According to Baseball America, Rangers righty Neftali Feliz is the No. 9 prospect in the world. He was ranked No.10 a year ago, and then he pitched well in AAA and struck out 39 batters in 31 innings in the big leagues, all at the age of 21. In short, the guy with the 100mph heat, the dangerous changeup, and the developing curve is a special kind of talent. It just so happens that he's a special kind of talent who doesn't know where he's going to end up.
Starter Or Closer? Stud Propsect Neftali Feliz’s Future Role Remains Undecided
Ace No. 1 starter or All-Star closer?
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The debate is pertinent at Rangers camp. The club believes it has a 21-year-old right-hander in Neftali Feliz who can be both. But it has to be one or the other, and this spring will ultimately offer a glimpse of which way the powers that be are thinking as they evaluate one of the most talented pitchers to ever come their way.
The Rangers will stretch Feliz out and give him a shot at one of the final two rotation slots, but as the article adds later on:
There are six candidates for the last two spots in the rotation, but the Rangers have made it clear that Tommy Hunter is a leading candidate for one of those spots. That leaves Feliz competing with Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy and fellow reliever C.J. Wilson for the final spot.
For his part, Feliz says he would prefer to be a starter, but also acknowledges that he'd be open to relieving. And that's probably for the best, because at this point the likelihood is that he ends up in the bullpen setting up Frank Francisco. There's simply too much competition, and Feliz demonstrated late in 2009 that he can make a real impact in relief. For a team that aims to contend, it can be hard to transition a known entity into a more challenging role where he may not have the same success.
That is a decision that prioritizes the team’s immediate need over Feliz’s long-term potential, as the truth of the matter is that an effective starting pitcher is generally more valuable than an effective closer who throws a third as many innings. Whether Feliz can cut it as a Major League starter is, of course, up in the air, but with that kind of talent, he ought to be given the chance. It’s too early in his career to push him into a more limited role. So the question then becomes: if Feliz begins 2010 in the bullpen, and succeeds, will the Rangers still consider moving him to the rotation down the road? And how would they do it?
Starters Derek Holland and Scott Feldman each began 2009 in the bullpen before getting extended, but neither was filling a role as critical as the one Feliz is likely to fill. It becomes a problem of trying to change a guy who's already established himself in a particular spot. It's a difficult move, and a controversial one. The Rangers say no decision they make in spring training will be final, but the role Feliz occupies in 2010 could influence the role he occupies in 2011.
Feliz may, of course, win the competition and begin the year as a starter. Or he may begin the year in the bullpen but serve as the sixth starter, making the move whenever another starter gets hurt. But every additional dominant appearance he makes in relief may close the rotation window just a little bit more, and that would be a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow.
Check out Rangers blog Lone Star Ball for a lot more on the subject.
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