Baseball America released their top 50 midseason prospects list, and the Texas Rangers are well represented on it. Martin Perez, Jurickson Profar, Leonys Martin and Robbie Erlin are all on Baseball America's top 50 list, an impressive feat for any team to boast that many top 50 prospects - especially one coming off an American League pennant.
Perez rates the highest of the four, coming in as the sixth best prospect in baseball. The only prospects ranked ahead of Perez are Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Matt Moore, Julio Teheran and Manny Machado. I'm not sure that I'd rate Perez ahead of the No. 7 prospect Shelby Miller, but Baseball America went ahead and did just that.
Profar is the second Ranger to appear, coming in at No. 12 - and the second shortstop on the list behind Machado. Profar is arguably having the most impressive season of any minor league prospect, hitting .272/.385/.492 with 40 BB and 45 SO to go along with eight home runs. While the numbers themselves are quite impressive, you also have to take into account that Profar is still only 18 years old.
Cuban signee Leonys Martin is ranked as the 25th best prospect in the league - boasting a .333/.418/.552 line in AA Frisco. Robbie Erlin is the last Ranger in the top 50, ranked at No. 34.
You can see the full list after the jump. I'd hope that Rangers fans salivating to pick up Heath Bell or another reliever at the deadline take a step back and realize that two months of a relief pitcher is almost certainly not worth any of these four prospects.
Baseball America's full midseason top 50:
1 Bryce Harper, of, Nationals
2 Mike Trout, of, Angels
3 Matt Moore, lhp, Rays
4 Julio Teheran, rhp, Braves
5 Manny Machado, ss, Orioles
6 Martin Perez, lhp, Rangers
7 Shelby Miller, rhp, Cardinals
8 Jesus Montero, c, Yankees
9 Jameson Taillon, rhp, Pirates
10 Brett Lawrie, 3b, Blue Jays
11 Jacob Turner, rhp, Tigers
12 Jurickson Profar, ss, Rangers
13 Manny Banuelos, lhp, Yankees
14 Drew Pomeranz, lhp, Indians
15 Devin Mesoraco, c, Reds
16 Arodys Vizcaino, rhp, Braves
17 Wil Myers, of, Royals
18 Carlos Martinez, rhp, Cardinals
19 Tyler Skaggs, lhp, Diamondbacks
20 Desmond Jennings, of, Rays
21 Dee Gordon, ss, Dodgers
22 Hak-Ju Lee, ss, Rays
23 Jake Odorizzi, rhp, Royals
24 Aaron Hicks, of, Twins
25 Leonys Martin, of, Rangers
26 Dellin Betances, rhp, Yankees
27 Mike Montgomery, lhp, Royals
28 Wilin Rosario, c, Rockies
29 Travis d'Arnaud, c, Blue Jays
30 Matt Harvey, rhp, Mets
31 Jason Kipnis, 2b, Indians
32 Brett Jackson, of, Cubs
33 Gary Brown, of, Giants
34 Robbie Erlin, lhp, Rangers
35 Zack Wheeler, rhp, Giants
36 Kyle Gibson, rhp, Twins
37 Anthony Ranaudo, rhp, Red Sox
38 Taijuan Walker, rhp, Mariners
39 Zach Lee, rhp, Dodgers
40 Jarrod Parker, rhp, Diamondbacks
41 Jonathan Singleton, of/1b, Phillies
42 Brad Peacock, rhp, Nationals
43 Jarred Cosart, rhp, Phillies
44 Randall Delgado, rhp, Braves
45 Anthony Gose, cf, Blue Jays
46 Nolan Arenado, 3b, Rockies
47 Allen Webster, rhp, Dodgers
48 Matt Szczur, of, Cubs
49 Jedd Gyorko, 3b, Padres
50 Paul Goldschmidt, 1b, Diamondbacks