
In our ranking of the Top 100 players in Major League Baseball who have played in the Texas League, the Arkansas Travelers top the list with the best former player in future Hall of Famer and the highest-paid player in MLB, Mike Trout. But there aren't a whole lot of former Travs after that.
In fact, the Travelers have the fewest number of players on the list of all active Texas League teams. Taking this top 100 as a representative sample, that translates to the sparsest talent pool and fewest rehab assignments over the past decade of any Texas League team.
Here's how the teams stand in number of players on this list (a handful of players have played on multiple Texas League teams):
1) Corpus Christi Hooks - 21 players
2) Tulsa Drillers - 15 players
2) Springfield Cardinals - 15 players
2) Frisco Roughriders - 15 players
5) NWA Naturals - 12 players
6) San Antonio Missions - 10 players
7) Midland Rockhounds - 8 players
8) Arkansas Travelers - 6 players
9) Wichita Wranglers - 1 player
Not a big number for the Travs among the top 100 best, but at least no one else can claim Mike Trout.
Texas League Top 100
1 - Mike Trout (Arkansas Travelers, 2011), Los Angeles Angels, CF
2 - J.D. Martinez (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2010-11, 13), Boston Red Sox, LF
3 - Nolan Arenado (Tulsa Drillers, 2012), Colorado Rockies, 3B
4 - Jose Altuve (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2011), Houston Astros, 2B
5 - Alex Bregman (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2016), Houston Astros, 3B
6 - Trea Turner (San Antonio Missions, 2015), Washington Nationals, SS
7 - Trevor Story (Tulsa Drillers, 2014), Colorado Rockies, SS
8 - Charlie Blackmon (Tulsa Drillers, 2010), Colorado Rockies, RF
9 - Corey Kluber (San Antonio Missions, 2009-10), Cleveland Indians, P
10 - Carlos Correa (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015, 17), Houston Astros, SS
11 - Whit Merrifield (NWA Naturals, 2012-14), Kansas City Royals, 2B
12 - Cody Bellinger (Tulsa Drillers, 2016), Los Angeles Dodgers, 1B
13 - Matt Carpenter (Springfield Cardinals, 2010, 12, 16), St. Louis Cardinals, 3B
14 - George Springer (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2012-13, 15), Houston Astros, CF
15 - Adelberto Mondesi (NWA Naturals, 2015-16), Kansas City Royals, SS
16 - Corey Seager (Tulsa Drillers, 2015), Los Angeles Dodgers, SS
17 - Nelson Cruz (MIdland Rockhounds, 2004 / Frisco Roughriders, 2010-11), Minnesota Twins, DH
18 - James Paxton (Arkansas Travelers, 2017), New York Yankees, P
19 - Walker Buehler (Tulsa Drillers, 2017), Los Angeles Dodgers, P
20 - Clayton Kershaw (Tulsa Drillers, 2019), Los Angeles Dodgers, P
21 - Jean Segura (Arkansas Travelers, 2012, 17), Philadelphia Phillies, SS
22 - Joey Gallo (Frisco Roughriders, 2014-15), Texas Rangers, LF
23 - Lorenzo Cain (NWA Naturals, 2012), Milwaukee Brewers, CF
24 - Rougned Odor (Frisco Roughriders, 2013-14, 18), Texas Rangers, 2B
25 - Zack Greinke (Wichita Wranglers, 2003, 06), Arizona Diamondbacks, P
26 - Roberto Osuna (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2018), Houston Astros, RP
27 - Jack Flaherty (Springfield Cardinals, 2017), St. Louis Cardinals, P
28 - Tommy Pham (Springfield Cardinals, 2010-13, 16), Tampa Bay Rays, CF
29 - Mike Foltynewicz (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2013), Atlanta Braves, P
30 - Jose Leclerc (Frisco Roughriders, 2015-17), Texas Rangers, RP
31 - Charlie Morton (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2017), Tampa Bay Rays, P
32 - Matt Chapman (Midland Rockhounds, 2016), Oakland Athletics, 3B
33 - Jonathan Villar (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2011-12), Baltimore Orioles, 2B
34 - Josh Donaldson (Midland Rockhounds, 2009), Atlanta Braves, 3B
35 - Miles Mikolas (San Antonio Missions, 2011-12), St. Louis Cardinals, P
36 - Yu Darvish (Frisco Roughriders, 2016), Chicago Cubs, P
37 - Kyle Hendricks (Frisco Roughriders, 2011), Chicago Cubs, P
38 - Josh Hader (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2014-15), Milwaukee Brewers, RP
39 - Wil Myers (NWA Naturals, 2011-12), San Diego Padres, LF
40 - Sean Doolittle (Midland Rockhounds, 2008, 12, 15), Washington Nationals, RP
41 - Mike Moustakas (NWA Naturals, 2010, 16), Milwaukee Brewers, 3B
42 - Yadier Molina (Springfield Cardinals, 2014, 18), St. Louis Cardinals, C
43 - Elvis Andrus (Frisco Roughriders, 2008, 18), Texas Rangers, SS
