How have Texas Rangers’ top prospects panned out over the last decade?

A look back on the Texas Rangers’ top prospects over the years. Which ones have panned out and which ones have faded away?

Nothing gets the people goin like prospect talk. Everyone seems to think they have a beat on an organization’s top prospects, but the reality is, they’re vastly unpredictable. Some peter out in the mid-levels of the minor leagues, some fall to career-altering injury, and some simply can’t hang once they make it to the big leagues. Also included are the prospects that live up to the hype or even exceed expectations.

The Texas Rangers have a lot of intriguing talent in the minors right now. They have two prospects in MLB.com’s Top 100 list and a bevy of high potential, but very green prospects scattered throughout their system. To provide reference as to how their current talent may or may not pan out, read on and review the results of their top talent over the past decade.

2010

Top two prospects per minor league ball: #1 Neftali Feliz and #2 Justin Smoak

Neftali Feliz

Feliz panned out. Even if his dominance spanned just a few seasons, two of those seasons resulted in a World Series appearance for the Texas Rangers. The flame-throwing right-hander converted the third most saves in the AL in 2010 and the fifth most in 2011. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2010. He was also a fly ball out away from earning the franchise its first championship.

The Rangers attempted to transition Feliz into a starting pitcher in 2012. Injuries followed and he was never the same. He jumped around from team to team over the next five years; he’s presently a member of the Seattle Mariners’ organization at the age of 31.

Justin Smoak

Smoak was supposed to be the next big bat at first base for the Rangers. He was a promising switch-hitter with pop from each side of the plate, plus he had a nice glove. After experiencing 235 at-bats with Texas in 2010, he was shipped to Seattle in a blockbuster deal that returned SP Cliff Lee.

Lee was in his prime, and although the Texas Rangers only had him for a few months, he played a major role in getting the club to the World Series that year.

Smoak didn’t do much with the Mariners; however, he’s gone on to have a nice career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He consistently hits in the middle of the Blue Jay lineup, and he’s totaled 107 home runs with them over four and a half seasons.

2011

Top two prospects per MLB.com: #1 Jurickson Profar and #2 Martin Perez

Jurickson Profar

Here are a couple of controversial Texas Rangers for you. Profar was not only the top prospect in the organization in 2011, but the #11 prospect in all of baseball. (He was the #1 prospect in MLB the following year.) Also a switch-hitter, Profar possessed impressive plate discipline, great pop for his size and a bat with high average potential. He also had an elite arm and plenty of range at shortstop.

A barrage of injuries set Profar way behind in his timeline. He debuted with the Rangers in 2012, played 85 games with them in 2013 and then missed all of 2014 and 2015 due to shoulder problems.

Texas didn’t get much out of him until last season, in which played 146 games, hit 20 home runs as well as 35 doubles, and slashed .254/.335/.458. The Rangers took advantage of his stand out season by trading him to the Oakland A’s this past December for four prospects. Profar plays frequently for Oakland, though he is not having a very good season as their second baseman.

Martin Perez

Perez didn’t pan out either. The Rangers gave him as many chances as was reasonable, but he kept providing the same mediocre results. 2013, his first full season with the big league club, was encouraging. He went 10-6 with a 3.62 ERA over 20 starts. Though, injuries cut his 2014 and 2015 seasons short. From there, he never saw an ERA below 4.30.

In seven seasons with the Rangers, Perez contributed just three winnings seasons and never pitched more than 200 innings. He always had great velocity from the left side, but control issues and poor command of his repertoire constantly held him back.

Texas declined his option after 2018 and the Minnesota Twins signed him to a 1-year, $4 million contract. He is off to a 7-3 start with the Twins, currently holding a 4.28 ERA.

2012

#1 Jurickson Profar and #2 Mike Olt

Mike Olt

Olt’s 2012 season at Double-A Frisco was nothing short of tremendous, as he hit 28 home runs, drove in 82 runs and slashed .288/.398/.579. That earned him a debut with the Rangers that same year. It all went down hill from there, rather rapidly.

