Rangers’ minor leaguers: 21-year-old riding high in High Desert

Is there any player in the Texas Rangers organization swinging a hotter bat at the moment than High A High Desert’s Evan Van Hoosier? Probably not. Not even Prince Fielder.

Van Hoosier had 21 hits in his past 10 games entering Saturday, and he had multiple hits in eight of the 10 games to raise his average to .311.

The second baseman was riding a seven-game hitting streak with eight runs scored and eight RBIs in that stretch. He’s batting .333 in May after hitting .286 in April.

Van Hoosier, 21, was an eighth-round pick in 2013.

Dazzling Double A debut

Frisco left-hander Frank Lopez allowed just five hits in seven scoreless innings against Tulsa on Friday, his Double A debut since moving up from High Desert.

Lopez struck out seven and walked one in the no-decision.

Alfaro on fire

Frisco catcher Jorge Alfaro had three homers in his past five games entering Saturday’s game, and he had RBIs in five consecutive games — nine overall in that stretch. He had an eight-game hitting streak, one shy of his season high this season.

Alfaro, 21, is batting .270 with 13 doubles, two triples and five homers. He’s thrown out nine base runners (32 percent) in 30 games.

Thompson’s Tuesday

Frisco right-hander Jake Thompson has won his past two starts, including six scoreless innings against Springfield on Tuesday. He allowed five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

In his last two starts, he has allowed just one earned run on eight hits with 13 strikes in 12 2/3 innings. He has lowered his ERA to 4.63 and is tied for fourth in the Texas League with 45 strikeouts.

Thompson had struggled in his previous two outings, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits in just 5 2/3 innings.

Sounds familiar

Juremi Profar, the younger brother of Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar, played in his first two games with High Desert on Wednesday and Thursday.

Profar, 19, pinch-hit in the eighth Wednesday and flew out to right. In his first start at third base Thursday, he went 2 for 5 with a triple, RBI, run scored and a strikeout.

Asher’s Triple A debut

Asher, a fourth-round pick in 2012, allowed three runs on four hits (including a pair of solo homers) and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He’s scheduled to make his second Triple A start against Tacoma on Sunday.

Monegro moves

Right-hander Jose Monegro has been moved from Round Rock to extended spring training.

This story was originally published May 30, 2015 at 7:43 PM with the headline "Rangers’ minor leaguers: 21-year-old riding high in High Desert."