ARLINGTON -- Cuban native Yanio Perez is one of seven Rangers Minor Leaguers who have been selected to play for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.
It's another sign of significant progress for Perez, who is ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the Rangers' system by MLBPipeline.com after signing last September for $1.1 million after he left Cuba.
2017 Arizona Fall League rosters
Perez, 22, is batting .283 with 13 home runs, 65 RBIs, a .346 on-base percentage and a .440 slugging percentage combined in 116 games for Class A Hickory in the South Atlantic League and Down East in the higher Carolina League. He has played first base, third base, left field and right field this season.
He will be joined by fellow Cuban and Down East teammate Luis La O, who was signed in January. The Wood Ducks' utility infielder is hitting .290 with eight home runs, 48 RBIs, a .337 on-base percentage and a .404 slugging percentage in 117 games while playing second and third base.
Double-A outfielder Michael O'Neill, the nephew of former Yankees and Reds outfielder Paul O'Neill, was also selected. He played in 68 games and hit .254 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs, a .336 on-base percentage and a .395 slugging percentage.
The Rangers are also sending four pitchers to the AFL. Triple-A Round Rock right-hander David Ledbetter is going along with Down East right-handers Steven Bruce and Tyler Ferguson and left-hander Adam Choplick.
Ledbetter, a third-round Draft pick in 2013, is 3-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 12 games at Round Rock. At Down East, Ferguson is 2-6 with a 7.18 ERA in 23 games, Choplick is 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 39 games and Bruce is 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA in 14 games.
In addition, Down East's Josh Morgan has been selected to the taxi squad. He is hitting .289 with a .368 on-base percentage and a .372 slugging percentage. He played both shortstop and catcher.