Several of the Texas Rangers organization’s top pitching prospects and a power-hitting third baseman entering his first full minor-league season are among the players who will comprise the Myrtle Beach Pelicans opening-day 2011 roster.

“I think the team we’re putting together to send to Myrtle Beach should be one of the better teams we have in the system on paper,” said Rangers senior director of player development Scott Servais.

This is the first season the Advanced-Class A Pelicans have been affiliated with the Rangers after being in the Atlanta Braves minor league system since their inception in 1999.

Myrtle Beach boasts eight players ranked among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, including five starting pitchers. The magazine ranked the Rangers’ six-team farm system No. 1 in 2009 and No. 2 in 2010 among the 30 Major League teams, and it is ranked 15th this year.

“Most of the talent in the Rangers system is in the lower levels,” said Baseball America Editor in Chief John Manuel, “so the Pelicans should be talented and there should be future Major League players coming through Myrtle Beach in the next two years.”

Pelicans left-handed starter Robbie Erlin of California is the No. 4 prospect in the Texas system. He is about 6-feet and 175 pounds, and was dominant at low-A Hickory last year, going 6-3 and leading the South Atlantic League with a 2.12 earned-run average and 7.4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. He allowed just 89 hits in 114.2 innings and struck out 125 while walking just 17. Manuel said he has a fastball around 88-91 mph, and his curveball and changeup are above average.

Lefty Robbie Ross of Kentucky was a second-round pick of the Rangers in the 2008 draft. Manuel said he has a live fastball that reaches 93 mph, and though he struggled early last season with a 5.37 ERA in the Advanced-Class A California League, he displayed his talent later in the year at Hickory, going 8-7 with a 2.59 ERA.

The other starters are lefty Kasey Kiker and right-handers Joe Weiland, Barret Loux and Neil Ramirez, who saw action Tuesday night at BB&T Coastal Field in the Rangers’ exhibition game with Coastal Carolina.

Third baseman Mike Olt was taken with the Rangers’ 49th overall pick in last year’s draft after his junior season at the University of Connecticut, and fits the desirable third-base profile with defensive skills and power.

Baseball America ranked Olt the third best college defensive player at any position available in the draft, and he’s the top-ranked third baseman in the Rangers system at No. 7.

Olt set UConn career records with 44 home runs and 177 runs batted in, and in 69 games with the Short-Season A Spokane Indians, the 6-2, 215 pounder batted .293 with nine home runs and 43 runs driven in. Manuel said he has a propensity to strike out, but he had vision issues last year that may be cleared up.

First baseman Chris McGuiness also has power and is the top-rated first baseman in the Rangers system, and shortstop Leury Garcia is the Rangers 15th-ranked prospect.

Talented teenage shortstops Luis Sardinas and Jurickson Profar, the Rangers No. 2 prospect and the No. 74 overall prospect in pro baseball, are awaiting their possible promotions to Myrtle Beach sometime this season, as well.

Center fielder Jared Hoying earned Northwest League MVP honors last year after batting .325 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in 62 games with Spokane (Wash.).

The Pelicans will be managed by Jason Wood, in his third season of coaching following an 18-year professional playing career.

Rangers executives say they are happy to have a team in the Carolina League, having long regarded it as one of the better leagues for developing players, particularly pitchers. “For development purposes we’re excited to be in this league,” Rangers general Manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday. “We’ve been in the Cal league the last handful of years. It’s a hitter’s league. It’s not easy on pitching. … But this league is more neutral, almost leaning toward helping pitchers, and from our standpoint we want to do everything we can to give our pitchers every opportunity to develop.”

Don’t expect this group of Pelicans to be bolstered at any point in the season with major league talent. While Myrtle Beach just about annually hosted Braves major leaguers rehabilitating from injuries, including Tom Glavine and Brian McCann in recent years, it’s not likely to be a rehab destination for Rangers players.

Daniels said the Rangers typically send players to Double-A Frisco for rehab assignments, which is only about a 40-minute ride from the team’s Arlington home. The end of a rehab assignment coinciding with the Rangers playing a road series on the East Coast is one scenario that could land a Ranger in Myrtle Beach, however.

“In specific circumstances, it might make sense for a guy to pop in here for a couple games and meet us, but the schedule would probably have to line up for that to really work out,” Daniels said.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Nolan Ryan is giving himself a little wiggle room this time. He’s not making a specific prediction on how many games he thinks the Texas Rangers will win this season.

The Rangers president—and now CEO—still has significant expectations for the defending American League champions.

“90-95 (wins). I gave myself a little range because everybody kept pounding me on the 92,” Ryan said with a grin. “So let’s see if (fans) hang their sign this year with 90-95 on it. I bet they don’t.”

