We continue our series on ranking the top 10 minor-league prospects for the Texas Rangers with the final two.
Ranking: 2
Player: Jorge Alfaro
Position: C
Draft selection: Signed January 2010
Team: Double-A Frisco
2014 season: Myrtle Beach: 100 games, .261/.318/.440, 13 HRs, 73 RBsI, 23 BBs, 100 Ks. Frisco: 21 G, .261/.343/.443, 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, 6 W, 23 Ks.
Positives: Big-time arm
Negatives: Needs improvement in blocking the plate
When will he be here?: He’s a year away, so calm down. Alfaro can shut down a running game with his arm and can become the type of catcher who will man the plate for 130 to 140 games a season. He should move through Double-A this season quickly with a look at Triple-A by midseason. He’s not perfect, still needing to work on blocking pitches and understanding how to work the strike zone as a hitter.
What they're saying: "Jorge Alfaro needs to tighten up his plate discipline (that's fancy talk for "mix in a walk every now and then, big guy") and increase his focus on defense but could be among the best catchers in the game with his 80 arm/80 power potential." -- Keith Law, ESPN.
“A converted infielder, Alfaro has only been catching full-time for a few years and is still a little raw defensively. He may have the strongest arm of any minor league catcher and is remarkably athletic. Alfaro has solid raw power and began to tap into it more in 2013. His swing has a tendency to get long and he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts as he advances in the Minor Leagues.” -- MLB.com.
The series:
