Expectations were high for 24-year old lefty swinging CF Julio Borbon after the rookie season he put up in 2009. Last year, Borbon played in 46 games in which he was 49 of 157 (.312 avg, .790 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 4 homers, 20 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. This year has been a different story for Borbon as he has struggled some. He has played in 96 games for the Rangers this year and he is 81 of 300 (.267 avg, .656 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 3 homers, 27 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Rangers would like it if Borbon got hot so they could use him in CF all of the time.

The Rangers have demoted 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Davis back to AAA. Davis played in 31 games for the Rangers this season and he was 19 of 101 (.188 avg, .533 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Davis has now played in 224 games in parts of three years with the Rangers and he is 196 of 787 (.249 avg, .759 OPS) with 103 runs scored, 38 homers and 117 RBIs. The Rangers love Davis’ power potential but it also comes with a ton of whiffs (270). The Rangers don’t mind the whiffing as long as Davis shows the big time power he has shown in the past. Davis will make it back to Texas at some point but it might not be in 2010.

28-year old righty swinging 2B Ian Kinsler got off to a late start this year due to a ankle injury but he’s still not looking like himself in the field. He has played in 43 games for the Rangers this season and he is 44 of 160 (.275 avg, .732 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 1 homer, 17 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Kinsler was outstanding last season for the Rangers in which he played in 144 games and was 143 of 566 (.253 avg, .814 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 31 homers, 86 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. The Rangers have played well this season without the real Ian Kinsler. So if the real Kinsler shows up soon look for the Rangers to really get rolling.

23-year old switch hitting 1B Justin Smoak is having a rough time against major league pitching. He came into this season as the Rangers’ #2 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America so they don’t want to damage his confidence. Smoak has played in 33 games for the Rangers this year and he is 18 of 108 (.167 avg, .583 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 12 RBIs. Smoak has whiffed only 22 times so he is hitting the ball but he’s not making enough consistent hard contact. I don’t see the Rangers keeping Smoak around much longer if he can’t hit his own weight so Chris Davis might get another chance soon for the Rangers.

The Rangers have sent 26-year old righty swinging catcher Taylor Teagarden to AAA and he earned the trip. Teagarden played in 10 games for the Rangers this season and he was 1 for 27 (.037 avg, .225 OPS) with 3 runs scored and a amazing 17 whiffs. I don’t see Teagarden getting back to Texas any time soon. The Rangers have recalled 25-year old righty swinging Max Ramirez from AAA to replace Teagarden on the roster. He was the Rangers’ #11 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. The Rangers almost traded Ramirez to the Red Sox over the winter for 3B/1B Mike Lowell but he failed his physical due to a bum thumb. Ramirez played in 14 games in AAA this season to start the year and he was 13 of 49 (.265 avg, .671 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 4 RBIs. I think the Rangers will probably start him a lot more often than Matt Treanor behind the plate. Treanor has played in 11 games for the Rangers so far this year and he is 9 for 36 (.250 avg, .703 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs.