SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Texas Rangers showed off their top prospects for new president Nolan Ryan Saturday afternoon.

Hard to determine who was more excited, the prospects or Ryan.

On Saturday, Ryan had to sit through a sun-baked afternoon, but home runs by Chris Davis and Julio Borbon, products of the Rangers' last two draft classes, helped the Rangers rout Kansas City, 15-7.

The starting lineup included top-ranked prospect shortstop Elvis Andrus, Davis, and 2005 first-rounder John Mayberry Jr. Among the substitutions were second baseman German Duran, perhaps the prospect who is closest to the majors, and Borbon.

"I'm amazed at how big and strong these kids are," said Ryan, who spent most of the game sitting with general manager Jon Daniels and director of player development Scott Servais. "It's early, I know, and I don't want to sound too excited, but they certainly look awfully talented."

Davis' three-run homer in the third was the key to a five-run inning. In the seventh, Borbon hit his first grand slam ever, dating to his days as a child in the Dominican Republic. Borbon also had a bloop single to give him five RBIs.

Though Andrus kicked a potential double-play ball at shortstop, the 19-year-old had a pair of hits. Mayberry reached twice in three plate appearances.

And while Ryan was trying to temper his excitement upon early exposure to a crop of minor leaguers he'd heard was ranked fourth in all of baseball by Baseball America, he also saw real long-term benefit to their presence in the starting lineup.

"You want their first big league camp to be a positive experience," Ryan said. "If you've got kids just sitting around and not getting at-bats or innings, it's just a token, but for them to play and have a little bit of success, it does a lot for a guy's mental attitude going into their season."

In recent seasons, former manager Buck Showalter tried to get every player at least that one token appearance. Andrus, Davis, Mayberry, Duran and Borbon all have at least three at-bats and two games worth of spring exposure. And they are likely to get more. The four non-roster invitees can't be shipped to minor league camp until Thursday, and Borbon, the lone 40-man member, can't be sent out before March 10.

The Rangers might consider keeping them around even a little longer than that, just to prolong their exposure to the veterans. Even with a crowded camp, Daniels suggested it might be possible to keep some of the first-timers around a little past the first day they could be sent out. Daniels said no decision has been made.

"These guys are handling themselves well in this environment," Daniels said. "When we sat down to determine who we were going to invite to big league camp, who would get the most out of this experience was a big part of the decision-making process."

AP

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan (left) and general manager Jon Daniels watch a spring training game Friday.

The Rangers have worked hard to have their prized prospects more engaged in spring training than is normal operating procedure. During workouts, Davis, Andrus and Duran all took the bulk of their defensive work with the veterans. It was the fringe players who were relegated to another field to work.

"Being around all these guys has been awesome," Davis said. "It's been a very welcoming clubhouse. I think it gives me some comfort around these guys and gives them some comfort around me, so that when I do get here, we'll all have something to build off."

Getting Guardado up: Left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado received a couple of extra days of work to get ready for his spring training debut. Guardado, who will face Kansas City today, got two extra bullpen sessions in preparation for his debut.Guardado, 37, said he didn't throw off a mound all winter after coming back quickly from Tommy John surgery. He wanted to give his elbow extra time to recover after he returned to the majors within 11 months of the surgery. The only relievers in camp who have not yet pitched are Guardado, Joaquin Benoit and John Rheinecker (who is out until at least mid-season). Benoit is still trying to build back arm strength.

Briefly: CF Josh Hamilton, who said his whole body was a little sore, was given his second consecutive day off. Washington said he expects Hamilton to play today.