The Texas Rangers have done an excellent job remaining a perennial contender in the American League in big part because of their ability to collect top prospects and groom them in to everyday players or trade bait to acquire stars from other teams. The rest of the division can look at what the Rangers have done as an example for what to strive for when it comes to grooming elite level prospects. Here is a look at one untouchable prospect from each AL West team.
SP: Yohander Mendez, Texas Rangers
No team in the American League has done a better job recruiting top talent than Texas, which has traded away several players ranked among the top 10 prospects in the organization over the years and is still considerably deep with a group led by Mendez. The left-hander began the season ranked as the No. 24 prospect in the Rangers system but broke out in a major way as he went 12-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 1.02 WHIP while splitting time at three different levels. Mendez has all of the tools to become an elite pitcher at the major league level and he has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential in the minors so far.
OF: Tyler O’Neill, Seattle Mariners
O’Neill solidified his position as the top prospect in the Mariners system when he slugged 32 home runs at the High-A level in 2015 and while he struck out a little too often in Double-A last season it is only a matter of time before he improves his plate discipline substantially. O’Neill has all of the tools to be a solid outfielder at the major league level and Seattle’s need for help in that area could accelerate the process of getting him to the Mariners over the next few years.
SP: Francis Martes, Houston Astros
Houston is absolutely loaded with offense but if there is one area they need help, its in their starting rotation where help could soon be on the way with Martes eventually making the jump. The 21-year-old arrived as part of the six-player deal that send Jarred Cosart to the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline in 2014 and he has quickly established himself as the top prospect in the Astros system. Martes dominated in 2015 when he went 8-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while climbing three levels to reach Double-A and it was more of the same from him last season with Corpus Christi. Martes isn’t far from making the jujmp to the majors and he should be a good one once he arrives.
The Astros finished the 2016 season 11th in the MLB in terms of ERA at 4.06. If Martes can give this team a boost, it might help them improve in this realm and make another push for the playoffs.
OF: Jahmai Jones, Los Angeles Angels
The Angels own one of the worst farm systems in the majors so it’s no surprise that they will consider Jones untradeable as the best prospect still on their minor league roster. Jones is an athletic outfielder that brings a little bit of everything to the table and while he might not be as complete of a prospect as some of the other names on this list he has shown enough promise to climb to the top of the Los Angeles prospect chart.
The Angels are also hoping to get some help to their pitching staff from their prospects. At this point, the Angels need all the help they can get as they finished the year 21st in team ERA (4.28).
SS: Franklin Barreto, Oakland Athletics
Barreto is a natural shortstop that could make an impact at the second base position if the Athletics feel the need to move him there. The key piece of the deal that sent Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays is coming off another solid season in the minors and it is only a matter of time before he makes the jumps to the majors. Oakland is built on high caliber prospects that can make the jump without costing too much money and Barreto could be a special one in the years to come.
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