The Texas Rangers have had two prospects that have really been slugging in the month of May and Minor League Baseball officially took notice on Wednesday. Infielder Rafe Perich and outfielder Hector Osorio have been named the Minor League Players of the Month for May in their respective leagues after putting together two of the most dominant offensive stretches in the minors.
Having multiple players secure Player of the Month honors at the same time shows some depth brewing in the Rangers’ farm system especially among position players. Both sluggers dismantled opposing pitching staffs all month long, combining for 16 home runs and 49 RBIs in May alone.
Rafe Perich: South Atlantic League Player of the Month (High-A)
Before earning a well-deserved promotion to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders on May 29th, Rafe Perich put on an absolute clinic for the High-A Hub City Spartanburgers.
Over 23 games in May, the 24-year-old infielder slashed a staggering .345/.448/.747 with a massive 1.195 OPS. He launched 10 home runs and drove in 29 runs during the month, leading the South Atlantic League in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS, while ranking second in RBIs and third in batting average.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Perich’s award-winning month was elite control of the strike zone. He managed to draw more walks (15) than strikeouts (14) across those 23 games, a rare feat for a player flashing that much raw power.
Perich has hit two home runs in his now 6 games at the Double-A level. On the season as a whole, he is slashing .286/.376/.590/.966 with 38 RBIs and firmly holds the crown as the undisputed home run leader across the entire Texas Rangers farm system with 13 long balls on the year.
Hector Osorio: Carolina League Player of the Month (Single-A)
Down in Single-A with the Hickory Crawdads, outfielder Hector Osorio was also a force of nature.
The Venezuelan outfielder posted a brilliant .333/.449/.598 line over 24 games in May. Osorio mashed six home runs, five doubles, and drove in 20 runs while drawing 15 walks.
Osorio’s breakout has been one of the most exciting storylines of the first couple of months of the minor league season. On the season, the young outfielder is now slashing .287/.420/.541/.962 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs, proving to be a highly productive, high-upside bat at the top of Hickory’s lineup.
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