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1. Evan Carter, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 50/55 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 60 |
Background: Former GM Jon Daniels helped stock the farm system thanks in part to a very strong 2020 Draft Class. It turned out to be Daniels’ last draft class as the club’s General Manager. Ivy League-educated former big league All-Star Chris Young was promoted to the position following the season. But under Daniels’ guidance, the Rangers selected a quartet of potential big leaguers in the five-round, COVID-limited draft: Justin Foscue, Even Carter, Tekoah Roby, and Thomas Saggese, all of whom rank among the club’s Top 20 prospects. Taken with the 50th overall pick that year, Carter, who signed with the club for $1.25 million, turned in a solid – albeit limited – debut showing with Down East two years ago. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound centerfielder hit .236/.438/.387 with eight doubles, one triple, two homeruns, and 12 stolen bases in only 32 games. A stress fracture in his back pushed to the disabled list in mid-June, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. Last season, despite the limited exposure to professional pitching, the front office sent their former second round pick up to High-A. And he blossomed into one of the game’s best outfield prospects. In 100 games with Hickory, Carter mashed .287/.388/.476 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 11 homeruns, and 26 stolen bases (though he was caught stealing 12 times). His overall production with the Crawdads, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, surpassed the league average threshold by 36%. Carter spent the last weeks of the year annihilating the Double-A pitching, going 9-for-21 with a trio of doubles. Carter finished the year with an aggregate .295/.397/.489 slash line.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four 19-year-old hitters posted a wRC+ total between 130 and 140 in any High-A league (min. 350 PA): two-time All-Star and former MVP Cody Bellinger; Domingo Santana, who owns a 110 wRC+ career mark in the big leagues; Addison Russell, a former consensus Top 5 prospect; and – of course – Evan Carter. But here’s the impressive part: Carter’s swing-and-miss rate in High-A last season, 16.8%, was – by far – the lowest among the group. Addison Russell’s 23% K-rate was the runner-up.
Carter combines one of the minors’ most patient eyes at the plate with consistently strong contact numbers as well. Easy raw power. Carter hasn’t fully tapped into his above-average power potential just yet, but it is coming. Above-average hit tool. Plus speed. And an above-average glove in centerfield. The lone tool keeping him from a true five-tool prospect is his average arm. In terms of big league ceiling, think: .300/.375/.500 with 25 homeruns and 25 stolen bases.
Ceiling: 5.-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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2. Josh Jung, 3B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 55 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Background: One of the most lethal college bats during his tenure at Texas Tech. Jung’s achievements with the Red Raiders reads like a novella. Some of the highlights include: 15 All-American awards, named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is considered the Heisman Trophy of college baseball, a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, and D1 Baseball named him as the Big 12 Player of the Decade. A .348/.455/.577 career hitter, Jung didn’t have to travel too far to join the professional ranks as the Rangers selected the Slugging Red Raider with the eighth overall pick in 2019. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound third baseman would turn in a solid debut with the Hickory Crawdads, hitting .287/.363/.389 in 40 games. After minor league action returned from its COVID-induced absence, Jung manhandled the two highest levels of the minor leagues in 2021 as he slugged .326/.398/.592 with 22 doubles, one triple, 19 homeruns, and a pair of stolen bases. The former Red Raider missed several months at the start of the year to repair of torn labrum in his left shoulder. The injury, according to the Associated Press and ESPN, was discovered prior to the start of the minor league camp and was initially diagnosed as a strain. Jung made it back to the Complex League for a brief rehab assignment in late July. By early August he was back with Round Rock mashing Triple-A pitching. Jung spent the last several weeks with the Rangers, hitting a disappointing .204/.235/.418 in 26 games .
Scouting Report: Jung’s been hampered by injuries the past couple of years, limiting him to just 135 games since the start of 2021. But when he has been healthy, the numbers have been incredibly strong. Above-average hit tool and power. Jung starts his swing with a slow, timed leg kick that may give him problems if he’s not getting his foot down in time. Jung has the potential to anchor the hot corner in Texas for the next decade, maybe more if the Rangers are still handing out mega-dollar deals. Big League ceiling: .280/.340/.480 hitter with 25 homeruns annually.