44 - Nomar Mazara (Frisco Roughriders, 2014-15, 18), Texas Rangers, RF
45 - Max Muncy (Midland Rockhounds, 2013-14), Los Angeles Dodgers, 1B
46 - Eric Hosmer (NWA Naturals, 2010), San Diego Padres, 1B
47 - Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Antonio Missions, 2017-18), San Diego Padres, SS
48 - Joey Lucchesi (San Antonio Missions, 2017), San Diego Padres, P
49 - Corey Dickerson (Tulsa Drillers, 2012), Pittsburgh Pirates, LF
50 - Ross Stripling (Tulsa Drillers, 2015), Los Angeles Dodgers, P
51 - Shin-Soo Choo (San Antonio Missions, 2004 / Frisco Roughriders, 2016), Texas Rangers, RF
52 - Brandon Morrow (San Antonio Missions, 2015-16), Chicago Cubs, RP
53 - Will Smith (Arkansas Travelers, 2010), San Francisco Giants, RP
54 - Dallas Keuchel (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2010-11, 17), New York Yankees (projected), P
55 - Stephen Piscotty (Springfield Cardinals, 2013, 17), Oakland Athletics, RF
56 - Justin Smoak (Frisco Roughriders, 2009), Toronto Blue Jays, 1B
57 - Domingo Santana (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2013), Seattle Mariners, RF
58 - Matt Olson (Midland Rockhounds, 2015), Oakland Athletics, 1B
59 - Joe Musgrove (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015-16), Pittsburgh Pirates, P
60 - John Gray (Tulsa Drillers, 2014), Colorado Rockies, P
61 - Paul DeJong (Springfield Cardinals, 2016), St. Louis Cardinals, SS
62 - Colin McHugh (Tulsa Drillers, 2013 / Corpus Christi Hooks, 2017), Houston Astros, RP
63 - Harrison Bader (Springfield Cardinals, 2016), St. Louis Cardinals, CF
64 - Sonny Gray (Midland Rockhounds, 2011-12), Cincinnati Reds, P
65 - Brad Peacock (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015), Houston Astros, RP
66 - Randal Grichuk (Arkansas Travelers, 2013), Toronto Blue Jays, RF
67 - Jurickson Profar (Frisco Roughriders, 2012, 15), Oakland Athletics, SS
68 - Marco Gonzalez (Springfield Cardinals, 2014-15), Seattle Mariners, P
69 - Ramon Laureano (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2016-17), Oakland Athletics, RF
70 - Chris Paddack (San Antonio Missions, 2018), San Diego Padres, SP
71 - CJ Cron (Arkansas Travelers, 2013), Minnesota Twins, 1B
72 - Odubel Herrera (Frisco Roughriders, 2013-14), Philadelphia Phillies, CF
73 - Yuli Gurriel (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2016, 18), Houston Astros, 1B
74 - Carlos Martinez (Springfield Cardinals, 2012-13, 18), St. Louis Cardinals, P
75 - Jed Lowrie (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015), New York Mets, 2B
76 - Josh James (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2017-18), Houston Astros, RP
77 - Derek Holland (Frisco Roughriders, 2008, 14, 15), San Francisco Giants, P
78 - Luke Weaver (Springfield Cardinals, 2016), Arizona Diamondbacks, P
79 - Matt Strahm (NWA Naturals, 2016 / San Antonio Missions, 2018), San Diego Padres, P
80 - Greg Holland (NWA Naturals, 2009, 12 / Springfield Cardinals, 2018), Arizona Diamondbacks, RP
81 - Franmil Reyes (San Antonio Missions, 2017), San Diego Padres, RF
82 - Trevor Rosenthal (Springfield Cardinals, 2012), Washington Nationals, RP
83 - Jhoulys Chacin (Tulsa Drillers, 2009, 12), Milwaukee Brewers, P
84 - Tyler White (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015), Houston Astros, 1B
85 - Jakob Junis (NWA Naturals, 2015-16), Kansas City Royals, P
86 - Jesus Luzardo (Midland Rockhounds, 2018), Oakland Athletics, P
87 - Robinson Chirinos (Frisco Roughriders, 2016), Houston Astros, C
88 - Mike Minor (NWA Naturals, 2016), Texas Rangers, P
89 - Kurt Suzuki (Midland Rockhounds, 2006), Washington Nationals, C
90 - Alex Reyes (Springfield Cardinals, 2015, 18), St. Louis Cardinals, P
91 - Adam Ottavino (Springfield Cardinals, 2008), New York Yankees, RP
92 - Michael Wacha (Springfield Cardinals, 2012, 14, 18), St. Louis Cardinals, P
93 - Juilo Urias (Tulsa Drillers, 2015), Los Angeles Dodgers, RP
94 - Ryan O'Hearn (NWA Naturals, 2016-17), Kansas City Royals, 1B
95 - Pedro Strop (Tulsa Drillers, 2008 / Frisco Roughriders, 2009), Chicago Cubs, RP
96 - Jorge Alfaro (Frisco Roughriders, 2014-15), Miami Marlins, C
97 - Jake Odorizzi (NWA Naturals, 2011-12), Minnesota Twins, P
98 - Drew Pomeranz (Tulsa Drillers, 2011-13), San Francisco Giants, P
99 - Vince Velasquez (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2015), Philadelphia Phillies, P
100 - Forrest Whitley (Corpus Christi Hooks, 2017-18), Houston Astros, P
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