So the Rangers FO indicate that Profar will most likely start at AAA because they want their great prospect to play everyday. But reports or it has been mentioned/indicated that they like Leury Garcia to win the utility IF job. Granted Garcia is not a higher prospect than Profar, but from a player development standpoint, don't they want to follow the same mindset and have Garcia play everyday at AAA? So it's ok for Garcia to ride the pine? Or is Garcia more ready for the majors than Profar is right now?

Please help shed some light.

I think a lot of guys who know in the Rangers organization view Garcia as being blocked by Profar & Kinsler in the short term and Profar & Odor in the longer term.

He's seen action at 3B, RF and CF in the DWL and the team loves his game changing speed and baseball instincts. They're hoping his bat is ready to play enough to win the super utility role, increase his perceived trade value to other teams, and possibly carve out a role of his own in the 5 year plan.

I like the move because even if we don't have room for him in a few years, he should be ready for the big show so I don't think he's viewed as a guy you're worried about running out of options. Someone will want him.

Leury Garcia is not a can't-miss talent. His primary strengths are he can field the ball pretty well, and he's a true 70-80 grade runner. That's all we need from a utility infielder. He's up in the rarified Craig Gentry air when it comes to burning around the base paths. To that end, he would be useful, particularly pinch-running for Lance Berkman at the end of games.

However, his bat is what's going to keep him from being an everyday player on a first division team. He has poor plate discipline and pitch selection, so you're best bet, at least right now, is a guy who would generate a sub-.300 OBP, rendering his speed as relatively useless. That's in a starting capacity, though. 15-25 plate appearances per month would not kill the Rangers.

The reason to have him start on the big club right now, as a bench player, is for the aforementioned pinch running/defense role. At age-22, he obviously hasn't reached his ceiling, but in the capacity he will be used in Texas, he essentially has.

The Rangers are going to try Garcia at center field in hopes he clones into a Michael Bourn. Though he had decent numbers that even projects to the majors, aside from a tad higher obp and a higher rank on his defense, at least at short which if he is the U, he will not see often, Eric's post defines Garcia. Another factor to consider in playing Profar at the major league level is not 2013, but 2014 ( even after modest success) when a Profar to Tampa Bay for David Price is a definite possibility. This can only be a reality if Profar plays in the Majors to prove he is Major League ready because no matter what his Round Rock numbers are, it simply is not the Majors. But if you give me a choice this year between Garcia or SOLARTE as the U-man to start the season, I would take Yangervis. For the AAA level, his K rate is extremely impressive and he could easily turn into a clutch line drive gap power producer..

From ScoutingBook.Com:

A tiny, defense-first switch-hitter with plus speed, Dominican Leury Garcia is a young shortstop prospect buried a bit too deep in a Ranger system that has no shortage of such players. While his adeptness with the bat remains in question, scouts all agree that his defense is top-notch in glovework, range and arm strength. Unfortunately, even if his bat does come along, he's still destined to be no more than trade bait or bench depth in a Ranger system that really doesn't need him.

HT: 5'8"
WT: 160
B/T: S/R

AA: 377 AB / 55 R / 110 H / 25 XBH / 30 RBI / 31 SB / 7 CS
..... .292 / .337 / .398 / .734
___________________________________________________________

We see a lot of great names here at Scouting Book, but every once and awhile there's still one that makes us do a double-take. This offensive-minded infielder's name (nephew of Indians coach Rouglas) is really named Rougned (RYOO-nyed) Odor. We're hoping that was a little less teaseworthy for a kid growing up in Venezuela than it would have been in Lubbock.

An All-Star for the Venezuelan National Team in 2009, Odor is a short infielder with good fielding instincts, a strong arm, and a sweet swing from the left side of the plate. He's a long way from the majors, with a whole life of A-ball ahead of him first.

HT: 5'11"
WT: 170
B/T: L/R

A-: 432 AB / 60 R / 112 H / 37 XBH / 47 RBI / 19 SB / 10 CS
..... .259 / .313 / .400 / .714
.
.
So, Roughned is bigger and, by extension, has some more pop over Leury. He's also 2 or three years younger and 2 levels below Leury at this time. Both can bat lefty while Garcia can switch over to the right side.

