Now that the dust has settled from the trade deadline, mlb.com’s minor league expert Jim Callis ranks the top 15 minor league systems. They are:

1. San Diego Padres

2. Tampa Bay Rays

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Miami Marlins

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

6. Detroit Tigers

7. Atlanta Braves

8. Minnesota Twins

9. Chicago White Sox

10. Toronto Blue Jays

11. Seattle Mariners

12. Cleveland Indians

13. Baltimore Orioles

14. Texas Rangers

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

At 14, the Rangers are right in the middle of the pack. Callis lists the Rangers Top 100 prospects as: Josh Jung (60), Sam Huff (79), and Hans Crouse (83).

He adds: “Though Jung had one of the higher floors in the 2019 Draft, he also has a high offensive ceiling, and the Rangers’ system is all about ceilings. There’s risk involved with Huff, Crouse and others such as outfielder Bubba Thompson, but the rewards could be huge.”

Here are the current Top 30 prospects in the Rangers farm system.

Before anyone gets too excited, it’s interesting and illuminating to go back in to their archives and see who was on this list when they started ranking back in 2011: 1 Jurickson Profar. 2 Martin Perez. 3 Mike Olt. 4 Tanner Scheppers. 5 Michael Kirkman. 6 Leonys Martin. 7 Robbie Ross. 8 Engel Beltre. 9 Jake Skole. 10 David Perez.

A lot of crap. Then again, it’s a crap shoot. But it’s the only game in town. 

*****

TODAY’S GAMES:

Game 1

Ariel Jurado (6-6, 4.92) vs. Zach Plesac (6-3, 3.41)

Game time: 12:10

Game 2

Lance Lynn (14-6, 3.71) vs. Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.07)