NeRam As the Major League season starts, so do the minors.
Already, the Rangers have made a move. They've sent infielder Marcus Lemon -- once probably one of the better, younger infield prospects in the system -- to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later.
Lemon is 23. He's moved from shortstop to second base to just about any spot on the field in his career. His once stellar ability to draw walks waned in the past two seasons. His on-base percentage went from .374 to .325 in three seasons. I'm not sure if it was done to make room or maybe they get an arm in return.
The last trade with the Atlanta Braves went beautifully.
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The Rangers announced the rotations for their minor league squads:
Oklahoma City
Michael Kirkman
Eric Hurley
Tanner Scheppers
Zach Jackson
Brett Tomko
Expert Analysis: Mildly surprised that Scheppers is being groomed as a starter. Not disappointed, just shocked. Thought they liked his velocity and potential for injury coming out of the 'pen and it's been suggested more than once that he was the heir apparent to Neftali Feliz. I suspect we'll see him, Tomko and Kirkman in Arlington this season.
Frisco
Martin Perez
Wilfredo Boscan
Jacob Brigham
Carlos Pimental
Miguel De Los Santos
Expert Analysis: All newcomers except for Perez (Pimental pitched one game in Double A last season). It's what happens when you trade all your Double A pitchers for Cliff Lee, Cristian Guzman and Jorge Cantu. It's also a Latin explosion!
Myrtle Beach
Neil Ramirez
Barrett Loux
Robbie Ross
Joe Wieland
Rob Erlin/Kasey Kiker
Expert Analysis: Kiker is simply attempting to rebuild any hope for his future that he can. Here we might find some friction between High A and Double A. Should they perform to standard, Ross, Wieland, Erlin and Ramirez all might be pushing hard for a promotion. I'm sure they'll have opportunity with injury and the distinct possibility of the Double A guys getting their own due bumps. Loux is probably a slight surprise here. He hasn't pitched a professional inning yet. College kids, however, are a bit more seasoned.
Hickory
Matt Thompson
Randol Rojas
Carlos Melo
Roman Mendez
Justin Grimm
Expert Analysis: Aggressive, I like it. Only Thompson has extended experience in Low A-Hickory. The other three are young (20 years old). Hickory, Myrtle Beach and Frisco have sets of exciting young hurlers.
