ESPN

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Josh Hamilton is in the lineup Thursday against the Oakland Athletics. He left Wednesday's game after the second inning with a jammed right heel. Here are the lineups:

RANGERS
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
CF Josh Hamilton (L)
3B Adrian Beltre
DH Michael Young
RF Nelson Cruz
LF David Murphy (L)
C Yorvit Torrealba
1B Mitch Moreland (L)

PITCHERS
LHP Martin Perez
RHP Neil Ramirez
LHP Ben Snyder
RHP Roman Mendez
RHP Jake Brigham

ATHLETICS
2B Jemile Weeks (S)
SS Cliff Pennington (S)
RF Seth Smith (L)
CF Yoenis Cespedes
LF Jonny Gomes
3B Josh Donaldson
1B Kila Ka'Aihue (L)
DH Daric Barton (L)
C Anthony Recker

PITCHERS
RHP Brad Peacock
LHP Ryan Cook
RHP Evan Scribner
RHP Neil Wagner
LHP Pedro Figueroa
LHP Erick Threets

ESPN.com's Keith Law has revealed his top-100 prospect list and it includes four Rangers:

No. 7: SS Jurickson Profar

The Sally League's youngest regular was one of its most impressive prospects of any age; Profar showed the selectivity of a player six or seven years his senior, outstanding instincts in the field and more power than anticipated in his full-season debut.

Profar is a plus-makeup, plus-feel, plus-instincts guy who breaks the mold of that type of player by also having tremendous tools. Born in Curacao, he was scouted more as a pitcher that a position player before he signed. His defense projects as plus, if it isn't there already, with good hands, great reactions off the bat and of course a plus arm. At the plate, his approach is very advanced, and he's stronger than I realized, showing the ability to drive the ball the other way. He needs to keep his stride shorter -- I've seen him overstride to the point where his back side collapses -- and might have more pull power if he does so. He is only an average runner down the line but gets more out of his speed through his feel for baserunning.

Profar is also a player to root for, because of the energy he brings to the game and what a potential superstar like him could do for the sport on the global stage.

No. 20: Martin Perez

Perez has been on the prospect radar so long that it's easy to forget he has yet to turn 21. His performances haven't matched his stuff -- or the hype -- just yet, but he reached Triple-A at an unusually young age and performed well given that added variable.

He will sit 92-95 mph on good days, working effectively to both sides of the plate, with a plus changeup at 83-85 that has both good arm speed and hard fading action. His curveball is more solid-average, mid-70s with inconsistent shape. Perez's command and control are still works in progress. He can take an inning or more to find his rhythm, and he has a tendency to overthrow when in trouble. He's improved his conditioning over the past two years, losing baby fat and building up muscle for durability. He could still end up at the top of a rotation but is more likely a solid No. 2 behind, say, someone such as Yu Darvish.

No. 75: Mike Olt

A potentially plus defender at third with plus raw power, Olt has seen the ball much better as a pro than he did as an amateur, resulting in better-than-expected plate discipline that gives him a chance to be at least an average regular at third. Olt can launch balls in BP, but his approach is now less pull-happy than it was in college, with very good bat speed and great extension on his follow-through for power to left and the ability to use the middle of the field.

He missed two months this summer with a broken collarbone, but was 100 percent again for fall league and led the AFL in home runs (helped by a very homer-friendly ballpark). His contact rates probably won't ever be great, but even an average hit tool with plus power and defense at third makes for a fringe star.

No. 99: Neil Ramirez

Ramirez took a huge step forward in 2011 that was short-circuited temporarily by some shoulder trouble that cropped up in mid-summer. He'll sit 93-94 mph when fully healthy and reached 97 in big league camp last spring with a plus curveball and solid-average changeup. When he had the chance to jump up to Triple-A for a spot start midyear, he threw well enough that Texas decided to leave him there the rest of the year.

He has cleaned up his delivery substantially since high school, with a slightly long but smoother arm swing that puts less stress on his shoulder and none of the former cross-body action that plagued him before he signed. He seemed fully recovered in the Arizona Fall League, and with a full, healthy season he would be a top 50-60 prospect if he's not already in the majors by then.

The top-6 ahead of Profar:

1. CF Mike Trout, LAA
2. RF Bryce Harper, Washington
3. LHP Matt Moore, Tampa Bay
4. SS Manny Machado, Baltimore
5. RHP Shelby Miller, St. Louis
6. C Travis d'Arnaud, Toronto

The Rangers purchased the contracts of six minor leaguers Friday, adding them to the club's 40-man roster: RHP Jake Brigham, RHP Roman Mendez, RHP Justin Miller, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Neil Ramirez, and RHP Matt West.

