Top Ten Rangers Prospect Ratings #s 1-5

If you haven’t by now, you should start with yesterday’s article about the sixth- through tenth-best prospects in the Rangers system. Now let’s get into the cream of the crop. These guys all project to be MLB regulars or better, including a few with relatively high probabilities at providing impact on an MLB roster. Without further delay, the top 5 prospects in the Texas Rangers’ system:

#5: Bubba Thompson – CF
Toolsy centerfielders are a bit of a favorite for the Texas Rangers and generally their picks in the past have lacked polish with the hit tool. This isn’t the case for Bubba Thompson. In addition to having the quick twitch movements and coordination that are the calling cards of an above-average or better hit tool, Thompson’s swing is considerably less raw than past projects, even though there is polishing that needs to be done.

Thompson generates plus bat speed with his explosive wrists and legs, and it isn’t not hard to see a potential uptick in his current fringe-average raw power as he develops more strength. His above-average hit tool should allow him to tap into his power and spray extra base hits all over the field with regular pull-side home runs. Thompson has double-plus speed and should be able to tap into it on the basepaths and in the field with refinement. His range, instincts, and plus arm strength should allow him to be a plus defender in center field. The full profile is a player who will provide tremendous value on the basepaths and in the field, but will (or won’t) hit his potential based on his developing hit tool and pitch recognition. Overall, Thompson projects as an above-average regular on a first division team.

#4: Hans Crouse – RHP
In what is probably my most controversial ranking, Hans Crouse comes in at #4. Crouse, now 19, is 6’4”, 185 lbs (he will probably come into 2018 camp closer to 195 as he adds lower body strength). He has plenty of room to fill out and he’s athletic, despite his lanky build. Crouse has a double-plus fastball that sits 95 to 97 and he aggressively uses it with command better than the delivery suggests. His fastball has plus life and allows it to play up even beyond its already impressive grade. His 80-84 curveball flashes plus or better with elite depth and spin, but Crouse has inconsistent feel for the pitch and it often comes out slow and slurvy. Crouse’s changeup reportedly improved in both quality and consistency in his first season of pro-ball and regularly flashed average.

The concerns I hear about Crouse are with the delivery and where that will limit him in his command over the course of a full season as a starter. While his cross-body full-effort delivery could use refinement, I think the worries are overblown. Crouse has clean arm action despite it coming from a strange angle, due to a complete lack of shoulder or core tilt. The movements are very similar to Chris Sale’s and while his secondaries aren’t on the same level, the example for an MLB career despite his delivery is there.

Crouse profiles as a number three starter on a first division team with potential upside, dependent on the development of his curveball and changeup. In addition, his lower end projection is still solid projection as a back of the bullpen arm, due to his stuff and his intensity on the mound.

#3: Michael Matuella – RHP
“Match” is going into his age 24 season with a history of injuries, a degenerative spinal disorder, and relatively little pro experience. The Tommy John surgery and rehab was completely successful, but the spinal disorder does increase his chance of injury as he gets older (although it is considered manageable and other MLB players deal with it). Matuella’s polish as a pitcher is well beyond that of most one-year professionals.

Now that we’ve cleared those up, let’s talk about the tools. Matuella stands at 6’6”, 215 lbs and sits 95-96 with his 2-seam fastball. Match aggressively locates that two-seamer all over the zone at his whim with above-average arm-side life. He throws a plus 79-82 curveball with good depth and tight spin and a plus 85-86 changeup with arm-side action and dive. Both secondaries will induce swings and misses and the changeup will allow him to keep left-handed hitters off balance.

Matuella is a quality athlete and controls his body and delivery well and should pitch with above average command as he improves up the ladder. While there’s a considerable amount of risk that isn’t associated with his baseball ability, his tools and repertoire paint a picture of a #2 starter on a first division team.

#2: Willie Calhoun – LF/DH (Full Report)
Willie Calhoun is one of the most interesting prospects in baseball. His career path is completely tied to his bat: his defense in left field will likely never be above-average and he’s not going to be good on the basepaths… but damn, can he hit. I’m reminded of how I felt every single time I watched Prince Fielder swing: sheer amazement that a man so thick and strong with a “bad body” could move his bat so fast. Calhoun has that elite quickness and coordination that makes me completely buy in to his offensive profile, and his attitude seals the deal. Calhoun plays with a chip on his shoulder, due to being constantly told that his body and defensive skill set would keep him from moving up, and the bat has consistently silenced those critics. He plays with a quiet confidence and certainty that he will ruin a pitchers day, not maliciously, but because he’s Willie Calhoun and he loves to hit. Calhoun projects as a plus starter on a first division team with the variance coming with how well he adjusts to MLB pitching and how his approach translates at the MLB level.

#1: Leody Taveras – CF (Full Report)
No surprises here: Taveras is an elite prospect and is a good offensive season away from cracking the top 10 on lists all across the board. Taveras has a clean swing from both sides of the plate, quick explosive levers, coordination, quickness, speed, defensive ability, and baseball instincts beyond his ripe age of 19. There is a good bit of development that needs to happen, specifically translating the offensive skill set into quality production against increasingly skilled pitching, and improving routes in the outfield. With that inherent risk, there is also the chance that he improves beyond his projection, which is the inherent double-edged nature of prospects. The top of the bell curve (or most likely outcome) for Taveras is a plus starting center fielder on a first division team. Taveras has a relatively high floor with his defensive tools and instincts at the plate and the sky is the limit as his ceiling depending on how he develops offensively.

Final Thoughts
The Rangers farm system is well on its way towards being a strength again and the top 5 prospects reflect that. Each of these players have a visible and clear path to the MLB based on their tool projections and each sports an upside beyond that projection. The system as a whole has a good assortment of top tier talent and depth, even if they are a few years away from being able to help the MLB club. While there will inevitably be disappointments, improvements, and injuries, this farm system should be extremely interesting to follow in the coming years.