Misfortune transpired as Olt experienced issues with his eye. It turned out the issue was allergy related, but the third baseman was not able to overcome it. His production plummeted and the Rangers were forced to part ways with him the following year. Just like that, their #2 prospect was gone.

He played for the Cubs briefly in 2014 and 2015, but hasn’t played a major league game since. He was released by the Minnesota Twins this spring and is currently a free agent.

2016

#1 Yohander Mendez and #2 Andy Ibanez

Yohander Mendez 

Mendez topped the prospect charts at a time in which the Rangers’ farm system was relatively lean. He’s struggled in his few chances, and a suffered UCL strain this spring cost him at least half of the 2019 season.

The left-hander is just 24 years old. A lot has happened and a lot likely will happen with the Texas rotation before he is ready to return. Regardless, he should have a good shot at being a part of it next year, and maybe still this year. The Rangers aren’t going to tolerate mediocrity from him for much longer, however.

Andy Ibanez

Ibanez has been a nice player in the minor leagues for quite some time now. He’s still in the Rangers’ system, currently scattering throughout the infield with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. What’s kept the 26-year-old from the big leagues? Well, he’s a skilled player, but no part of his game is spectacular. In other words, he doesn’t really have that “it” factor that’s going to persuade the organization to promote him to the show.

Also, the Texas Rangers middle infield has been firm for a long time. Elvis Andrus is the face of the team and the club clearly isn’t willing to budge on Rougned Odor, no matter how low he stoops. With the contributions of Danny Santana and Logan Forsythe, there isn’t even a way to flex Ibanez in as a utility player.

2017

#1 Leody Taveras and #2 Willie Calhoun

Leody Taveras 

The Rangers are planning their future outfield with Taveras in mind. He’s a superb athlete that is likely to take over center field by 2021. At 6’1”, 171 LBS, he’s not a home run hitter, but he can hit the gaps and turn his wheels. Taveras is tied for second in the Advanced-A Carolina League with four triples, but Texas promoted him to Double-A Frisco a few days ago.

He’s still green, but a strong finish to the 2019 season and an encouraging showing at 2020 spring training could introduce a tempting decision to the front office.

Willie Calhoun

3rd time’s the charm for Calhoun. After disappointing in his first two stints with the big league squad, the 24-year-old has come into his own in 2019. He has played just 12 games with Texas this year, but he’s surely impressed, hitting .348 with a .996 OPS. He has also done a nice job manning left field.

Barring a sudden and extreme downturn, Calhoun isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

2018

#1 Leody Taveras and #2 Julio Pablo Martinez

Julio Pablo Martinez

The 2018 Cuban signee hasn’t progressed at the pace the Texas Rangers had hoped for. Now 23, Martinez remains at Single-A, and he’s hitting just .202 with a .357 SLG. Texas is hoping the bat comes along, because he has plus speed and a plus glove. A future outfield with Taveras and Martinez would be elite.

2019

#1 Hans Crouse and #2 Cole Winn

Hans Crouse

Rangers nation is stoked about Hans Crouse, the organization’s current top prospect. The right-handed pitcher ranks as the 63rd best prospect in Major League Baseball. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and can reach 99 mph. Crouse’s slider is an out-pitch as well.

The Rangers have been cautious with the 20-year-old, but he hasn’t exactly been challenged in the lower levels of the minor leagues. He is with Class-A Hickory, 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA thus far in 2019. He averages over a strikeout per inning and opponents are hitting just .215 against him. Additional refining is necessary, as is expected at his age, though everything is going according to plan to this point.

Cole Winn

Winn was taken 15th overall in the 2015 draft. He’s 19 years old, and a member of the Hickory Crawdads in 2019. Six starts thus far, he is 0-3 with a 9.35 ERA.

Not the start he was looking for; however, the Rangers are very optimistic about his ability and early maturity. Winn sports a low-to-mid 90s fastball, along with advanced breaking stuff. He has the foundation of a streamline prospect. Ideally, he and Crouse emerge as weapons in the Texas Rangers rotation by 2022.