10 overlooked Rangers players ahead of spring

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have 62 players coming to Major League camp, and that number could rise before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14.
The names on the marquee are well-known: Adrian Beltre, Cole Hamels, Elvis Andrus, Shin-Soo Choo and others. Some are high on everybody's list of players to watch, including Joey Gallo, Willie Calhoun, Delino DeShields and Matt Bush to name a few.
Others are being overlooked or coming in under the radar, both on and off the 40-man roster.
Here are 10 players who are worth reviewing as Spring Training approaches:
1.Ryan Rua -- This guy belongs in the Cactus League Hall of Fame. Over the past three years, he has hit .344 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and .578 slugging percentage in 180 spring at-bats. He may be the quietest player on the team, but he can still hit and play multiple positions.
2.Kevin Jepsen -- The veteran right-handed reliever had 15 saves with the Rays and Twins in 2015. Outside of Shawn Tolleson (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery), that is the most in a single season by any pitcher in camp. He used to bring it at 95-plus mph and was an excellent setup reliever for a couple of division championships with the Angels.
3.Hanser Alberto -- Jurickson Profar will get a lot of attention this spring, but Alberto is a utility infielder who missed all of last season because of right shoulder surgery. The guy can field the baseball.
4.Connor Sadzeck -- The Rangers have plenty of young right-handed heat to compete in the bullpen, including Jose Leclerc, Nick Gardewine and Ricardo Rodriguez. But Sadzeck is the one who can hit 100 mph and is now a full-time reliever.
5.Steve Delabar -- What do Matt Moore, Hamels and Delabar have in common? They have all pitched in an All-Star Game. Delabar did so as a setup reliever for the Blue Jays in 2013.
6.Jeffrey Springs -- This left-hander struck out 11.7 batters and walked 3.0 per nine innings at Class A Advanced Down East last season. He has a cross-body delivery with a 90-92 mph fastball, plus changeup and solid mound demeanor. If his curve picks up, the Rangers might have another left-handed relief option.
7.Destin Hood -- A right-handed-hitting outfielder, Hood was the 55th overall pick by the Nationals in 2008 and, as a wide receiver, turned down a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. If Nick Saban wants you as a football player, there is no doubting the athleticism. Hood has some speed and power, but the walk-to-strikeout ratio is holding him back.
8.Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- He is the latest example of the Rangers' emphasis on versatility in the farm system. The Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2013 can catch, play the infield and make an appearance in the outfield. Kiner-Falefa, 22, was drafted out of high school and the bat is starting to catch up, hitting .288/.350/.390 at Double-A Frisco last year.

9.Scott Heineman -- The right-handed-hitting outfielder was taken in the 11th round out of the University of Oregon in 2015 and has yet to appear on anybody's top prospects list. He is ranked No. 24 in the Rangers' system by MLB Pipeline. But he can swing the bat with speed and power, play all three outfield spots and gets after it with intensity.
10.Jose Trevino -- The Rangers' backup catching job is open behind Robinson Chirinos with Major League veterans Brett Nicholas, Juan Centeno, Curt Casali and Mike Ohlman all in the running. But the Rangers will take a hard look at their top catching prospect to see how far he has progressed.