unless of course it's in a package for some sort of potential long-term improvement to the current staff.

by N41D on Aug 16, 2007 1:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Also interesting

CJ's on 5 of 7 lists...

by a bebop a rebop on Aug 16, 2007 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions

CJ

He was on every list he was eligible for. He wasn't in the organization when the 2001 list came out and he was not eligible for the 2007 list because of his major league service time.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions

I was overlooking 2007 actually

He's missing from 2004... he had TJ, right?

by a bebop a rebop on Aug 16, 2007 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions

2005 actually

and yeah

by Brett Perryman on Aug 16, 2007 2:11 AM CDT up reply actions

CJ

I was just trusting you when you said he was on 5 of 7 lists. I knew he wasn't on 2001 or 2007 so I assumed he was on the rest. I guess that is what I get for assuming.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 2:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Right

I'm all over the place at 2:30 in the morning...

by a bebop a rebop on Aug 16, 2007 2:27 AM CDT up reply actions

So am I

I just want to hear word on our unsigned picks before I go to sleep. I think the problem is that Baseball America, TR Sullivan and Evan Grant are all probably asleep, so even if it was announced we probably wouldn't hear about it until tomorrow. I am just going to hit the sack and when I get up, we better have three new minor leaguers.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 2:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Kam Loe

These lists also make me appreciate what a great scouting and development story Kam Loe has become.

Drafted in 20th rd of 02 draft.

Never made it higher than #17 on the prospect lists.

Almost 300 ip in the bigs at age 25...probably don't see that type development very often.

Saltalamacchia: one player, six vowels.

by tricer on Aug 16, 2007 1:24 AM CDT reply actions

McCarthy

Is a similar story albeit for another franchise

by bushe on Aug 16, 2007 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

botts

not on 2002 :)

Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture

by gossamer on Aug 16, 2007 1:37 AM CDT reply actions

Nope

but Bots is.

by Brett Perryman on Aug 16, 2007 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Fixed that one

Nice catch.

by uthornfan on Aug 16, 2007 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions

ya

Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture

by gossamer on Aug 16, 2007 1:40 AM CDT reply actions

All you need to know about lists

Jason Romano, better prospect than Michael Young.

by DJCahill on Aug 16, 2007 6:15 AM CDT reply actions

I Knew They Would Be Great

Here are some of the names that I knew would turn out to be studs:

Both Cedeno and Colby Lewis were going to be great pitchers. I was positive that Jose (Juan) Dominguez had the stuff to be better than Lewis or Cedeno, and that if he didn't cut it as a starter he was a shoe-in for a major league closing role...then we found out he was actually 47 years old instead of 20. I still believe that Omar Beltre could be a very good pitcher in America...if he could only get to America. Oh yeah...I thought Travis Hughes would be good someday.

Jeremy Cleveland, Patrick Boyd and Sinisi were all guys I thought would be major leaguers by now...and then there was Hafner. I just knew he would be great...whatever happened to him? We can complain all we want about the Chris Young trade, but if I could take back any of the Rangers trades over the past few years it would be the Hafner trade.

by rangeressary on Aug 16, 2007 6:52 AM CDT reply actions