By Schuyler Dombroske

DOB: 12/19/78, Age: 24, Bats/Throws: R/R, Height: 6’1’’, Weight: 200. Acquired: Rangers - Selected in the 2002 Rule V draft from the Indians; traded from the Athletics to the Indians for Ricardo Rincon on 7/21/02; selected in the 9th Round of the 2000 Draft by the Athletics. 2002 Stats: (AA - Midland) .308 AVG, 323 AB, 22 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 7 SB, 38 BB, 57 K, .374 OBP, .486 SLG; (AA - Akron) .389 AVG, 18 AB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 BB, 2 K, .542 OBP, .667 SLG.

Marshall McDougall is with his third team in the past six months, and his chances of breaking into the big leagues may be decreasing with each move (except for the fact that he is a Rule V selection). McDougall, best known for his 6-homer game with Florida State in 1999, is capable of playing any infield position adequately, but none spectacularly. He has a nice, quick, line-drive stroke at the plate, and is easily capable of hitting for average. His power is average, perhaps a tad above average for a middle infielder, but it gets him in trouble when he starts overestimating it and trying to muscle balls out of the yard. I would say he is capable of 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 20 homers in a full season of playing every day. His batting eye is good enough not to be a liability, but not quite enough to be considered a strength. Coming from the A’s system, you would expect at least that much. He has slightly above average speed and the aforementioned versatile but mediocre defense to complete his skill set.

The Rangers have eight infielders and five outfielders that could be reasonably productive, a set of riches that nearly rivals that of the Yankees. Unfortunately, that typically leads teams into decisions that they shouldn’t make, like sacrificing the next ten years for the current one. Two of the best third base prospects in the past decade are in the Rangers’ system right now, so the Rangers plucked McDougall in the Rule V draft and signed Herbert Perry for a couple of years as well. Shortstop would seem to be set, and Mike Young is the only guy besides Marshall that I could see playing second regularly. First base should be Palmeiro’s for a while longer yet, which leaves third base as the only battleground. (Teixeira, Blalock, Lamb, and Perry) Something has to give there, so probably the kids will go down and wallow in the minors, while Perry, admittedly a useful player, will keep the job for a while. What this means for McDougall is that he will not have a very long time to prove his worth, but that he may very well be able to last the year on the major league roster (since he would be the backup 2B). I can’t help but think that this turn of events will be a major negative for Marshall’s career, since he will likely play very little if he stays with Texas since he really is not ready for this level in all likelihood, but only time will tell. If he is sent back to Cleveland, I could see him playing third for them by sometime in 2004. With Texas, he would be destined to be a utility infielder. The best comparison for McDougall is one that I read elsewhere sometime over the past few months: Russ Johnson. That kind of a skill set can keep a player employed for five to ten years with reasonable pay, so it is possible that McDougall could have a decent career ahead of him, but likely not better than that.

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