What Texas Rangers prospects can make MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 in 2021?

OF Leody Taveras

Leody Taveras is a logical guess as to which Rangers’ prospects could find themselves in the Pipeline Top 100 over the next year. The defensive wizard has been in the Top 100 before peaking at #28 at the end of the 2017 rankings. He dropped to #54 in 2018 and completely out of the Top 100 in 2019 due to his bat continuing to struggle as he progresses through the minors. For context, Taveras’ hit tools in 2017, at his prospect peak, were graded at slightly above average and average for hit tool and power respectively. In 2018, his hit tool actually bumped up from 55 to 60 on the 20-80 scale. However, in 2019, Pipeline knocked Taveras’ hit tool back to 55 and his power grade all the way down to 40, a below average rating.

For Taveras, having lower grades on his bat is to be slightly expected. His value comes from his elite defensive ability in center field where he should wind up a perennial Gold Glove candidate thanks to his plus speed, above average arm and stout glove. However, in today’s offense driven game, he will have to produce more at the plate to climb his way back into elite prospect status.

In 2019, Taveras started to rebound some at the plate hitting .279 across High-A and Double-A in 131 games. In his time with Frisco, he finished with a .695 OPS in 65 games which leaves plenty to be desired though. He won’t ever be a power guy, but double digit home runs should be the goal for the switch-hitter as should racking up plenty of doubles. If his OPS is closer to the .750 mark with Frisco this season, that could signal a big step forward for the outfielder. A strong showing at the plate in 2020, plus his already stellar defensive tools could see him climb back into the discussion as one of the better outfield prospects in baseball. It also could go along way in securing the center field job for the Texas Rangers come 2021 which is when he could hit the big leagues full time.