Michael

Main

Main, a first-round pick of the Rangers in 2007, spent the first five years of his professional career as a pitcher. He was highly-regarded as a center fielder in high school and is only 23 years old, so he’ll be an interesting story to watch.

Main, who was selected with the 24th pick in last month’s draft, has allowed two hits and struck out eight in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the Arizona League.

Main was also a nice prospect as an outfielder, but the Rangers are expected to use him on the mound. He has an excellent fastball-curveball combination, but with no third pitch right now, he might be more of a reliever.

Main had been sidelined since the spring with a stress fracture in his rib cage. He wasn’t expected to put in a full year at age 19 anyway. Ideally, he probably would have thrown about 100 innings this season. Now the Rangers will shoot for 60-70 and maybe some more in the instructional league in October.

The 19-year-old Main wasn’t expected to put in a full season anyway. Like Kasey Kiker last year, he was going to remain in extended spring for at least the first month in order to keep his innings total down.

The Giants also picked up reliever Chris Ray in the trade that is expected to be made official sometime this evening. Main, 21, has posted a 3.45 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and a 72/21 K/BB ratio in 91 1/3 innings (15 starts) this season in High-A ball. Not a bad get for San Francisco.

Ray will bring some consistency to middle relief for the Giants, but Main is the real prize in this trade. In fact, many are surprised that the Giants were able to land him for an aging catcher on the decline. The 21-year-old Main was drafted in the first round back in 2007 and has rattled off a 1.18 WHIP and a 72/21 K/BB ratio over 15 starts this season at High-A ball. He will report to the Giants’ Double-A affiliate on Friday.