Friday on the Farm: Texas Rangers’ initial minor-league rosters created questions. We have answers

Jack Leiter was the best pitcher last year in the Southeast Conference, and the Rangers think that prepared him for Double A (Texas Rangers Newsletter/Jeff Wilson).

Minor-league baseball gets under way Tuesday, when Triple A teams begin their 150-game schedules.

Triple A rosters aren’t always composed the way you might expect. They aren’t always jam packed with hot-shot prospects on the verge of making their MLB debuts.

Usually, a Triple A roster is a blend of prospects and players who have been around a while. That’s what will happen with the Texas Rangers’ Triple A team at Round Rock in 2022, though the Express will have more top prospects than in past seasons.

Cole Winn, Sam Huff, Davis Wendzel, Josh Smith and Bubba Thompson were added to the Round Rock roster on Thursday.

Not bad.

But Round Rock is a clear third in terms of talent.

Third?

The most talent is at Double A Frisco, with High A Hickory not all that far behind. Both teams are built with their starting rotations.

“I think they’re both really good,” vice president Ross Fenstermaker said. “They’re both probably, my opinion, two the top 10 best rotations in minor-league baseball. I don’t know how they’re going to really be topped by many other clubs.”

That sounds like a good starting point for what could be a big season in terms of continuing to develop players who will join Corey Seager and Marcus Semien at the core of the Rangers’ plans to be a contender again.

The initial camp rosters were announced Thursday, and they generated plenty of buzz but also some questions.

The Newsletter has answers.