With the latest Top 100 prospect list on MLB.com, there are five Texas Rangers prospects that made the cut, including Jurickson Profar, who not surprisingly, is ranked No. 1 in all of baseball after homering in his first major-league at-bat last season and showing he is ready to play in the bigs even though the Rangers have decided to start him at Triple-A Round Rock this season.
Profar is joined by several former teammates from Double-A Frisco, as corner infield prospect Mike Olt is ranked No. 22, after a short-lived MLB stint himself in 2012. There's talk that Olt will also start the season in Triple-A Round Rock, even though he could fit into the outfield picture with the current uncertainty of the team's corner outfield situation.
Three more Rangers prospects fall into the bottom part of the list, led by pitching prospect Cody Buckel at No. 87 and catching prospect Jorge Alfaro (No. 88).
Martin Perez, a 21-year-old lefty who has more big-league experience than any of these prospects with a short run in the starting rotation last season and some time out of the bullpen, rounds out the list at No. 95 after dropping considerably in many prospect lists after struggling mightily in his chances in 2012. But just remember, he's still 21 years old.
As you can see, the Rangers have a wealth of young talent, and a wealth of young trade pieces to go get some big names either before the season begins, or more likely during the season, if necessary.
