The Rangers just won on an extra-innings walk-off, completing two separate comebacks.
↵Which may only have been the second most exciting part of the evening, because right after that:
↵↵↵↵— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) August 2, 2012
#Rangers purchase contract of Mike Olt.
↵↵
↵Prospect debuts are always fun, but super prospect debuts are appointment television.
↵Olt was not a particularly popular draft pick among many Rangers fans in 2010, but since then he has destroyed Minor League pitching at every level. His wRC+ in 69 games in 2010 Spokane was a robust 151, which is exactly what it was in just as many games with Myrtle Beach the next year. This is both awesome and weird. For wRC+, 100 is average, and it's even park adjusted.
↵2012 has been the best yet, with a 14.7% walk rate in Frisco to go with 27 home runs and a .287/.399/.575. That's good for a 168 wRC+. If you'd like some context on that number, think of it like this: that is the best rate in the Texas League. All of it. As in, no one in the league has been better offensively than the man who the Rangers called up a little while ago. If there's a downside, it's that he's not exactly young at 23 years old.
↵All from a guy with reports of plus defense at third base.
↵What will be interesting is seeing where Olt's playing time will come from. It makes no sense to call up talent like that just to sit on the bench, and the Rangers know that. There's no reason to sit Adrian Beltre, but Olt has played 12 games at first base this year, and could obviously DH. So maybe, just maybe, the Rangers are finally willing to give less playing time to one of the worst hitters in baseball.
↵Brandon Snyder will be sent down to complete the move.