And, if Odor grows just a little bit more, he could grow into a beast.

OK... I'll buy that Leury is ultimately gonna fall in behind Roughned.

Still, I agree his speed and defense will play as a utility guy; although, I don't know if Wash will ever give him any ABs... ?

Odor is destined to be Kinsler's replacement at second. If Profar stays a Ranger, by 2016, the heart of the Rangers will be up the middle, starting with Alfaro to Odor & Profar to Martin. But, this is in 2016, the hear and now says if Profar is sent to Round Rock, does this make Garcia the U, he after all is on the 40 man roster?

I like him there... and, it won't prevent him from expanding his horizons... lots of MIFs came up as utility guys and worked their way into full-time jobs.

I've wondered this myself. Profar would be the best U, but they want to get him ABs in AAA, that makes sense for now. We traded our very average U in Young, so we either go look for a very average cheap guy on the market, or just promote one of these guys that we know wont be running out of options nor worried about his ABs for the time being, since that person will have plenty of time to develop with everyone in front of him.

15-25 ABs per month for a few months wont kill his development when he aint coming up soon like Profar will, and it wont hurt the team more than a Quintenilla type fill in. If someone were actually to get hurt, Profar or Olt comes up depending on where is needed. He would just be there to give guys a break. The question to me is who gives Beltre a break at 3rd, Elvis??

Who would have ever imagined that a Garcia or Odor or whoever would see more MLB action before Profar or Olt? This is probably the only time in the next 4 years he wont be "blocked."

Bro, Odor will not, he will be one of the youngest starting 2b man at High A Myrtle Beach, with a chance to end the season at AA. If both Olt and Profar begin 2013 in Round Rock, look for Solarte backing up Beltre, or even the shortest 3b man in a long time, 5'7" Leury. There is a reason few short players have played third, but then I have no idea what Garcia's vertical leap is, it is a stat that just is not kept in baseball all that much.

Leonys Martin will not be on the Rangers in 2016 unless he is extended. He has an out clause after 5 years.

I tend to think Adrian Beltre's backup is not yet in the organization. Brandon Snyder logged a whopping 18.0 innings at 3B in 2012, so you have to figure if worst comes to worst, he's someone to look at. Tommy Mendonca, whom the Rangers started deploying at catcher in AAA last year, is also a 3rd basemen, but his glove is atrocious, apparently. They stopped trying him at 3B when Mike Olt ascended through the minors.

Anyway, not a ton of internal options for the 4 corners in the organization.

Ian seemed to think he could play 3B... shift him there and Leury goes to 2B...

Versatility at its best!

Tommy Mendonca is gone....picked up in Rule 5 draft recently by Oakland.

I still see Garcia at AAA, the Rangers do want to turn him into center fielder and the Majors is not the place for OJT with a 22 year old.There is not much left in free agent viable Us beyond Alex Gonzalez and Freddy Sanchez. With Snyder and Solarte, they are at Surprise in March, can play every position including the #3 catcher [ Snyder got behind the plate in one game for the Rangers last year], and if pushed, Solarte could play center field. Brandon also represents an additional right handed bat with a degree of power. The negative, neither are on the 40-man; but that is a minimum problem when eventually Feliz gets moved to the 60-day when that is allowed and Borbon either makes the 25 or he is released in the last week of Spring Training. Simply out of options, also helps to explain one point of several, why he was not called up in 2012 before 1 Sept and the several why he was not after that day.

I'm of the opinion JD will make the necessary roster moves, and , maybe by 2014 season will improve the team situation by replacing Wash, who does not like to play non vet players. I look forward to seeing as many prospects as needed this year, since they seem to play with enthusiasm thats hard to find with alot of overpaid vets. Bring on March 31.

"...overpaid vets..."

Love that quote. And, it's why I <stong>really like the direction JD took this off season.

I also think that's what killed our team last year (not that Josh was overpaid, but he really, really felt like he should be and wasn't.

How about, "...overegoed vets..."?