Minors make major strides for Texas Rangers
12:37 AM CST on Saturday, January 26, 2008
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
The Rangers' organization's talent level has made the biggest one-year jump in Baseball America's rankings since the trade publication started doing an annual list in 2001.
The Rangers, who ranked 28th of 30 organizations entering the 2007 season, will be ranked fourth in the Feb. 4th issue. The Rangers rank behind Tampa Bay, Boston and Cincinnati.
"It's a credit to our scouting and development program," general manager Jon Daniels said. "They've done a great job, but until it shows up at the major league level we've still got a lot of work to do. No doubt, it's an honor.
Third baseman Chris Davis, who hit .297 with 36 HRs, 118 RBIs and a .945 OPS in a season split between Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco, was named the team's Minor League Player of the Year at the team's Sluggers of the West banquet Friday. He was only No. 2, however, in the Baseball America rankings.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was acquired in the Teixeira trade, was named the top prospect. Newcomers to the system were abundant in the Rangers' top 10. Right-handers Neftali Feliz (No. 5), Michael Main (No. 6) and Blake Beavan (No.and outfielders Julio Borbon (No. 9) and Engel Beltre (No. 10) all joined the organization since June of last year.
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