Before last season, Ryan made what many considered an overly optimistic prediction for a Rangers team that hadn’t been to the playoffs in more than a decade. They won the AL West with 90 wins in the regular season, then added eight more in the postseason.

Texas goes for its first victory of 2011 on Friday in its most-anticipated opener. The Rangers raise their AL championship flag before playing reloaded Boston.

The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season, but are widely considered the AL East favorite after adding Carl Crawford(notes) and Adrian Gonzalez(notes), two of baseball’s most productive players.

There are some predictions of 100 wins, but like Texas, the Red Sox are focused on trying to get the first one and building from there.

“I don’t put numbers out there,” Kevin Youkilis(notes) said. “I just go out and just play the game and all the numbers and all the wins will play themselves out after 162 games.”

With the addition of Gonzalez at first base, Youkilis switched back to third base for the Red Sox, filling a vacancy created when Adrian Beltre(notes) turned down a $10 million option to stay and instead signed an $80 million, five-year deal with Texas that includes the likelihood of another $16 million in 2016.

Beltre, a two-time Gold Glove winner, hit .321 with a league-best 49 doubles, 28 home runs and 102 RBIs in his only season with the Red Sox. He was an All-Star for the first time in his 13-season career, and faces his old team in his Rangers debut.

“It’s kind of a little weird, but it’s just another game,” Beltre said. “Hopefully get the first couple of games out of the way and start the long journey.”

Beltre missed the first two weeks of spring training games because of a right calf strain, and played only 10 games in Arizona. But he said he’s ready for the season and an opening week reunion for him that also includes a three-game series against Seattle, the team he spent five seasons with before Boston.

C.J. Wilson(notes), who won a Rangers-high 15 games last season after moving from the bullpen to the rotation, starts the opener against Jon Lester(notes) in a matchup of left-handers.

“I like pitching against good teams and I like pitching in those kind of big situations,” Wilson said. “Every victory is important, but last year I pitched really well against the Red Sox, so I’m sure they have a little bit of a bone to pick with me.”

Wilson was 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in his three starts against Boston last year. The Red Sox hit only .157 against him with 20 strikeouts and only two runs in 21 innings.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona made a couple of tweaks to his expected regular lineup against Wilson.

Though J.D. Drew(notes) is expected to be the everyday right fielder, Mike Cameron(notes) will start in right Friday and hit seventh. Youkilis will bat fourth with Gonzalez fifth, though Francona plans for it to be Gonzalez then Youkilis against right-handers.

Lester, who got the opening assignment ahead of Josh Beckett(notes) or John Lackey(notes), has also been pretty good against the Rangers. He threw eight shutout innings in 100-degree heat at Rangers Ballpark last August and has a 3-1 record with a 2.94 ERA in seven career starts against them.

Ryan expects the Rangers to win the AL West again, and likes that they are opening the season against Boston.

“Well, you might as well start with who you think is probably the favorite in that division over there,” Ryan said. “I really think that they’re going to have the kind of club and the kind of year we expect, so we know we’re going to see good pitching out of them this series. So we’re going to have to be ready.”

The Red Sox worked out Thursday in Houston, where they played an exhibition game the night before, instead of Rangers Ballpark.

Gonzalez made his major league debut with Texas in 2004, and was traded to San Diego before the 2006 season. Crawford’s last game with Tampa Bay was the deciding Game 5 of the AL division series last season against Texas.

The Rangers opener comes exactly five months after San Francisco clinched the World Series with a Game 5 victory in Texas.

“It’s an opportunity for the team to go out and raise the bar,” said Michael Young(notes), the longest-tenured Ranger starting his 11th season. “That’s really what being a winning team is all about—experiencing some success, getting used to it and finding a way to get back on top of the mountain. … So we’ll start from scratch and try to build our way back up.”

Nolan Ryan is giving himself a little wiggle room this time. He’s not making a specific prediction on how many games he thinks the Texas Rangers will win this season.

The Rangers president _ and now CEO _ still has significant expectations for the defending American League champions.

“90-95 (wins). I gave myself a little range because everybody kept pounding me on the 92,” Ryan said with a grin. “So let’s see if (fans) hang their sign this year with 90-95 on it. I bet they don’t.”

Before last season, Ryan made what many considered an overly optimistic prediction for a Rangers team that hadn’t been to the playoffs in more than a decade. They won the AL West with 90 wins in the regular season, then added eight more in the postseason.

Texas goes for its first victory of 2011 on Friday in its most-anticipated opener. The Rangers raise their AL championship flag before playing reloaded Boston.

The Red Sox missed the playoffs last season, but are widely considered the AL East favorite after adding Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, two of baseball’s most productive players.

