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.

2013

#1 Jorge Alfaro and #2 Luis Sardinas

Jorge Alfaro

Alfaro has been traded twice since his elite prospect status. He was the headliner in the package that brought Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman over from the Phillies in 2015. Then, last trade season, Alfaro was dealt to the Miami Marlins with additional prospects in exchange for catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Alfaro, a catcher himself, is having a nice season with Miami, hitting .261 with 9 home runs and 27 RBI.

Mastery behind the plate was always his biggest draw. Experts figured he could be a solid bat in the bigs but super stardom wasn’t thought to be in the cards. Given the long-term output of Hamels and Diekman with the Rangers, trading a top prospect in Alfaro turned out to be a fine move.

Luis Sardinas

Sardinas hasn’t amounted to much in his major league career, especially since his high regard in the Rangers’ system. Granted, he was never a name that overwhelmed Texas Rangers fans with anticipation.

Texas sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers along with two other prospect in 2015. They received starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo in return. Sardinas, primarily a middle infielder, now finds himself in the minor leagues with the Washington Nationals.

He has only 182 big league games to his name since his debut with the Rangers in 2014.

2014

#1 Joey Gallo and #2 Jorge Alfaro

Joey Gallo

I don’t need to spend too much time on the organization’s top prospect from 2014. While the ride to dominance hasn’t been smooth for Gallo, he’s still the quickest player to 100 home runs in American League history.

Fans have been a little on edge about him, but it seems any doubts have faded after an MVP-worthy start to the 2019 season. Prior to his injury early in June, the 25-year-old was among the league leaders in just about every offensive category.

2015

#1 Joey Gallo and #2 Nomar Mazara

Nomar Mazara

The consensus is Mazara hasn’t yet lived up to his potential. Even so, he’s held a spot in the heart of the Texas Rangers lineup ever since being brought up in 2015. He’s far from a disappointment, but expectations are considerable with him being at the forefront of a club refresh.

If he can breakout along Gallo’s breakout, watch out rest of the American League.