Texas Rangers Top Prospect Nomar Mazara Hitting Stride

There are going to be a ton of fireworks at Dr. Pepper Ballpark this weekend. The Frisco Roughriders will have post-game fireworks displays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Independence Day Weekend. However, there’s a very good chance you’ll see some in-game fireworks thanks to RoughRiders right fielder Nomar Mazara.

Mazara is the Texas Rangers top outfield prospect. In the whole system he ranks near the top on every list. Whether it’s third (MLB.Com), fourth (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus) or second (ESPN) the hype about the 6 foot 5, 20-year old is very, very real.

May 16, 2015; Frisco, Tx, USA; Frisco Rough Riders left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) congratulates right fielder Nomar Mazara (12) on his home run in the third inning against the Corpus Christi Hooks at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Signed in July 2011 out of the Dominican Republic at just 16-years-old, Mazara received a record $5 million dollar signing bonus. Rangers brass clearly saw big things.

Graduating to Frisco at just age 19, this season Mazara is still the fourth youngest player in all of AA baseball. This is his first full season at the level, and the power hitting prospect is starting to break out.

Power is expected to be the big part of Nomar Mazara’s arsenal, but 2015 did not start kind to him in that regard. Despite hitting a robust .305, it took 32 games for a ball to leave the yard off the bat of Mazara.

Finally seeing one leave the yard didn’t have the intended effect however, as he hit only one more home run in the next 15 games. Mazara’s peripheral numbers were strong, his arm and glove well above average in right, but the power numbers were a tad disconcerting.

Being a top prospect means getting picked apart at the seams. So regardless of being the fourth youngest at his level of competition and having a very good season, the power wasn’t there.

The power arrived June 2nd.

Since June 2nd, Mazara has belted a whopping eight home runs in 26 games. He’s homering every 12 at-bats the last calendar month, and has certainly turned a corner developmentally, mentally, physically…honestly, who’s to know but Nomar.

Whatever the reason, or perhaps the reason simply being that he’s 20 and the baseball season is a long trek, Nomar Mazara is starting to make a future in Arlington seem very, very real and incredibly exciting.

Next: Texas Minor League Top Performances of June