Who Has Better Top 5 Prospects, Astros or Rangers?

Round 4: Michael Feliz versus Nomar Mazara

Jul 26, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baseballs lay in the dugout between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Feliz-RHP (ETA 2017). Feliz has been a player that I written a lot about this offseason, including who could be a future ace: Josh Hader or Michael Feliz? He is a hard thrower, reaching 98 mph at times, and is still pitching at the Single-A level despite 2014 being his 5th season in the minor leagues. He started slow his first two years, and had a coming out party in 2012. Not sure who he compares too, but probably like Yordano Ventura of the Royals.

2014 Stats (1-team): 8-6/ 4.03 ERA/ 102.2 IP/ 111 SO/ 1.37 WHIP

From MLB Pipeline (unranked),

Video from MLB Pipeline

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Aug 7, 2014; Frisco, TX, USA; Frisco Rough Riders right fielder Nomar Mazara (9) bats during the game against the Springfield Cardinals at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Springfield beat Frisco 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Nomar Mazara-of (ETA 2016). From MLB Pipeline, “The Rangers shocked other teams when they gave Mazara $4.95 million to sign out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, a record that should stand for a while thanks to bonus limitations established in the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Rangers saw him as a prospect with a tremendous body and power potential, and they believe he’s on the verge of a bdiscovery.”

2014 Stats (3 teams): 0.271/ 78 runs/ 22 home runs/ 89 RBI/ 4 stolen bases.

From MLB Pipeline (54th Overall),

According to Baseball Prospectus Top 101 Top Prospects, Feliz is un-ranked in top 101 while Mazara is 40th-overall.

I think that Michael Feliz ends up in the closers role at some point for Houston, but he shows real potential. The Rangers might reach a point where they don’t have a place for all of their outfield. Feliz has a blazing fastball and will make a good impact with the Astros.

Advantage Rangers

Next: Round 5: Brett Phillips versus Nick Williams

Schedule