In position: Catcher

Zach Zaneski: Professional backstop

Every year over the past three or four, I've gone through the entire Texas Rangers' franchise, position by position in order to gauge the organizational depth. This has especially been important as prospects have progressed and made it to the Majors. It also helps to discover what prospects might prove valuable in trades.

We start at home, with the catcher.

Two years ago, we thought we were set. Then Jarrod Saltalamacchia was sent to Boston. Recently, Max Ramirez was outrighted and picked up by the Red Sox. They're a Taylor Teagarden from getting the triumvirate.

Now, it's like we're starting over.

Yorvit Torrealba
32 - Texas Rangers
The new "kid" in town. Basically, they want him to handle the pitchers, keep the basepaths normal and not be a black hole at the plate. Simple.

Matt Treanor
34 - Texas Rangers
Who knew that a year ago the Rangers would announce the signing of Matt Treanor and no one would blink an eye. Six months later, we couldn't imagine the Texas Rangers without him.

Taylor Teagarden
27 - Oklahoma City RedHawks
Cripes. He's 27.

Jose Felix
22 - Frisco RoughRiders
A huge asset considering the loss of Max Ramirez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the last nine months.

Doug Hogan
26 - Bakersfield Blaze
Hogtied to Bakersfield for two years. Hit just .240. Could probably use one more year there, apparently.

Vin DiFazio
24 - Bakersfield Blaze
Jumped from the Rookie League to Bakersfield in 2010.

Leonel De Los Santos
21 - Hickory Crawdads
Never seems to get more than 200 at-bats a season. Due to whatever reason, he never does and he's been stuck at Hickory for two years. By far, 2010 was his worst year as he hit .206 in just 180 at-bats.

Zach Zaneski
24 - Hickory Crawdads
After getting a taste of Oklahoma City in 2009, Zaneski spent all of 2010 in Hickory where he hit .310 with 27 doubles and a .380 OBP. Could (should) be a guy to get pushed a little this year the vacancies being filed higher up.

Yefry Castillo
20 - Hickory Crawdads
Had his first pro experience in the United States in 2010 and hit .253 in 162 at-bats. He wound up in Spokane. Don't know where he'll wind up in 2011.

Kellin Deglan
18 - Spokane Indians
The 2010 first-round draft pick from Canada is still just 18. That's amazing to me. ANYWAY, he hit .286 with the Arizona Rookie League and .159 in Spokane. He's not first-round talent, so we'll see if he has first-round development.

Brett Nicholas
22 - Spokane Indians
Took five rounds after Deglan and found a little success hitting 10 doubles and scoring 24 runs in Spokane. A college kid, he might be someone that jumps a little more than the younger Deglan.

Kevin Torres
20 - Spokane Indians
Is about to start his fourth year in professional American baseball and hasn't made it past Low-A Spokane. And he's not apparently getting any better.

Tomas Telis
19 - Arizona Rookie League
Was supposed to miss all of 2010. Instead logged 150 at-bats. He hit .326. So much for the lost season. One of the better prospects, overall, for the Rangers.

Alberto Puello
23 - Arizona Rookie League
In three seasons in the States, Puello's not quite caught on, so to speak.

Michael Thomas
22 - Arizona Rookie League
A tad big (6-4, 220) for catcher. If he's a good enough athlete I'm sure they're stick him somewhere else.

Johnathan Moore
22 - Arizona Rookie League
The Arlington native hit .364 in 33 at-bats. He's a 45th rounder from the 2010 draft.