Rangers Have Five On Top 100 Prospects List
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- Twenty-year-old catcher Jorge Alfaro is the top Rangers' representative in MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list. Alfaro checks in at No. 39 and is one of five Rangers to make the list.
Infielders Rougned Odor (59), Luis Sardinas (76), and Joey Gallo (92); along with recently acquired outfielder Michael Choice (No. 72) helped round out the 14th ranked minor league system, according to the evaluation.
Texas placed five players on the list for the second consecutive season, tying the Twins for fifth most in the league.
The Colombian-born Alfaro appeared in 104 games at Low-A Hickory, six in the Arizona Rookie League, and three more at Class A Myrtle Beach. Though he was unable to play with a broken hand, Alfaro was selected to the All-Star Futures Game after batting .265 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs.
Odor split time between Myrtle Beach and AA-Frisco, batting .305 with 78 RBIs in 511 at-bats. He also swiped 32 bags. Odor is described as a "sound defender" with "surprising power", though he will likely be limited to playing second base.
Like Odor, Sardinas spent time at Myrtle Beach and Frisco in 2013, hitting .288. The switch hitter has little power, but has speed which makes him a threat on the bases (32 SB).
Gallo, 20, spent the majority of 2013 with Low-A Hickory, leading the minor leagues with 40 homeruns, despite piling up 172 strikeouts in 111 games. The power-hitting Gallo is described as having below-average speed and limited range at third base, though he possesses a powerful arm.
The Rangers acquired Choice and infielder Chris Bostick from Oakland in exchange for outfielder Craig Gentry and pitcher Josh Lindblom in December.
The right-hander was selected 10th overall by Oakland in the 2010 MLB First Year Player Draft after playing three seasons at UT-Arlington. He finished his career at UTA as the all-time homeruns leader (34) and was the 2010 Southland Conference Player of the Year, leading the nation with 76 walks.
In limited MLB action, Choice went 5-for-18 in 9 games last season. The outfielder was a Pacific Coast League all-star at Sacramento, batting .302 with 14 homeruns and 89 RBI in 132 games.
The annual rankings include any player with rookie eligibility in 2014 and consider a player's skill set, upside, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to his team.
Texas had the second most representatives from the AL West, more than Oakland (1), Seattle (2), and Los Angeles (0) combined. Seven players in Houston's system made the list.
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