Prospects Matthews, Cone out for season

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have lost their top two picks from the 2011 First-Year Player Draft for the season.

Pitcher Kevin Matthews, who was the 33rd overall pick in the '11 Draft, is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery for an exostosis, which is the formation of new bone on an existing bone. An exostosis can cause chronic pain, ranging from mild to severe. Matthews had been held out in Spring Training because of shoulder problems and has not pitched in a game this season.

"In some ways, this might be a blessing in disguise for Matthews," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's struggled since we signed him and this may be a significant reason why. It's not the labrum or cuff, so we're hopeful he can get back to pitching the way that encouraged us to draft him."

Zack Cone suffered a torn Achilles tendon running the bases in a game for Class A Myrtle Beach on April 12 and has undergone surgery. It's the same tendon that Cone had operated on last season. Cone was the 37th overall pick in the 2011 Draft and was hitting .308 for the Pelicans at the time of the injury.

"Zack's is kind of a freak injury," Daniels said. "He hit a ball off the wall, and the tendon gave out on him as he reached second. It's unfortunate that he'll miss a year of at-bats from a development standpoint, but it should be a full recovery from physical standing."