Top Prospects Series
Below is an evaluation of the prospects within the farm system of the Texas Rangers. Scouting studies have been compiled with info offered by {industry} sources in addition to my very own observations. This is the third 12 months we’re delineating between two anticipated reduction roles, the abbreviations for which you’ll see within the “position” column beneath: MIRP for multi-inning reduction pitchers, and SIRP for single-inning reduction pitchers. The ETAs listed typically correspond to the 12 months a participant needs to be added to the 40-man roster to keep away from being made eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Manual changes are made the place they appear applicable, however I take advantage of that as a rule of thumb.
A fast overview of what FV (Future Value) means could be discovered right here. A a lot deeper overview could be discovered right here.
All of the ranked prospects beneath additionally seem on The Board, a useful resource the positioning affords that includes sortable scouting info for each group. It has extra particulars (and up to date TrackMan knowledge from varied sources) than this text and integrates each crew’s record so readers can examine prospects throughout farm programs. It could be discovered right here.
Other Prospects of Note
Grouped by kind and listed so as of desire inside every class.
Famous Fallers
Chandler Pollard, MIF
Anthony Gutierrez, OF
Yeison Morrobel, OF
Max Acosta, SS
Danyer Cueva, SS
Aside from Pollard, this can be a “why isn’t this guy on the list?” group. Pollard is twitchy, speedy, and athletic, however he’s nonetheless very uncooked for his age. He was a six-figure Day Two choose in 2022 who was signed away from a Washington State commit. Same as final 12 months, I’ve simply by no means actually been on Gutierrez. I see why he received a giant bonus — he has prototypical measurement and physique projection — however his swing is so lengthy and I don’t assume he’s going to hit. Morrobel’s fall right here is the most important re-evaluation on all the record. He appears stiff and his swing has turn into very unusual. Acosta and Cueva are extra 2B/3B varieties on protection and don’t have the hit instruments to help a profile there.
Corner Bats
Marcos Torres, 1B
Blaine Crim, 1B
Diosbel Arias, INF
Trevor Hauver, 1B/LF
Alejandro Osuna, RF
Yosy Galan, OF
Torres is a complex-level first baseman and nook outfielder with precocious energy and a few strikeout danger. Crim and Arias are long-time performers within the minors. Crim is a short-levered 5 bat with 5 energy, however that doesn’t profile at first base. He may very well be a stud in Asia. Arias nonetheless performs just a few positions however his offense has keeled off somewhat bit. Hauver walks a ton and hits the ball within the air, however now he’s a 1B/LF after he was tried at second base early in his profession. Osuna is a compact, younger A-ball outfielder with nice bat-to-ball really feel however little or no energy and bodily projection. Galan has 7 uncooked and a 2 bat.
Relief Prospects
Nick Starr, RHP
Leandro Lopez, RHP
Alberto Mota, RHP
Nick Bautista III, RHP
Aneudis Mejia, RHP
Starr, Lopez, and Mota are all relievers with a vertical fastball/breaking ball combo and 30 management. Each of them sits within the 93-95 mph vary. Bautista and Mejia are complex-level arms who different scouts like, however each have been very wild for me throughout in-person appears. Bautista will present you 94-97 with an excellent slider. Mejia sits 93-94 and can flash an excellent curveball.
Injured Arms and Depth Starters
Avery Weems, LHP
Scott Engler, RHP
Ryan Garcia, RHP
Dane Acker, RHP
Weems and Engler are recovering from TJ. Engler’s was over a 12 months in the past and I’m unsure why he isn’t again but. Weems’ was more moderen and he’ll miss all of 2023. Garcia (as soon as a excessive draft select of UCLA) and Acker (a part of the Jonah Heim/Elvis Andrus commerce) are sitting 91-93 with vertical trip and a breaking ball that performs okay off of it. Acker leans somewhat extra on a changeup and has good groundball charges this 12 months. Garcia is a four-pitch man who varies breaking ball form.
System Overview
Even although any cheap individual would agree that the Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker picks haven’t been nice up to now, that is nonetheless an excellent farm system. The Rangers have sufficient depth so as to add to their playoff-chasing huge league roster with out actually promoting the farm, they usually have sufficient high-end expertise to compete in mainly any deadline dialogue, particularly in the event that they’re keen to half with Sebastian Walcott, Luisangel Acuña, and/or Evan Carter. Texas’ minor league system has above-average total depth, a way more strong high-end than all however just a few different programs, and a pleasant stability of upside (Walcott, Acuña, Tekoah Roby) and ground (Cody Bradford, Carter, Justin Foscue). It’s simply a prime 10 system and, even with Jung peeling off the highest due to his commencement, will most likely keep there after including a prime 4 draft choose.
The Rangers do have bother creating command, although that’s an industry-wide challenge. There are pitchers on this system who got here with command already on board (Josh Stephan, Winston Santos, Mitch Bratt, and so forth.), however only a few of those with enormous stuff (Alex Speas, Emiliano Teodo, Leiter) have improved underneath the Texas dev umbrella. Again, like plate self-discipline for hitters, command may be a talent one has or doesn’t, not likely one thing that may be teased out.
It’s potential the Rangers worldwide program hit it very huge with Walcott, however their observe report of late has been fairly combined. As the membership appeared to pivot away from the Chris Seise/Bubba Thompson varieties within the draft (they’ll spend $250,000-400,000 on dangerous, toolsy guys however hardly ever enormous {dollars} anymore) and turned towards the Thomas Saggeses of the world, Texas’ worldwide strategy has remained the identical. Weird, unpredictable stuff occurred in Bayron Lora’s case, however hit instrument danger is current in a variety of their guys, even those I like (together with Jesus Lopez and Walcott). If even one man turns into a Tatis-like expertise, it greater than makes up for having 5 years of Keithron Mosses, however except you assume Leody Taveras’ breakout is actual, no one like that has emerged from the Surprise backfields.
Content Source: blogs.fangraphs.com