Young Guns in the Lone Star State

Ryan Kelley
The Baseball Chronicle
2/27/09


The Rangers are not known for pitching and ever since Nolan Ryan hung up his cleats they haven't had an ace. With all of their sub par seasons they've collected quite a few good pitching prospects and are going in to 2009 with one of the best offenses in the AL as well as--what could be-- a good staff. The Rangers have been known for trading away good pitchers before they make an impact in the majors. Armando Galarraga andJohn Danks would really help the Rangers out if they hadn't been traded. Below are the rankings of Texas's best young pitchers.

1. Derek Holland, LHP, (A-)- I give Holland the edge over Feliz simply because he has more polish and is now major league ready. His .69 era through 4 starts in the Texas League last year, a super hard league to pitch in, is almost unheard of. His career numbers are absolutely sparking-- 17-6, 2.59 era, 217 ip, 240 k, 168 hits. It's hard to say what's going to happen to the kid, he has the tools to be good but Texas has chewed up more than one pitching prospect in the past.

2. Neftali Feliz RHP, (A-)- Another top prospect, the 20 year old Feliz probably won't make the majors until late 2010. His stuff is absolutely electric and he throws a 97 mph heater. Like Holland he also pitched well in the Texas league. Through 45 innings he had 47 k's and a 2.98 era. His career numbers are intense with 198 ip, 250 strikeouts and a 2.85 era. He's a special pitcher and once he's MLB ready he'll blow Holland out of the water--thats saying something.

3. Michael Main, RHP, (B+)- Main, drafted out of highschool is a 5 tool guy that has been converted to a full time pitcher. Barely 20, Eminem dominated the midwest league with a 2.58 era through 45 innings and 50 strikeouts. His stuff is very good. He throws a 95 mph fastball and has a sweet 12-6 power curve. His most impressive stat is that he doesn't walk anybody, only 13 in 2008 in the midwest league (a fairly good number for a 20 year old). Out of these three he'll be the last to make the majors but he has the stuff to be nearly as good as the top two.

4. Guillermo Moscoso, LHP, (B)- Moscoso was a nice pickup for the Rangers from the Tigers. Moscoso was converted from reliever to starter in 2007 and has had great results. He pitched 34.2 innings with Detroit's Erie Sea Wolves at AA in 2008, struck out 50 and had a 3.12 era. In his career he's pitched 260 innings, struck out 2.78, sports an 18-10 record and has a pretty sweet 2.80 era. He has a little bit more to go but he may be Texas' sleeper.

5. Eric Hurley, RHP, (B)- Hurley had a rough 2008. He had a 5.47 era with Texas and a 5.30 era with the AAA Redhawks. However, some of that was probably due to injury as it doesn't match up with his career stats. He'll be out with surgery for 2008 so he'll be back in early-mid 2009. He's another guy that pitched well in the Texas League, again, being a great sign for the Rangers. In 2006 and 2007 went 10-3 through 125 innings pitched with 107 k's and about a 2.50 era. Hurley throws 92-95 mph fastballs and has a hard slider with good tilt. His changeup needs work.

6. Blake Beavan, RHP, (B-/B)- Beavan's stuff probably will strikeout a lot of major leaguers some day but right now he pitches to contact. His 96 mph fastball, good slider and solid change are all good pitches, but for one reason or another they get hit--probably because he stays around the strikezone too much. His delivery is exactly what scouts want to see and is very smooth. Now 20 years old, Beavan pitched 121.3 innings, struck out 73 and walked only 20 in single A in 2008. His era was a nice 2.37 and he won 10 games. He has the stuff to be very good and when he learns to pitch he could be a strikeout guy. Watch him rise through the system.

7. Martin Perez, LHP, (B-)- Martin Perez has a ton of potential and has already shown some good numbers at the extremely young age of 17. I've never seen the guy but I asked an Uncle of mine to give me the low down. He's a finesse pitcher at this point with a 88-92 mph and a strikeout curve. He's already added velocity to his curve and when he adds some more bulk to his 6' 160 lb frame he might get it close to the mid 90's.

8. Wilfredo Boscan, RHP, (B-)- A 2006 international signee, the 18 year old Boscan put up some nice numbers in 2008 in low A ball. He went 9-1, sported a 3.12 era and struck out 70 in 69 innings. He sports the standard 95 mph fastball and hammer curve for young piwer pitches. Like Moscoso he's young and raw, but with experience he could be pretty good. I see him in the bullpen in the future.

9. Kasey Kiker, LHP, (C+)- Kiker is small for a pitcher weighing in at a generous 170 and listed at a very generous 5'10." His 94 mph heat has been reduced to 88-92 which is scaring most scouts and it does the opposite to opposing hitters. Luckily Kiker is a fastball changeup-guy and has a very nice straight change that he places well--ie he won't have to rely on heat. His curve has a spike to it and could be pretty good with a little bit more work. In 2007 Kiker put up good numbers, a 2.90 era, 96 ip and 112 strikeouts. In 2008, his loss of velocity got him into some trouble and went 5-5 and had a 4.73 era. If he can rebound he could be a 3rd starter some day.

10. Tim Murphy, LHP, (C+)- Murphy was a former 2 way player with UCLA and has since been converted to a full time pitcher. He put up some promising numbers giving up only 17 hits in 32 an 2.3 innings, while posting a 3.03 era. He doesn't have a load of potential but he would probably be ranked near the top 10 for most teams. He's newly drafted so he has plenty of room to rise through 2009 and 2010.