That gives the Rangers 37 players on the 40-man roster:

RH Pitchers (17)
Mike Adams
Jake Brigham
Fabio Castillo
Cody Eppley
Scott Feldman
Neftali Feliz
Wilmer Font
Mark Hamburger
Colby Lewis
Mark Lowe
Roman Mendez
Justin Miller
Alexi Ogando
Neil Ramirez
Yoshinori Tateyama
Koji Uehara
Matt West

LH Pitchers (5)
Miguel De los Santos
Matt Harrison
Derek Holland
Michael Kirkman
Martin Perez

Catchers (3)
Mike Napoli
Taylor Teagarden
Yorvit Torrealba

Infielders (5)
Elvis Andrus
Adrian Beltre
Ian Kinsler
Mitch Moreland
Michael Young

Outfielders (7)
Engel Beltre
Julio Borbon
Nelson Cruz
Craig Gentry
Josh Hamilton
Leonys Martin
David Murphy

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers pitching prospects Martin Perez and Neil Ramirez are in Arlington the next few days going through workouts, throwing bullpen sessions and even attending advance meetings (that's what they did Tuesday afternoon).

It's an opportunity for both young hurlers to learn from the big leaguers. And if there's anyone in particular they should watch, it's C.J. Wilson.

"He’s the best we got, why not have them watch the best we got?" manager Ron Washington said. "It’s up to them to determine what fits and what doesn't. We want them to become self sufficient. They won’t have to do everything that C.J. does, but they can figure out what he does in the weight room, running, his preparation. There may be something C.J. does that can add to their repertoire.

"He has tremendous work ethic and in the game of baseball, that’s what it’s about. He handles this heat pretty good. He’s in great shape. He’s prepared."

Perez and Ramirez both pitched well enough to move through the system in 2011 and end up in Triple-A Round Rock. Ramirez was 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 18 starts with Round Rock after going 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts with Double-A Frisco. Ramirez actually started the season in Class A Myrtle Beach and just kept moving up from there.

Perez was 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in Frisco in 17 games (16 starts) before finishing the season in Round Rock with a 6.43 ERA in 10 starts.

"In Triple-A, they are better hitters and you have to hit your spots," Perez said through an translator. "My first outing was great, but after that they made some adjustments on my pitches, so I have to make some myself."

Perez said he spent this year working on his curve ball in particular, wanting to make it a larger part of what he does.

"My arm was too long and I wanted to make an adjustment on it and I worked on that," Perez said.

Ramirez and Perez could end up in big league camp next spring, though the Rangers haven't decided exactly who will get those invites yet.

"This is like a present for me and I want to take advantage of every single thing," Perez said. "I want to see my teammates, talk to the pitchers, talk to the players and learn as much as I can."

Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister evaluated right-handed pitcher Neil Ramirez on Monday and the exam revealed no structural or tissue issues in the pitcher's right shoulder.

Ramirez will take a week to 10 days off from pitching and focus on stretching and strengthening his shoulder. He'll then ease back into his routine.

Ramirez, 22, was removed in the second inning of Triple-A Round Rock's game on Friday because of stiffness in his shoulder. But the tests showed nothing serious. Ramirez spent some time on the disabled list earlier this season with shoulder fatigue.

Ramirez is 4-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 17 starts for Round Rock with 85 strikeouts and 35 walks. He skipped Double-A this season as the club felt he needed a challenge.

3B Chris Davis, OKC - Davis jumped into Triple-A after his demotion and went eight for his first 22, only to slump to a mediocre May, batting .280/.330/.439, 7:30 BB:SO for the month. This is his third season to spend some time in OKC, and that stretch was his first so-so period. He’s made the adjustments and caught fire this month. He is 16-33 (.485/.571/.758), but just as promising is his 8:5 ratio, as he has controlled the strike zone as well as any stretch in his career. I would think that his ability to sustain that trend would be the best possible sign that legitimate progress is being made.

RHP Michael Main, Bakersfield - Main has been predictably inconsistent in his overall results in Bakersfield as a fly ball pitcher in the Cal League, giving up 12 HR in 71.1 innings and allowing a lot of runs. However he has been very consistent in one regard, his K:BB ratio. A fantastic start Thursday (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 K) pushed his ratio to 20:2 in his last three starts and 56:15 for the season. A promotion to Frisco and a reunion with Blake Beavan, his first round counterpart in the 2007 draft, can’t be too far off.