There are some predictions of 100 wins, but like Texas, the Red Sox are focused on trying to get the first one and building from there.

“I don’t put numbers out there,” Kevin Youkilis said. “I just go out and just play the game and all the numbers and all the wins will play themselves out after 162 games.”

With the addition of Gonzalez at first base, Youkilis switched back to third base for the Red Sox, filling a vacancy created when Adrian Beltre turned down a $10 million option to stay and instead signed an $80 million, five-year deal with Texas that includes the likelihood of another $16 million in 2016.

Beltre, a two-time Gold Glove winner, hit .321 with a league-best 49 doubles, 28 home runs and 102 RBIs in his only season with the Red Sox. He was an All-Star for the first time in his 13-season career, and faces his old team in his Rangers debut.

“It’s kind of a little weird, but it’s just another game,” Beltre said. “Hopefully get the first couple of games out of the way and start the long journey.”

Beltre missed the first two weeks of spring training games because of a right calf strain, and played only 10 games in Arizona. But he said he’s ready for the season and an opening week reunion for him that also includes a three-game series against Seattle, the team he spent five seasons with before Boston.

C.J. Wilson, who won a Rangers-high 15 games last season after moving from the bullpen to the rotation, starts the opener against Jon Lester in a matchup of left-handers.

“I like pitching against good teams and I like pitching in those kind of big situations,” Wilson said. “Every victory is important, but last year I pitched really well against the Red Sox, so I’m sure they have a little bit of a bone to pick with me.”

Wilson was 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in his three starts against Boston last year. The Red Sox hit only .157 against him with 20 strikeouts and only two runs in 21 innings.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona made a couple of tweaks to his expected regular lineup against Wilson.

Though J.D. Drew is expected to be the everyday right fielder, Mike Cameron will start in right Friday and hit seventh. Youkilis will bat fourth with Gonzalez fifth, though Francona plans for it to be Gonzalez then Youkilis against right-handers.

Lester, who got the opening assignment ahead of Josh Beckett or John Lackey, has also been pretty good against the Rangers. He threw eight shutout innings in 100-degree heat at Rangers Ballpark last August and has a 3-1 record with a 2.94 ERA in seven career starts against them.

Ryan expects the Rangers to win the AL West again, and likes that they are opening the season against Boston.

“Well, you might as well start with who you think is probably the favorite in that division over there,” Ryan said. “I really think that they’re going to have the kind of club and the kind of year we expect, so we know we’re going to see good pitching out of them this series. So we’re going to have to be ready.”

The Red Sox worked out Thursday in Houston, where they played an exhibition game the night before, instead of Rangers Ballpark.

Gonzalez made his major league debut with Texas in 2004, and was traded to San Diego before the 2006 season. Crawford’s last game with Tampa Bay was the deciding Game 5 of the AL division series last season against Texas.

The Rangers opener comes exactly five months after San Francisco clinched the World Series with a Game 5 victory in Texas.

“It’s an opportunity for the team to go out and raise the bar,” said Michael Young, the longest-tenured Ranger starting his 11th season. “That’s really what being a winning team is all about _ experiencing some success, getting used to it and finding a way to get back on top of the mountain. … So we’ll start from scratch and try to build our way back up.”

Several of the Texas Rangers organization’s top pitching prospects and a power-hitting third baseman entering his first full minor-league season are among the players who will comprise the Myrtle Beach Pelicans opening-day 2011 roster.

“I think the team we’re putting together to send to Myrtle Beach should be one of the better teams we have in the system on paper,” said Rangers senior director of player development Scott Servais.

This is the first season the Advanced-Class A Pelicans have been affiliated with the Rangers after being in the Atlanta Braves minor league system since their inception in 1999.

Myrtle Beach boasts eight players ranked among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects according to Baseball America, including five starting pitchers. The magazine ranked the Rangers’ six-team farm system No. 1 in 2009 and No. 2 in 2010 among the 30 Major League teams, and it is ranked 15th this year.

“Most of the talent in the Rangers system is in the lower levels,” said Baseball America Editor in Chief John Manuel, “so the Pelicans should be talented and there should be future Major League players coming through Myrtle Beach in the next two years.”

Pelicans left-handed starter Robbie Erlin of California is Baseball America’s No. 4 prospect in the Texas system. He is about 6-feet and 175 pounds, and was dominant at low-A Hickory last year, going 6-3 and leading the South Atlantic League with a 2.12 earned-run average and 7.4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. He allowed just 89 hits in 114.2 innings and struck out 125 while walking just 17. Manuel said he has a fastball around 88-91 mph, and his curveball and changeup are above average.

