Jordan Akins retires, is returning to football

Texas Ranger minor league outfielder Jordan Akins, a 3rd round pick in 2010, is retiring from baseball.  Akins is expected to play collegiate football at the University of Central Florida this fall instead.

Akins was a super-toolsy righthanded hitter who the Rangers were hoping would be able to translate his tools into skills.  He generated a fair amount of buzz after putting up a .283/.312/.428 line in the AZL in 2011, but struggled after that.  Akins spent most of the 2012 and 2013 seasons in low-A Hickory, where he put up a .209/.231/.330 line with 291 Ks and 19 walks in 815 plate appearances.

Other notable minor league releases the Rangers announced today include 1B/DH Michael Bianucci; Johan Yan, the third baseman turned RHP; and David Gates, the righthanded pitcher drafted last year in the 18th round out of Howard College whose pre-draft report was that he had a big arm and makeup issues.

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