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Jose Trevino is someone to keep your eye on. He could be the next Texas Ranger. The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are grooming future MLB players. Under the coaching staff, players are receiving the developmental help they need to get to the next step in their careers. Some players are closer to reaching the Major League level than others. From Frisco, one name stands out above the rest.

Height: 5’ 11”

Weight: 195 lbs.

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Age: 24 (11/28/1992)

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trevino has been in professional baseball for four years now. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, from Oral Roberts University. He originally played shortstop and third base. In High School, Trevino led John Paul II to back-to-back state championships. He tied the state record of 25 home runs in his senior year. In his first year of professional ball, Trevino was named one of the Northwest League Midseason All-Stars, in Short Season-A Spokane. He received the Top Star Award at the All-Star game. The following year, in 2015, Trevino was named a South Atlantic League All-Star with Class-A Hickory. It was in this season that he made the permanent transition to the catcher role. He finished second on the team in home runs (14) and RBIs (63).

The 2016 season was just as successful for the young player. Trevino was named the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year, with Advanced-A High Desert. Trevino was a crucial piece to the Mavericks winning that title, as he hit .303 with nine home runs and 68 RBIs. He was again named an All-Star, both Midseason and Postseason for the California League. Trevino also earned the Minor League Gold Glove Award, after posting a .998 fielding percentage.

Photo Courtesy of the Frisco RoughRiders

Coming into 2017, Trevino ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the entire Texas Rangers organization. He was invited to Major League Spring Training, playing nine games, hitting .250.

One of the greatest things about Trevino is his leadership. It’s noticeable by anyone who watches him play. RoughRiders manager Joe Mikulik speaks often and highly of what Trevino brings to the team.

Prior to the start of the season, at the RoughRiders media day, Mikulik stated: “Without me even appointing a captain, he (Trevino) came into my office today, and, you know, already started,” the RoughRiders manager told the media. “Every once in a while, you’ll find guys that will lead (in the Minors). But he takes it to the next level,” Mikulik added.

This leadership resounds from behind the plate as well. Pitchers seem to trust Trevino. When there’s trouble on the hill, Trevino is there to calm a pitcher down. Whatever it is that he says, it works. Pitchers seem to perform better after a meeting with Trevino.

His defensive prowess is like no other on the team. He keeps runners checked to their bases. Quick and agile, Trevino can go from the kneeling position to a throwing stance in a hurry. It effects opposing batter’s ability to have decent baserunning. It’s almost as if they know Trevino is in their heads. He knows what they are thinking, and is proactive instead of reactive.

If you had to pinpoint an aspect if his game to pick on, it would probably be his hitting. As of the time this article was written, Trevino’s numbers look like this:

31 G       .276 BA       .328 OBP       10 RBIs       9 BB       11 K       32 H       2 HR

Trevino is showing better stats against left-handed pitchers. Versus the southpaws, Trevino has a .400 average and a .429 OBP. Against righties, he’s hitting .250 with a .308 OBP. At home, he hits .302 and carries an OBP of .403. On the road, .254 batting average and a .254 OBP. Trevino is hitting .235 and .229 with runners on base and runners in scoring position, respectively. The good news here, there’s progress. In April, Trevino was hitting .268 with a .302 OBP. In May, he’s batting .280 and has an on-base percentage of .341.

Those numbers don’t scream out to you as terrible. That’s because they aren’t. He’s solid at the plate. Could he be better? Yes. Who couldn’t? Trevino is consistent and reliable. You know what you are getting when he steps up to the plate. Improving from the plate would only better an already impressive set of skills he has. With a little more development, a little more time in Minor League Baseball getting every day reps, Trevino is bound for the Texas Rangers roster.

Baseball aside, Trevino is an all-around good person. I got to spend some one-on-one time with him (the audio of which you can listen to below). When you hear what he has to say, you can tell that he’s genuine. He loves the game of baseball, he loves doing the right thing, and he loves working hard. That mentality will get him far, not just in professional baseball, but in life.

For the Texas Rangers, who will play catcher in 2018 is up in the air. Jonathan Lucroy may command too much money to stay with Texas. Robinson Chirinos only works well, if someone platoons with him. No one can tell you exactly what will happen between now and next season. But should the opportunity arise, should the Texas Rangers need a catcher, Jose Trevino can be counted on to do the job. And he will do it well.

Jose Trevino makes fans excited about the future of the Texas Rangers, and the future of Major League Baseball. Watch him play. You won’t regret it.

Here is the audio from my time with Jose Trevino:

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Follow Blake Cole, Thin Inscriber’s exclusive reporter to the Frisco RoughRiders, on Twitter (@blakeacole) for live game coverage, and the latest news and notes on Jose Trevino, and other players of the Texas Rangers Double-A affiliate.

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