LHP Michael Kirkman, OKC - He’s shown flashes in a few of his starts, but Kirkman has struggled to maintain his control in Triple A, walking 38 in 65.1 innings. He turned that around in a June 3 start, striking out eight and walking just one, but allowing ten hits and seven runs in 4.2. Wednesday he put the rest of the puzzle together, completing seven innings and allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out nine. It was his fifth scoreless outing of the season but clearly the best.

LHP Beau Jones, Frisco - Still on fire since his activation: 14.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 20 K for the season
RHP Josh Lueke, Frisco - Has been hit a little (6 H, 3 ER, 2 HR in 7.2 IP) but 13:1 K:BB in Frisco, 49:6 overall
RHP Cody Eppley, Frisco - Third member of trio to succeed Tanner Scheppers’, Zach Phillips’ and Alexi Ogando’s dominance, not slowing down much in AA: 10.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 3 BB, 13 K, 8.5 GO:AO
OF David Paisano, Bakersfield - Rough May (575 OPS) but .450/.488/.525 in June, still not showing secondary offensive skills
RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - Mr. Hyde was back Thursday (3.2 IP, 6 ER) but still a reasonable 5:2 K:BB ratio
RHP Danny Gutierrez, Hickory - Suspension is over, debuted with an inning in Hickory Thursday, should be in Frisco quickly
OF Jared Prince, Hickory - Late pick in last year’s draft, college athlete is still doing well: .287/.374/.450
OF Cristian Santana, Hickory - Possibly the system’s biggest disappointment for the past two years, has decided that he wants to play this season as a hot June has moved him to .272/.340/.522 overall

One more note: Scheppers is scheduled to make his starting debut Sunday. The organization has successfully limited his innings to 30 for the season's first two months. That is three more than Rangers closer Neftali Feliz.

RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - Mr. Up And Down of the Texas system is up right now - way up. Another excellent start Sunday (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K) makes three in a row and gives him a composite line of 18.2 IP, 11 H, 1 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 19 K during that stretch. For the season he’s improved his 2009 K:BB ratio of 56:41 to 51:18, almost three-to-one. He is repeating Low A, he just turned 21, and he’s going to have to do this for a good while before most will believe he’s turned a corner. But this is a former supplemental first round pick with a good arm and a curveball with a lot of potential, so there is reason to watch intently as he attempts to gain consistency.

LHP Martin Perez, Frisco - Perez began the season with six starts in which he never allowed more than two runs or five hits and allowed just one home run total. He had a few high walk games and didn’t always miss loads of bats, but things seemed to be generally going to plan for a 19 year old pitching at the Double-A level. He has really struggled in his last four outings, however, as he has been completely unable to miss bats or locate his pitches consistently. He’s given up 19 runs in 16 innings, allowed loads of base runners (27 H, 9 BB), and struck out more than two just once. His locally televised start Sunday was painful to watch in part because of the woeful defense played behind him but also because he was not fooling Tulsa hitters at all. The organization is taking good care of him by keeping his outings short (in good times and bad), and Perez has the personality to fight through his issues, but he is not taking a complete game to the mound right now.

RHP Michael Main, Bakersfield - Entering the 2009 season Main appeared to be the big mover in the system. His repertoire had seemed to improve by the month, and he was coming off of a fall instructional league in which he dazzled observers. But a difficult-to-diagnose virus sapped his energy and chewed up most of his season in Bakersfield. Back at the High-A level in 2010 he’s looked more like Michael Main. A 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 7 K game on Saturday was possibly his best of the season and moved his K:BB to a solid 43:14. Since Main does not keep the ball on the ground, the Cal League is particularly cruel to him, as he has allowed 11 HR in ten starts. He could see Frisco soon, and we will be able to read more into his ancillary numbers at that point.

OF Mitch Moreland, OKC - All signs point to Moreland turning a corner at the Triple-A level. After an April in which he hit .221 and failed to control the strike zone for the first time in his pro career, he has posted a more recognizable .287/.367/.460 May with an 11:13 BB:SO. He is eight for his last 16, and eight of his last 12 hits are doubles. He has to hit enough to overcome his lack of defensive value, but two months into 2010 he finds himself in an organization that can use a quality bat - any kind of quality bat - at the major league level.

