Turns out the electrifying pitching debut of prospect Jairo Beras wasn't just a case of a position player mopping up in a rout.

The Rangers have been considering moving the one-time mega prospect to the mound for some time. And his 1-2-3 inning for Class A Down East (N.C.) Tuesday, in which he hit 100 mph on some radar guns and 98 on others, may accelerate those conversations.

"We've talked about him pitching in the past, but had put it off to let him get more at-bats and a chance to hit," general manager Jon Daniels said Wednesday. "It's been an active discussion for a while now. When the Kinston staff was going to need a position player to throw, they took the opportunity to get a look at Jairo in that role. What was impressive more than the velo itself was how easily he got to it, and with literally zero coaching to this point. We're going to have further discussion about it now."

Beras, 22, is a 6-foot-5 outfielder for whom the Rangers paid $4.5 million in a controversial international signing case in 2012. There were discrepancies over his age that led to a one-year suspension for the player.

Since starting his career in earnest in 2013, though, he has struggled to find offensive success. He entered the season with a .262 career batting average and .313 on-base percentage in 1,189 professional at-bats. He hit 22 home runs last year in High Desert, but offensive numbers often skew high in the California League. This year, playing at advanced Class A for the second consecutive year, Beras is hitting .236 with a .288 OBP and .694 OPS.

Beras' long, lanky body brings to mind another former outfielder the Rangers turned into a pitcher: Alexi Ogando. Ogando spent two seasons as an outfielder in the Oakland organization before being claimed by the Rangers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. His major league debut was delayed by nearly five years due to issues related to an immigration scandal that blocked his entrance into the U.S. But he did reach the majors in 2010 and was an All-Star in 2011 before arm issues led to a decline.

-- Track the progress of the Rangers' top 10 prospects here.