Lefty Robbie Ross of Kentucky was a second-round pick of the Rangers in the 2008 draft. Manuel said he has a live fastball that reaches 93 mph, and though he struggled early last season with a 5.37 ERA in the Advanced-Class A California League he displayed his talent later in the year at Hickory, going 8-7 with a 2.59 ERA.

The other starters are lefty Kasey Kiker and righthanders Joe Weiland, Barret Loux and Neil Ramirez, who saw action Tuesday night at BB&T Coastal Field in the Rangers’ exhibition game with Coastal Carolina.

Third baseman Mike Olt was taken with the Rangers’ 49th overall pick in last year’s draft after his junior season at the University of Connecticut, and fits the desirable third-base profile with defensive skills and power. Baseball America ranked Olt the third best college defensive player at any position available in the draft, and he’s the top-ranked third baseman in the Rangers system at No. 7. Olt set UConn career records with 44 home runs and 177 runs batted in, and in 69 games with the Short-Season A Spokane Indians, the 6-2, 215 pounder batted .293 with nine home runs and 43 runs driven in. Manuel said he has a propensity to strike out, but he had vision issues last year that may be cleared up.

First baseman Chris McGuiness also has power and is the top-rated first baseman in the Rangers system, and shortstop Leury Garcia is the Rangers 15th-ranked prospect.

Talented teenage shortstops Luis Sardinas and Jurickson Profar, the Rangers No. 2 prospect and Baseball America’s No. 74 overall prospect in pro baseball, are awaiting their possible promotions to Myrtle Beach sometime this season, as well.

Center fielder Jared Hoying earned Northwest League MVP honors last year after batting .325 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in 62 games with Spokane (Wash.).

Rangers executives say they are happy to have a team in the Carolina League, having long regarded it as one of the better leagues for developing players, particularly pitchers.

“For development purposes we’re excited to be in this league,” Rangers general Manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday. “We’ve been in the Cal league the last handful of years. It’s a hitter’s league. It’s not easy on pitching. … But this league is more neutral, almost leaning toward helping pitchers, and from our standpoint we want to do everything we can to give our pitchers every opportunity to develop.”

Don’t expect this group of Pelicans to be bolstered at any point in the season with major league talent. While Myrtle Beach just about annually hosted Braves major leaguers rehabilitating from injuries, including Tom Glavine and Brian McCann in recent years, it’s not likely to be a rehab destination for Rangers players.

Daniels said the Rangers typically send players to Double-A Frisco for rehab assignments, which is only about a 40-minute ride from the team’s Arlington home. The end of a rehab assignment coinciding with the Rangers playing a road series on the East Coast is one scenario that could land a Ranger in Myrtle Beach, however.

“In specific circumstances it might make sense for a guy to pop in here for a couple games and meet us, but the schedule would probably have to line up for that to really work out,” Daniels said.

Contact ALAN BLONDIN at 843-626-0284.

The 2011 Pelicans opening-day roster

Starting pitchers (6):

Ramirez, Neil (RHP); Erlin, Robbie (LHP); Kasey Kiker (LHP); Loux, Barret (RHP); Ross, Robbie (LHP); Wieland, Joe (RHP)

Bullpen pitchers (7)

Bell, Chad (LHP); Gomez, Kennil (RHP); Hurley, Trevor (RHP); Kelly, Ryan (RHP); Ortiz, Joseph (LHP); Tufts, Tyler (RHP); Yan, Johan (RHP)

Infielders (8)

Adair, Travis (2B); Chirino, Santiago (2B); DiFazio, Vinny (C); Garcia, Leury (SS); James, Andres (SS); McGuiness, Chris (1B); Olt, Michael (3B); Zaneski, Zach (C)

Outfielders (4)

Bolden, Jared (OF/1B); Hoying, Jared (CF); Prince, Jared (OF); Strausborger, Ryan (OF)

– Read Friday’s edition of The Sun News for more information

A law enforcement bulletin has been issued warning that the drug cartels were overheard plotting to kill ICE agents and Texas Rangers guarding the Texas border, officials reported this morning.

The cartel members planned to use AK-47 assault rifles to shoot the agents and rangers from across the border, the bulletin said. It did not name which drug cartel was involved.

The details were released during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security on “The US Homeland Security Role in the Mexican War Against the Drug Cartels.”

U.S. Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, talked briefly about the bulletin at this morning’s hearing.

He said this and other findings he cited “are acts of terrorism as defined by law. The shooting of Special Agent Zapata and Avila is a game changer, which alters the landscape of United State’s involvement in Mexico’s war against drug cartels.”

Jaime Jorge Zapata, a Brownsville native, who worked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was attacked and killed last month in Mexico by members of the Zetas criminal organization, while traveling along Highway 57 in San Luis Potosi state, according to U.S. officials.

His partner, Victor Avila was wounded in the arm and leg.