The Kansas City native continues his rise through the Texas Rangers farm system

John Mayberry Jr. bleeds baseball. Literally.

In between innings he’s holding his nose, pinching shut his left nostril—the one that’s got the gauze jammed up there.

After a long day on the diamond, no one knows where Mayberry went. His Texas Rangers teammates just put a shellacking on Double-A farmhands from the Seattle Mariners organization, but now they’re looking for Mayberry because the team van is leaving in five minutes. How do you lose a 6-6, 230-pound rightfielder?

Mayberry appears from the men’s room, still with the gauze in his nose. And yet, even with the indignity of a bloody nose, the 24-year-old holds himself with the polish of a professional player several years his elder.

He possesses articulation of a young man who attended an Ivy League-caliber school in Stanford University; the raw talent of a young man who was twice selected in the first round of baseball’s annual First-Year Player Draft; the polish of young man who grew up around the game.

The next step of his evolution is to possess the status of a major-league player. That step is not far off.

In 2007, Mayberry posted a career best 30 homers and 83 RBIs between high-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. While his combined .235 average and 126 strikeouts still proves his plate discipline needs work, the man-child son of former big-league slugger John Mayberry looks like a regular chip off the ol’ block.

Considered a raw talent when he was first drafted by Seattle in 2002 out of Rockhurst (Mo.) High School, he chose not to sign. If he did, he might have been on the opposing dugout this day.

“My dad played and coached for the Royals,” Mayberry said. “I guess that’s why I loved the area so much. The baseball’s getting better in the area of the country. It’s a place where I think a lot more prospects are going to be coming from.”

Mayberry’s swing still remains long with some holes. Breaking balls still are hard on him. And judging by his size and coordination, he’s still growing into his body and filling out. Watching his long lopes in rightfield tracking down flyballs, Mayberry has the speed to play the position. Rangers brass felt Mayberry had the athleticism to make the the transition from first base, Mayberry’s original position in high school and college. “It’s going well out there,” he said. “I’m more comfortable with my offense and my defense every time I go out there. So hopefully I’ll improve enough to get me where I’m supposed to be.”

Growing up around Kansas City where his father starred with the Royals from 1972-77 as a first baseman and DH, the Midwestern weather made it difficult for junior to get his cuts in, as is the case with most Midwestern kids.

“You just can’t get to the outdoor fields as much as kids from Florida, California and Texas,” he said. “As a result on-field experience is lacking a little bit in that respect. We’re playing catch up once we start playing professional baseball.

“But I love baseball,” Mayberry added. “That first game of the year, it didn’t matter if it was raining or snowing, I’d still go out there and play.”

Of course, growing up in the big-league clubhouse has its advantages.

After his 30-homer 2007 season, Mayberry will be among a crop of other Texas Rangers prospects who could crack the majors within the next season. A cup of coffee in September is not out of the realm of possibility.

For Mayberry, it’s never been impossible. It’s just the next step in his evolution.