Starting spots for Rangers' Top 30 prospects

With the 2019 Minor League Baseball season getting underway, here's a look at where the Rangers' Top 30 prospects are starting the year. We also identify the prospect who just missed the Top 30 list, a player who didn't make the big league Opening Day roster but should make an impact this year, a prospect who is ready to break out in 2019 and the team's best defensive prospect.

1) Hans Crouse (MLB No. 83), RHP -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
2) Julio Pablo Martinez (MLB No. 86), OF -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
3) Cole Winn (MLB No. 87), RHP -- Extended spring training
4) Anderson Tejeda, SS/2B -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
5) Bubba Thompson, OF -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
6) Leody Taveras, OF -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
7) Joe Palumbo, LHP -- Frisco RoughRiders (AA)
8) Jonathan Hernandez, RHP -- Frisco RoughRiders (AA)
9) Brock Burke, LHP -- Frisco RoughRiders (AA)
10) Cole Ragans, LHP -- Extended spring training
11) Taylor Hearn, LHP -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
12) Chris Seise, SS -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
13) Owen White, RHP -- Extended spring training
14) Tyler Phillips, RHP -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
15) C.D. Pelham, LHP -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
16) Eli White, INF -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
17) Osleivis Basabe, SS/2B -- Extended spring training
18) Jonathan Ornelas, 3B/SS -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
19) Diosbel Arias, INF -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
20) A.J. Alexy, RHP -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
21) Sam Huff, C/1B -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
22) Sherten Apostel, 3B -- Hickory Crawdads (A)
23) Mason Englert, RHP -- Extended spring training
24) Demarcus Evans, RHP -- Down East Wood Ducks (A Adv)
25) Jose Trevino, C -- Nashville Sounds (AAA)
26) Yohander Mendez, LHP -- Texas Rangers (MLB) -- IL
27) Scott Heineman, OF -- Texas Rangers (MLB) -- IL
28) Kyle Cody, RHP -- Extended spring training -- rehab
29) David Garcia, C -- Extended spring training
30) Ronny Henriquez, RHP -- Extended spring training
Complete list »

Just missed Top 30: Yerry Rodriguez
Rodriguez opened a lot of eyes while making his U.S. debut last summer, going 23 strikeouts between walks in the Rookie-level Arizona League and compiling a 2.86 ERA and an 82/8 K/BB ratio in 63 innings at the lower levels of the system. He gets good sink on his 91-96 mph fastball, while his slider and changeup are more works in progress.

On the shelf
Left-hander Yohander Mendez (sprained elbow ligament) and outfielder Scott Heineman (offseason left shoulder surgery) are on Texas' 60-day injured list. Right-hander Kyle Cody is rehabbing in extended spring training after having Tommy John surgery last July.

Impact prospect: Brock Burke
The Rangers got the Rays’ 2019 Minor League Pitcher of the Year in a three-team trade that sent Jurickson Profar to the A’s. Burke pitched his way to Double-A in 2018 and dominated there. His stuff has ticked upward and he looks more and more like a mid-rotation starter, one who could quickly run through the rest of the Rangers system.

Breakout prospect: Hans Crouse
Few pitching prospects combine stuff and entertainment value like Crouse. He can get animated on the mound and throw in a Johnny Cueto shimmy to disrupt batters' timing, though what matters most is that he possesses a riding mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider.

Best defensive prospect: Jose Trevino
Trevino won Rawlings Minor League Gold Gloves in both 2016 and '17, before surgery on his non-throwing shoulder last July squashed any chances of a three-peat. He's an outstanding receiver and blocker, gets the most out of his strong arm with a quick release and accurate throws and also earns high marks for his ability to run a pitching staff.