Rangers Top Prospect – Jorge Alfaro Report

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Jorge Alfaro against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Surprise Saguaros won the 2013 Arizona Fall League Championship game, a team that includes several Texas Rangers top prospects.  One top prospect is catcher Jorge Alfaro.

After the game, Alfaro expressed his feelings.

“This is so surreal,” Alfaro said through a translator, Red Sox left-hander Miguel Pena. “I’m still soaking it in. I’ve never been a part of a championship team.” (Jim Callis – MLB.com)

Yesterday, Jorge Alfaro started the game and delivered the first run of the game for the Saguaros off a single to the outfield which scored 1 of Saguaros 2 runs.  Also, to help the Saguaros win the game, Alfaro threw out 2 base runners trying to steal.  In a 2-0 game, where pitching was the dominate factor, Alfaro did his part to help his team win.

For the whole season, Jorge Alfaro has been a stand out player.  The young Texas Rangers top prospect practically lead in batting average the entire season and finished second with .386.  Alfaro played in 19 games, had 70 at-bats, a batting line of 386/.438/.500/.938 , 33 hits, 6 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs and 20 RBIs.  To put that in prospective, Alfaro is in the almost in the top 10 in every batting category.  He 5 home runs is second in the league, (6 was the most).

Alfaro has been able to refine some of his skills throughout the year.  With the Texas Rangers minor league team in Hickory, he batted .265/.346/.463/.809.  He was able to throw out 31% of base stealers , but had 28 passed balls with 11 errors over 82 games.

In the Arizona League, he seemed to do much better.

Jorge Alfaro isn’t done with offseason baseball.  Jorge Alfaro will also be playing in the Colombian Winter League.   Alfaro will probably dominate that league also, and should get an invite to spring training with the Texas Rangers.

Overall, Jorge Alfaro is the best prospect the Texas Rangers has right now.  He has tools needed to be the backstop, and is able to hit the ball.  He’s been likened to Ivan Rodriguez several times and this could be the guy we see in a Texas Rangers uniform someday.  If he is, the Texas Rangers will finally have a solid long term catcher.  With the invite to Surprise, Alfaro will have his chance to show off his skills and hopefully some day make it to the majors.

Notes:

• Ranked 88 by MLB.com in the pre-2013 prospect list.
• Ranked 1^st by MLB.com for the Texas Rangers top 2013 prospect.
• Signed in January 2010 out of Columbia at 16 with a $1.3 million signing bonus