With the exception of the Spokane Indians, all of the Rangers minor league affiliates have completed their regular season schedules.  The 2008 season will undoubtedly rank among the Ranger’s most impressive player development years.  Below are a few of the many numbers and accomplishments of the 2008 minor leaguers that will be used to measure future Rangers farm systems.

One league MVP (Cruz in the PCL.  Moreland finished second in the MWL.)

Two players led their respective leagues in OPS (Cruz in the PCL and Moreland in the MWL).  MaxRam would have made it three if he had enough at bats to qualify for the Texas League crown.
Two complete game no-hitters were thrown by Rangers minor leaguers (Harrison and Nippert tossed 7-inning no-no’s)
Two Olympians (Teagarden for the USA; Frostad for Canada)

Three teams finished with the best overall record in their respective leagues (Frisco, Clinton, Spokane) – that’s more than any other organization in baseball
Three managers were named coach of the year (Scott Little for Frisco, Mike Micucci for Clinton, and Tim Hulett for Spokane)

Four prospects could be ranked among BA’s Top50 prospects (Feliz, Andrus, MaxRam, and Holland)

Five teams won divisional championships (Oklahoma, Frisco, Clinton, Spokane, and DSL Rangers) – That was the most of any team with only three other organizations (Angles, Giants, Yankees) had more than two divisional champions to their credit

Six minor league teams finished above 500 (Oklahoma, Frisco, Clinton, Spokane, AZL Rangers, DSL Rangers).  5 of the 6 finished 10 games above 500.

Six players appear to have graduated to the major leagues (Davis, Boggs, Rupe, Madrigal, Harrison, and Hurley)

Seven prospects are likely to be ranked among BA’s Top100 (Feliz, Andrus, MaxRam, Holland and Smoak appear to be locks. At least two of Borbon, Beavan, Main, Hurley, and Beltre are also likely to be among the Top100).

Eight games over 500 was where Oklahoma finished in the PCL.

Nine players finished in the Top3 of at least one statistical category
  Cruz (PCL) – OPS (#1), SLG (#1), RBI (#1), hits (#3), Runs (#3), 2B (#3)
  Moreland (MWL) – OPS (#1), SLG (#1), RBI (#1), hits (#3), runs (#3), 2B (#3)
  Boscan (NWL) – Wins (#1), WHIP (#2), SO (#3)
  Beltre (MWL) – Hits (#1), Runs (#1)
  Greene (MWL) – HR (#2), RBI (#3)
  Murphy (TL) – 3B (#1), 2B (#3)
  Andrus (TL) – Steals (#2)
  Beavan (MWL) – WHIP (#3)
  Bolden (NWL) – Runs (#3)
  Noteworthy – With a few more at bats or innings pitched, MaxRam, Wieland, Main, NeRa, Borbon, and others would have finished among league leaders, as well.

Twelve players are likely to be included in at least one national Top100 prospect list (Feliz, Andrus, MaxRam, Holland, Smoak, Borbon, Beavan, Main, Hurley, Beltre, Boscan, Hunter – note that 7 of these are pitchers)

Twelve games over 500 was how the AZL Rangers finished the season

Nineteen games over 500 was how Clinton finished the season

Twenty-three games over 500 was how the DSL Rangers finished the season
 

Twenty-five games over 500 is how Spokane will finish if they win their final game

Twenty-seven teams had cumulative minor league winning percentages for their top 7 minor league teams that are worse than the 56% posted by the Rangers.  The Giants (57%) and Yankees (58%) finished slightly ahead.

Twenty-eight games over 500 was how Frisco finished the season

49.3 – Average number of steals for Andrus, Borbon, and Vallejo against an average of only 12.7 caught stealing

One hundred thirteen games above 500 is how the Rangers top 6 minor league teams (minus Bakersfield and DSL Rangers #2) finished the 2008 season.  While I agree that the minor leagues are primarily about developing the physical and mental tools of your future major leaguers, I also believe that it is important to develop a winning attitude and camaraderie among teammates.  Creating an organization of winners is perhaps the single greatest accomplishment for the 2008 Rangers.