We continue our rankings of the Top 10 minor league prospects in the Texas Rangers system.
Ranking: 9
Player: Travis Demeritte
Position: 2B
Draft selection: 2013, first round.
Team: Class-A Hickory
2014 season: Hickory: 118 G, .211/.310/.450 25 HR, 66 RBI, 50 W and 171 K.
Positives: Hits for power
Negatives: Needs experience, last season's 118 games played was the most he ever participated in.
When will he be here?: He's about two years away and that's OK because the Rangers have depth in the middle of the infield. You have to like the power, but the batting average (he had 84 hits in 118 games) suffered a little bit as he hit for that power. He will get better with more experience, especially at the plate. He turned 20 on Sept. 30, so there's no rush to promote him before he's ready. Demeritte is worth following because he's the draft pick the Rangers obtained for losing Josh Hamilton in free agency. "I just want to get in and do what I do best," Demeritte said back in 2013 when asked about the pick. "I'm not worried about that. I'm just ready to make my name."
What they’re saying: "Scouts were mixed on Demeritte's ability to remain at shortstop because he has just average speed. His arm and his bat would profile well at third base, where he spent time in his pro debut, but will stand out even more at second base, where the Rangers played him for most of 2014." -- MLB.com
"The right-handed hitting Demeritte has a strong offensive projection too. His movements are free and easy, generating lift at the point of contact. An athletic base helps drive future power projection. Barreling baseballs to all fields in batting practice, Demeritte projects flashed power to all fields. In game action, he hit a laser beam off the right field wall for a loud hit." -- ROTOScouting
