TOP TEN PROSPECTS 1. Martin Perez, lhp 2. Jurickson Profar, ss 3. Tanner Scheppers, rhp 4. Robbie Erlin, lhp 5. Engel Beltre, of 6. Michael Kirkman, lhp 7. Mike Olt, 3b 8. Luis Sardinas, ss 9. Jake Skole, of 10. Miguel de los Santos, lhp BEST TOOLS Best Hitter for Average Jurickson Profar Best Power Hitter Mike Olt Best Strike-Zone Discipline Chris McGuiness Fastest Baserunner Leury Garcia Best Athlete Jordan Akins Best Fastball Tanner Scheppers Best Curveball Tanner Scheppers Best Slider Michael Kirkman Best Changeup Miguel de los Santos Best Control Robbie Erlin Best Defensive Catcher Jose Felix Best Defensive Infielder Jurickson Profar Best Infield Arm Leury Garcia Best Defensive Outfielder Engel Beltre Best Outfield Arm Engel Beltre PROJECTED 2014 LINEUP Catcher Kellin Deglan First Base Mitch Moreland Second Base Jurickson Profar Third Base Mike Olt Shortstop Elvis Andrus Left Field Nelson Cruz Center Field Josh Hamilton Right Field Engel Beltre Designated Hitter Ian Kinsler No. 1 Starter Martin Perez No. 2 Starter Tanner Scheppers No. 3 Starter Robbie Erlin No. 4 Starter C.J. Wilson No. 5 Starter Derek Holland Closer Neftali Feliz Shortly after Jon Daniels became the youngest general manager in baseball history following the 2005 season, the Rangers fully committed to building a winner through their farm system. They restocked the organization through trades and the draft, and they poured resources into their Latin American operations. After sinking to 28th in Baseball America's farm system rankings before the 2007 season, Texas rose to No. 1 just two years later. And in 2010, its plan reached fruition. Led by young stars such as American League MVP Josh Hamilton, AL rookie of the year Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz—trade acquisitions all— the Rangers cruised to 90 wins, their best season and first AL West title since 1999. The farm system, which has sent key players such as Julio Borbon, Derek Holland, Tommy Hunter and Mitch Moreland to Texas in recent years, also provided the trade bait for reinforcements. The Rangers had the depth to swing a blockbuster trade for Cliff Lee, plus smaller deals for Jorge Cantu, Cristian Guzman and Bengie Molina. Texas finally won a playoff series for the first time in franchise history, beating the Rays in the Division Series before vanquishing the Yankees in the AL Championship Series. Though the Rangers lost the World Series in five games to the Giants, their season was an overwhelming success—on and off the field. Now the franchise should find financial stability as well, after concluding a drawn-out process to replace former owner Tom Hicks, whose financial problems dragged the team into bankruptcy. Major League Baseball had to prop up the team's finances for a couple of years as Hicks' holdings went into bankruptcy —and in fact made a multimillion-dollar loan in May to keep the club going until the ownership situation could be resolved—but now has given way to a group led by team president Nolan Ryan and Pennsylvania attorney Chuck Greenberg. The Ryan group initially agreed to buy the club early in 2010 for $530 million-$570 million, but Hicks' creditors were not satisfied with the arrangement and forced the process into an auction in bankruptcy court in August. The Ryan/Greenberg group faced off against a contingent headed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, winning with a bid of $590 million, and was approved by MLB shortly thereafter. The new owners inherit a team poised to win for years. Most of its best players are in their 20s, and the team will have more financial flexibility than it enjoyed in the final years of Hicks' ownership. While the farm system has been depleted by graduations and trades, it still has elite prospects in lefthander Martin Perez, shortstop Jurickson Profar and righty Tanner Scheppers. The talent remains deep at the lower levels of the minors. Having four of the first 49 picks in the 2010 helped replenish the cupboard with outfielder Jake Skole, catcher Kellin Deglan, righthander Luke Jackson and third baseman Mike Olt. Another wave of exciting Latin American talent is on the way, led by Profar and Venezuelan shortstop Luis Sardinas. The Rangers also took steps to improve their stock of catchers, after what had been regarded as an area of strength became a weakness when Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez didn't pan out. They not only drafted Deglan but also signed 16-year-old Colombian Jorge Alfaro for $1.3 million. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2011/2610999.html --

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