3B Chris Davis & C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, OKC - The two veteran demotees are in Triple-A for different reasons, but the offensive lines for each can be described as nice but somewhat uninspiring. Davis homered twice over the weekend, but after a sizzling start in Oklahoma City he’s slowed to a merely respectable May (.291/.342/.456). He also isn’t controlling the strike zone, as evidenced by his 9:33 BB:SO ratio. Ditto almost every word of that for Saltalamacchia. After lighting things up in 32 April at bats, his May line is .258/.290/.455. He also homered twice over the weekend, but those were his only hits in the past week, and his 7:22 ratio suggests the same issue with the zone. Both of these guys have hit in Triple-A previously, but Davis is not showing the kinds of improvements that Nelson Cruz did in his last stint before establishing himself in the majors, and even if Saltalamacchia puts his throwing yips behind him, he still needs to show maturity in his approach and the ability to make more consistent contact.

RHP Omar Beltre, OKC - Has made three starts in a row, culminating with his longest and best outing of the season Friday: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Alexi Ogando, OKC - In that same game Ogando had his worst outing of the season: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Pedro Strop, OKC - Basically dominating AAA right now - after another nice game Friday his season line is 20.2 IP, 14 H, 1 HR, 6 BB, 24 K, 2.8 GO/AO
RHP Cody Eppley, Frisco - He keeps dominating, so I guess I’ll keep mentioning him - another perfect inning with 2 Ks Saturday.
LHP Chad Bell, Hickory - Rangers liked this guy enough to give him 450k late last summer, only issue so far out of the pen is a bit of a walk problem: 20 IP, 14 H, 9 BB, 20 K but has settled that down after early struggles (4 BB in his last 17 IP)

RHP Blake Beavan, Frisco - Beavan was at it again Thursday, completing eight innings and allowing just two runs on five hits and a walk. He has allowed just three runs in his last three starts, spanning 22 innings, and his WHIP is now south of one (0.92). The two statistical issues that only Beavan’s performance in Triple-A and the major leagues will answer are his relatively low strikeout totals (37 in 56.1 innings) and his middling ground ball rate. Together these beg the question: will his stuff be strong enough to induce outs at the highest level, despite high contact rates and an average percentage of fly balls?

RHP Alexi Ogando, OKC - Ogando threw three more nearly perfect innings (one hit) this week out of the Redhawks pen. In six Triple-A innings he’s allowed four hits and has posted a fine 8:0 K:BB. His combined season line: 21.2 IP, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 29 K, 1.25 ERA. The Rangers appear to be waiting for him to perfect his slider, but he will be in the majors before long.

OF Engel Beltre, Bakersfield - There are eleven prospects mentioned here today and one is a position player. Such is the state of the Texas system in 2010. It took him a while, but Beltre is now conquering High A. His five hit game Thursday night raises his season line to .295/.354/.418 and his May line to .351/.393/.494. He still sits at just two home runs and he hasn’t walked since May 9, so the full game still isn’t there on a consistent basis. Still, his line drive rate has jumped from 7% in April to 20% this month, and his ISOP is up 42 points. He seems to be figuring some things out.

LHP Robbie Erlin, Hickory - Erlin replaced Wilmer Font in the Hickory rotation Tuesday and celebrated by throwing five perfect innings and striking out nine. His overall numbers are surreal: 25.1 IP, 11 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 31 K, 0.36 ERA. That’s one run allowed on the season, a solo home run on April 23. Erlin has been written up several times since his breakout game, but Jason Parks’ scouting report still provides the best breakdown. He appears to be too advanced for the SAL, but since he is essentially making his professional debut (he threw just 4.1 innings in rookie ball last summer), he likely won’t throw a lot of innings late in the summer.

RHP Matt Thompson, Hickory - This guy is getting easier and easier to like as a prospect. He has walked eight batters in eight starts and struck out 52. He induces groundballs at a solid rate (58%). The only statistical knock is that he’s been hit fairly well, allowing a .272 average against and four home runs in 43.1 innings, though a .372 BABIP against helps explain the former. His curveball ranked third (behind Tanner Scheppers and Martin Perez pitches) on Jamey Newberg’s recent list of top secondary pitches, and he does feature a solid fastball. Thompson was held back last season for short-season ball, rather than starting in Hickory, so the Rangers might consider jumping the 20-year-old to Bakersfield this summer.

RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - Mr. Inconsistency hit a major high point Thursday: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
RHP Tommy Hunter, OKC - Bit of a hiccup Thursday: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Wilmer Font, Bakersfield - Struggled mightily in his High A debut: 2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 2 K
RHP Josh Lueke, Hickory - Toying with Low A: 16:1 this month, may be ready to jump to Frisco
RHP Tanner Scheppers, OKC - Six walks in 8 AAA innings but still showing dominant stuff
LHP Martin Perez, Frisco - Not controlling the strike zone, had possibly his worst start as a pro Wednesday: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 K

RHP Tommy Hunter, OKC - IF Rich Harden needs a replacement for whatever reason, Hunter appears to be nearly ready. Already on Harden's schedule, he pitched five innings (though only 68 pitches) Friday, allowing just three hits and a walk. He has not allowed a run in twelve innings for the Redhawks. His only issue so far is a 3:4 K:BB.

RHP Blake Beavan, Frisco - Beavan made his best start of the season Saturday: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K. He’s an interesting case, because he’s only in his third professional season out of high school, and he’s essentially dominating the Double-A level, but most don’t consider him likely to impact the major league staff any time soon. That may change, as the TL isn’t hitting him well, and his current 35:8 is the best of his career, evidence of the gradual improvement his pitches have made.

RHP Joe Wieland, Hickory - Though they have their differences as pitchers, Wieland currently looks like a statistical clone of Beavan. With a strong start Saturday (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 3 K) he sports a similar K:BB (38:9) and has similar hit, home run and ground ball rates. Promotion season has started, and Wieland could soon be a candidate to see Bakersfield.

C Vin DiFazio, Hickory - Speaking of candidates to join Bakersfield, DiFazio actually reached Hickory last summer after signing quickly as a 12^th round draft pick. He had no trouble with the level, hitting five of his twelve home runs in just 62 AB and posting an OPS that Albert Pujols would be proud of. He battled injuries early this season and started slowly in April (.162/.347/.351) but has caught fire in May, hitting five more home runs in 52 AB and raising his season line to .270/.389/.551.

LHP Zach Phillips, OKC - Promoted to AAA, nice first game: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Cody Eppley, Frisco - Promoted to AA, nice first game: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
OF Joey Butler, Frisco - More 2B of late, still getting on base: .307/.385/.467
RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - Still not consistent, struggled Friday: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 HR, 3 BB, 2 K

Check out Bob Hersom's look at Tanner Scheppers' path to Triple-A and Jason Parks' latest installment of his scouting reports on the 25 players with the highest ceilings in the Rangers system: #13 Miguel Velazquez.

1B/OF/DH Chad Tracy, OKC - Tracy was drafted out of Pepperdine in the third round in 2006, two rounds ahead of Chris Davis. Davis' quick rise overshadowed Tracy's development almost immediately, as Davis showed up on prospect lists after the pair's debut in short season Spokane. Davis then finished the 2007 season in Double A, while Tracy spent the entire season posting sputtering numbers in Low A Clinton. Tracy has seen more success in the upper levels, as he has hit 43 HR the past two years in Bakersfield and Frisco and bumped his OBP over .350 during that span. He opened 2010 in Triple A, overshadowed again by visible prospects Justin Smoak and Mitch Moreland, but with Smoak now in the majors his .351/.413/.719 line may be hard to obscure. Tracy was considered an offensive catcher out of school, but he has played primarily outfield corners and first base for the Rangers and offers little defensive value at those spots.

RHP Tanner Scheppers, Frisco - He has only pitched two innings this week, but another dominant performance Thursday underscores Scheppers' potential value to the Rangers this season. For the season he has made four two-inning appearances and allowed just three hits, but his ratio of 13 strikeouts and zero walks is his most stunning statistic. So far, so good.

RHP Michael Main, Bakersfield - Main had his best start of the season Thursday, a six inning, three hit performance with six strikeouts and a pair of walks. His feet appear to be back on the ground, as he's healthy and handling the Cal League with much more ease the second time through. His fastball has reportedly settled in the low 90s this spring, but at least he once again resembles Michael Main.

RHP Josh Lueke, Hickory - Previously best known for a very unfortunate brush with the law while with Bakersfield in 2008, Lueke served time in jail in 2009 and pitched just 7.2 innings. He was just a 16th round pick in 2007, but his numbers have been consistently noteworthy, as he has averaged over ten strikeouts per nine innings for his career and walked just over two per nine. Despite those numbers and his big arm, Lueke entered 2010 as a 25 year old in Low A. He's making the most of that situation, reportedly showing an improved slider and dominating the level to the tune of 15 strikeouts and just two hits and two walks in seven innings. With 67 High A innings under his belt, Lueke will likely be skipped to Frisco, and that promotion may not be far away.

RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - His promising start took a nosedive Thursday, as he retired just two hitters and allowed four hits and three walks.
RHP Wilmer Font, Hickory - Another solid start Tuesday (5 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K) moves his K/BB ratio to 19/3 for the season.
RHP Omar Beltre, OKC - Hasn't set the world on fire, but decent start: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 10 K - can he withstand Scheppers and be first bullpen promotion?
RHP Alexi Ogando, Frisco - ...or will that be Ogando (who looked good in his second start, once again flashing upper 90s velocity and a slider with potential)?
LHP Zach Phillips, Frisco - One more upper level reliever of note, Phillips is showing much improved control (9/1 K/BB) in his second AA go-round.

OF Engel Beltre, Bakersfield & SS Leury Garcia, Hickory - These two are great examples of the meaninglessness of very early season results for position players. I talked Friday about both players, Beltre for his poor start and Garcia for his nice start. Beltre went into the weekend walkless, hitting .174, and with just one double for the season. Over the weekend he more than doubled his hit total, walked for the first time, tripled and homered to raise his line to a semi-respectable .257/.297/.429. Garcia went into the weekend hitting .333, but a combined 0-12 dropped him to .238 and a 552 OPS. It's a long season.

LHP Derek Holland, OKC - Now pitchers on the other hand...Holland made his third start Sunday, and, though he was a tad less dominant, he seems to have a handle on the Triple A level. Holland completed six innings for the third time and allowed seven hits and two walks but no runs, striking out six. His season line: 19.2 IP, 17 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 15 K, 0.49 ERA. As I've said repeatedly already this season, it must be comforting for Rangers brass to have this guy waiting in OKC.

C/1B/DH Max Ramirez, OKC - Speaking of waiting in OKC, Ramirez came into this season with a growing list of concerns. He hit his way through the minors, topping out with an excellent 2008 in Frisco, but, although the samples have been short, he hadn't yet hit above the Double A level. Injuries have played a part in that, but injuries themselves have become a concern. He was all but traded in the offseason for Mike Lowell, but reports this spring were that even the Sox had soured on him. While he capped his weekend with a four strikeout game Sunday, four hits in the previous two days leave him with a strong .355/.447/.419 line for the season. He isn't hitting for much power, with just two doubles among his eleven hits, but this is a positive offensive start for a guy one step away from a club who needs hitters.

RHP Neil Ramirez, Hickory - The Rangers had five picks in the first and supplemental rounds in 2007, and the results have been positive. Julio Borbon and Tommy Hunter both played well for the major league club in 2009 and figure prominently in the future. Blake Beavan reached AA less than two years after signing, and Michael Main is in his second year at High A Bakersfield despite an illness that wiped out much of his last season. The other guy is Ramirez. He had a nice summer in 2008 for advanced short season Spokane, but full season hitters were a challenge for him in 2009. Ramirez was homer-prone (8 in 66 innings) and struggled with his command (56 K/41 BB). Still just 20 years old, Ramirez is repeating the Low A level and had one of his best days as a professional Saturday, going six innings and allowing three hits and no walks while striking out five. For the season his 11/2 K/BB ratio is a big improvement over 2009.

3B Matt West, Hickory - West was the second round pick in that 2007 draft, and, like Ramirez, he is repeating Low A. Now in his fourth professional season, West has not been able to set himself apart. In 231 pro games he has homered just nine times. His career OBP is a solid .353, but that is due more to his penchant for the HBP (47) than his control of the strike zone (89 BB, 225 SO). But with a current five game hitting streak, West is off to a nice start in 2010, with a .294/.400/.441 line. West's emergence would be a nice boost for an organization short on third base prospects.

RHP Tanner Scheppers, Frisco - Two more dominant innings Saturday, now two hits, no walks and nine strikeouts in his three two-inning stints
RHP Joe Wieland, Hickory - As good as anyone in the system so far, 9 K / 0 BB performance raises his season ratio 16/2, one run allowed total in three starts
OF David Paisano, Bakersfield - Encouraging .400/.438/.667 start for the excellent defender
RHP Blake Beavan, Frisco - Another solid start Sunday, dominating AA: 18 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 10 K
OF Joey Butler, Frisco - Nine hits over the weekend bump his line to .432/.523/.703
1B Justin Smoak, OKC - Stat to watch, his splits: vs RHP - .391/.576/.696, vs LHP - .267/.313/.467
OF Mitch Moreland, OKC - The one AAA prospect not yet hitting, 5-30 on the season