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Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (5/14)

Bakersfield's Engel Beltre

Still a major prospect.

After hitting .188 / .225 / .282 in 85 April at-bats, the California League’s second youngest player is clicking to the tune of a .355/ .412 / .419 line through his first 31 at-bats in May. And he’s been ringing up outfield assists the whole time.

I know most of you have never had the chance to see Beltre play and those who haven’t will immediately accuse me of hyperbole, but in spite of his raw sloppiness, he has the physical gifts to do things on the baseball field in a similar, jaw-dropping way that the Rangers shortstop of the present, future and forever-in-our-hearts does. As a Rangers fan, you have to pray that Engel Beltre continues to learn and grow as a player because if he ever figures it all out, he’s going to be special.

Triple-A: @ Oklahoma City 5, Portland 1

RHP Doug Mathis (2-2; 3.76) blanked the Beavers over a somewhat inefficient (109 pitches, 68 strikes) but effective 5.2 innings, scattering six hits and three walks, fanning eight.

CF Julio Borbon (.258 / .319 / .318) had an RBI triple for his only hit in four trips and 1B Nate Gold had a two-run double. C Max Ramirez (.226 / .275 / .333) doubled in a 2-for-4 outing to drive in one as did SS Joaquin Arias (.255 / .275 / .304). 2B Jose Vallejo (.405 / .450 / .514) and has now hit safely in nine of his ten games in the PCL.

RHP John Bannister fanned two while allowing one hit and a walk in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief and LHP A.J. Murray (0.00 ERA) walked two and fanned one without allowing a hit or a run over the final 1.1 innings to earn the save.

Double-A: @ Corpus Christi 13, Frisco 6

The Hooks pounded RHP Jared Hyatt (0-2; 9.19) for seven runs on eight hits in just two innings of work and later picked up four more on struggling RHP Pedro Strop (18.56 ERA) on four hits and three walks in two innings of relief.

LF Chad Tracy (.250 / .295 / .453) hit his seventh home of the year for his only hit in four trips while 3B John Whittleman (.248 / .356 / .356) went 2-for-4 with his 11th double of the season. Whittleman now has three multi-hit performances in his last four games.

Advanced-A: @ Bakersfield 6, Modesto 5

RHP Blake Beavan (2-4; 5.40) followed up his complete-game shutout of San Jose six days ago with another strong effort, limiting the Nuts to four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits and a walk over seven innings of work.

RH Joey Butler had a two-run dinger and a walk in four trips while veteran DH Mauro Gomez (.322 / .394 / .578) hit his fifth homer of the year in a 2-for-4 outing to drive in two.

CF Engel Beltre (.233 / .276 / .319) went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice from the two hole.

LHP Corey Young (2.70 ERA) blanked Modesto on a hit an no walks over the final two frames. The Seton Hall product now has 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work to go along with a 2.20 G/F ratio. That’s tasty.

Class-A: Hickory

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