2017 Acquisition: Matt Whatley, C
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/7/1996 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Rangers, short-season A-ball Spokane Indians
2017 Stats: .295/.376/.452, 189 PA, 6 HR, 3 SB, 18/31 BB/K
Info: The Texas Rangers had a very strong draft in 2017, so picking one guy was difficult this year. However, with catching at a premium in the game, Whatley makes a good choice.
Whatley has the frame that looks like he would possess big power, standing 5’10” and weighing in at 200-210 pounds. He’s very physically similar to current Texas Rangers catching prospect Jose Trevino, also from Whatley’s alma mater, Old Dominion University.
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ODU has a reputation for producing catchers who are very mature behind the plate in their handling of pitchers and calling a game. Whatley certainly works right into that mold, with an arm that can play plus due to his ability to work with his pitchers to hold runners, even though his raw arm strength is more above-average than true plus.
Whatley’s biggest definer versus previous ODU catchers that have made their way into some level of professional baseball is his bat. He has legit power ability in his swing, and though his swing did get long during his draft season in college, he worked with Rangers coaches to shorten up things and continue accessing his power.
With his athleticism and defensive maturity behind the plate along with his possible power and contact ability to lead to a positive offensive contribution from the position, Whatley could quickly ascend the Texas Rangers system.
He should open 2018 in full-season ball, whether that’s low-A Hickory or straight up to high-A Down East.
So that is the Texas Rangers’ top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!