Taveras, Calhoun among Top 100 Prospects
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ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielders Willie Calhoun and Leody Taveras have been ranked among the Top 100 Prospects by MLB Pipeline, which released the list Saturday.
• MLB Pipeline's 2018 Top 100 Prospects list
Taveras is ranked No. 34, while Calhoun, who was acquired on July 31 from the Dodgers in a trade for pitcher Yu Darvish, is No. 53.
:: Complete 2018 Top Prospects coverage ::
The annual ranking of MLB's Top 100 Prospects is assembled by MLB Pipeline, Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams.
Only players with rookie status entering the 2018 season are eligible. Players who were at least 25 when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as Texas' No. 2 prospect, Calhoun has a chance to have a more immediate impact on the Rangers. He goes into Spring Training as the leading candidate to be Texas' left fielder, although he will get competition from Drew Robinson and Ryan Rua.
Calhoun is coming off an outstanding season at Triple-A while splitting time between the Dodgers' affiliate in Oklahoma City and Round Rock in the Rangers' system. He played in 128 games and hit .300 with 31 home runs, 93 RBIs and a .572 slugging percentage.
Calhoun played in 13 games for the Rangers in September and was 9-for-34 (.265) with one home run and four RBIs.
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Taveras, a 19-year-old switch-hitter, is the No. 1 prospect in the Rangers' system, according to MLB Pipeline. He is considered a legitimate five-tool center fielder who played in 134 games at Class A Hickory in the South Atlantic League.
Taveras hit .249 in 522 at-bats with 73 runs scored, 20 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 50 RBIs and 20 stolen bases, along with a .312 on-base percentage and a .360 slugging percentage. He is the cousin of former Major Leaguer Willy Taveras.