4/03: Rangers Farm Report

By Scott Lucas

The Rangers ended Spring Training Thursday, and every player knows where he’s headed. I, however, do not. Not all of them, anyway. Alas, the Newberg Report isn’t in the habit of jumping press releases, so you’ll just have to sit tight. In the meantime, I can tantalize you with more information and guesswork.

Various news reports placed lefty Michael Kirkman’s assignment at Frisco, as I mentioned Tuesday, but the official site has him in AAA Oklahoma City. Despite middling results in AA last year, he’s capable of handling the promotion. He’s completed his resurrection from an injury-plagued 75-inning stretch of 2006-2007 during which opponents reached safely at an astounding .464 pace.

Officially optioned to Oklahoma City are pitchers Derek Holland, Kirkman, Brandon McCarthy and Pedro Strop, catcher Max Ramirez, infielder Hernan Iribarren, and outfielders Brandon Boggs and Craig Gentry. Optioned to Frisco are pitchers Omar Beltre (bound for OKC, actually), Alexi Ogando, the injured Omar Poveda, and Zach Phillips.

OKC’s front five on the mound appear to be Holland, McCarthy, Kirkman, Mike Ballard, and… Guillermo Moscoso, unless Texas wants to keep him as a reliever for later use in Arlington? Kasey Kiker, unless Texas decides he needs a little more time in Frisco? Door Number Three? We’ll see.

The OKC infield should be Justin Smoak plus the losers in the Great Backup Infielder War: Matt Brown, Esteban German, Hernan Iribarren and Gregorio Petit. Once Joaquin Arias’s sand runs out, he could join them if he slides through waivers. The foursome of Brandon Boggs, Craig Gentry, Mitch Moreland and Chad Tracy will man the outfield. The backstops will be Max Ramirez and Matt Treanor, who opted to stay. That leaves one more position spot. Kevin Richardson, despite Major League experience, is hampered by his lack of versatility. On a 24-man roster with 12 pitchers, carrying three players limited to catching is nearly untenable (yes, Max can play first, but that’s not his primary task). Taking advantage of the situation could be catcher Emerson Frostad, who can also play first and third, and four-corner man Wes Bankston.

Richard Bleier, worked the 8th and 9th innings of the final “A” game in Surprise, and Ryan Tatusko was preparing to enter when the game ended. Both spent all or most of 2009 in high-A Bakersfield, but not this year. Frisco’s rotation is shaping up to be Martin Perez, Blake Beavan, Alexi Ogando, possibly Kiker, and one among Bleier and Tatusko. Danny Gutierrez becomes eligible toward the end of June.

I see an outfield of Jonathan Greene, offseason signing James Tomlin, and Joey Butler in the outfield. Three-fourths of the infield should be holdovers from last August: 3B Johnny Whittleman and middle infielders Marcus Lemon and Renny Osuna. Matt Lawson performed admirably at second base for Bakersfield in 2009 and is ready for promotion. First base remains a bit of a mystery. One possibility is Mitch Hilligoss, acquired for Greg Golson over the winter but without an at-bat above high-A. Another is Erik Morrison, who hit the cover off the ball last year but has barely played above low-A Hickory. Both have more experience at other infield positions and would be rather underutilized at first. Richardson, Elio Sarmiento and Chris Gradoville are potential catchers. Richardson, despite deserving AAA placement, is ideal for working with the prospect-heavy Frisco pitching staff. Think of him as Crash Davis. But on the good side of age 30. And with a little less power. And a wedding ring.

Outfielders Engel Beltre, David Paisano and Mike Bianucci are looking at a return engagement in Bakersfield, but all have an excellent opportunity to spend a fair portion of the season in Frisco. I’ve got as little grasp on the Blaze infield as anywhere in the system. Slugger Tommy Mendonza should man third base. Davis Stoneburner probably will be there at shortstop, seeing as I can’t find room for him in Frisco. Morrison and Hilligoss are possibilities. Otherwise, it’s hard to say, as Hickory had several infielders who didn’t compel a promotion. Catching should be Jose Felix, who spent all of 2009 in Bakersfield, and Doug Hogan, one of Texas’s Arizona Fall League contingent.

As I mentioned Tuesday, I expect Kennil Gomez and Tim Murphy to remain in Bakersfield. Joining them will be a healthy Michael Main, whose listed weight of 170 appears deficient. The rest of the rotation will come from Hickory. Again, as noted Tuesday, I give Jake Brigham the best chance to move up. Wilfredo Boscan, Wilmer Font, and Carlos Pimentel are also in the picture.

Predicting the roster of the lowest-ranking full-season team is always the most difficult. Neil Ramirez should definitely start in Hickory, where he finished 2009. Joe Wieland is also likely a repeater with the Crawdads. Joining them will be some combination of Spokane’s ’09 rotation: Robbie Ross, Matt Thompson, Braden Tullis, and Trevor Hurley. I’d say Ross and Thompson are certainties. Another possibility is OU alum Andrew Doyle. I wouldn’t sweat the official rotation too heavily, though, as Texas will likely spread the early and middle innings among more than five participants.

Hickory fans will see some familiar faces at the plate. Catcher Leonel de los Santos, shortstop Leury Garcia, 3B Matt West and 1B Clark Murphy are likely to be Crawdads again. Catcher Vin DiFazio, who batted a whopping .278/.417/.526 as a rookie, should join them along with OF Miguel Velazquez. OF Jared Prince, a 2009 34th-rounder with a patient bat, is a good bet to move up from Spokane. Will Jurickson Profar begin 2010 with a full-season team? I think not, but we’ll see.

The Departed (released unless noted)

RHP Kelvin Arendell (2008, non-drafted free agent)

RHP Reinier Bermudez (2008, ndfa)

LHP Keith Campbell (2009, 15th round)

OF Santo DeJesus (2008, ndfa)

IF Denny Duron (2009, undrafted)

LHP Edwin Escobar (2008 ndfa: traded)

IF Michael Hollander (2008, 20th round)

RHP Jared Hyatt (2007, 33rd round)

LHP Winston Marquez (minor league Rule 5 selection)

RHP Chris Matlock (2009, 21st round)

OF Steve Murphy (2005, 14th round: retired)

C Billy O’Conner (2009, undrafted)

C John Otness (minor league rule 5)

RHP Jorge Quintero (2005, ndfa)

OF Kyle Rhoad (2009, 33rd round)

OF Tim Rodriguez (2005, 37th round)

RHP Jae-kuk Ryu (offseason signing)

RHP Jared Schrom (2009, undrafted)

RHP John Slusarz (2006, 36th round: retired last year then gave it one more shot)

LHP Glenn Swanson (2005, 49th round)

RHP Bobby Wilkins (2007, 6th round)

Draftees Still In Organization (To My Knowledge)

2009: 21 (of 26 signed)

2008: 23 (34)

2007: 20 (30)

2006: 11

2005: 5

2004: 4

2003: 3

2002: 0

2001: 1 (Guess who? Answer at bottom.)

2000: 0

Hang a star on that 2007 draft, which has already produced two significant MLB contributors (Hunter and Borbon), several good prospects, and a load of organizational depth.

Mendoza

Between Texas, Oklahoma City, Obregon (Mexico), and Spring Training “A” games, Luis Mendoza has thrown 231 innings during the last calendar year.

Answer

5th rounder and 141st-overall selection C.J. Wilson. Selected immediately before Wilson was Ryan Howard, and current Major Leaguers Brendan Harris, Jim Johnson and Ryan Raburn are in the vicinity.