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2022
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3. Jack Leiter, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 60 | 55 | 40/50 | 60 |
Background: The most ballyhooed pitching prospect over the past couple of decades has to be Stephen Strasburg. You would have had to live through the hoopla to full understand the level of mania that surrounded Strasburg’s every movement. An unnamed scout, as quote by Tim Keown in a summer 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine, noted: “This is my 36th draft. I’ve never seen anything like this.” Those 36 drafts, at that time, saw the professional births of some of the most hyped pitching prospects to ever grace the game, like Ben McDonald or Todd Van Poppel or Brien Taylor or Kris Benson or Mark Prior. A little more than a decade after the Nationals grabbed Strasburg with the top overall pick, Jack Leiter began to make waves as the next great, fantastical pitching prospect – a hurler that was guaranteed to be a first round pick coming out of Delbarton School, but basically withdrew his name from the draft due to his impossibly unbreakable commitment to Vanderbilt University. And with the baseball world abuzz heading into the 2020 season, Leiter seemingly surpassed any and every single expectation during his first season at Vanderbilt. He was nearly unhittable across four appearances for the Commodores, posting a 22-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15.2 innings. And the only thing that could slow Leiter was a pandemic. But that early collegiate success only proved to be a harbinger of things to come, a sample before the main course, a spark before the flame. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-hander dazzled during his only full season in the SEC, throwing 110.0 innings, recording a 179-to-45 strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 2.13 ERA and an 11-4 win-loss record. The presumed top pick heading into the draft that summer, Pittsburgh bypassed him with the first selection and the Rangers, with the influx of cash and the expectations that come along with a brand new stadium stood waiting with opened arms. Texas signed him to a $7,922,000 deal, the fourth largest handed out in Draft history. Leiter made his highly anticipated debut last year, stepping right into the fire of Double-A, the most difficult minor league level. The hard-throwing righty tossed 92.2 innings across 23 appearances, averaging 10.6 whiffs and a surprising 5.4 walks per nine innings. He tallied a 5.54 ERA, 5.02 FIP, and a 5.13 xFIP.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only seven 22-year-old pitchers met the following criteria in a Double-A season (min. 75 IP): 24.5% to 26.5% strikeout percentage with a walk percentage north of 12%. Those seven hurlers: Lucas Sims, Alex Torres, Carlos Pimentel, J.B. Bukauskas, Kelvin De La Cruz, Scott Nestor, and – of course – Jack Leiter.
Leiter was never a true-command guy in college, per se, but last season’s collapse was completely unexpected – particularly when it came to his plus fastball. And his feel for all three offspeed pitches were even worse. Lauded for his ability to robotically repeat the same release point on each of the four offerings, Leiter’s loss of the strike zone was a battle all season long. Of his 23 games last season, he walked four or more five times; he walked three or more 12 times; he walked at last two 15 times. And there were only two games in which he didn’t register a free pass, one of them being a one-inning appearance. Plus fastball and slider, above-average changeup, and the curveball seemed to back up a little bit, downgrading it to a solid average offering. Leiter still has the ceiling of a very good starting pitcher, but he’s rawer than expected – particularly given his bloodlines and collegiate performance / background.
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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4. Brock Porter, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 60 |
Background: Draft picks coming out of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s have been few and far between. The Michigan-based prep school graduated just four players – Gary Ignasiak, Gary Morris, Brian Justice, and Blaise Salter – to the minor leagues. None of whom, by the way, were drafted before the 27th round coming out of high school. That quickly changed as Brock Porter, fresh off of earning Gatorade’s Player of the Year award in 2021, was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round last summer. Viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in a class light on young arms, the 6-foot-4, 208-pound right-hander – Clemson University commit – was practically unhittable throughout his prep career. Porter fanned 85 to go along with a 9-2 win-loss record and a 1.20 ERA as a true freshman. After the 2020 season was lost due to COVID, he came back with a vengeance, winning 12 games without a loss to go along with 126 strikeouts and a 0.56 ERA in 62.1 innings. And heading into the state semifinals, Porter owned a perfect 9-0 record to go along with a sparkling 0.41 ERA. He tallied a whopping 115 strikeouts. He committed to Clemson University after his freshman campaign. Porter also was named Gatorade’s National Player of the Year. The Rangers handed Porter a massive $3.7 million bonus, easily surpassing the previous high for a fourth rounder.
Scouting Report: Here’s pre-draft analysis:
“A deep, quality arsenal with four above-average or better pitches. Porter isn’t the typical hard-throwing, blow-it-by-ya’ teenage hurler. He’ll regularly mix in an above-average, big bending 12-6 curveball, an even better slider, and a plus change with hard tumble. All three complement a plus fastball. Command will likely never creep into average territory, but Porter has the look and feel of a strong mid-rotation arm. There’s some Ian Anderson-type potential here.”
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2026
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5. Mitch Bratt, LHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 55 |
Background: Born in Canada and drafted out of US-based Georgia Premier Academy. The Rangers selected the 6-foot-1, 190-pound southpaw in the fifth round two years ago, signing the 134th overall pick to a hefty $850,000 deal – tied with Tanner McDougal as the second highest bonus given out in the round that year. One of the youngest members of the 2021 draft, Bratt would make four brief appearances with the Rangers’ Complex League affiliate that summer, posting an impeccable 13-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only six innings of work. Unsurprisingly, given Bratt’s initial dominance, the front office sent the teenage lefty straight into full-season action in 2022. And he sparkled across 18 starts and one relief appearance. Throwing 80.2 innings for the Wood Ducks, Bratt averaged 11 strikeouts and just 3.1 walks per nine innings. He finished his first full professional season with a 2.45 ERA, a 3.26 FIP, and a 3.73 xFIP.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only two 18-year-old hurlers posted a 28.5% to 30.5% strikeout percentage with a 7% to 9% walk percentage in any Low-A league (min. 75 IP): Luis Patino, the former consensus Top 100 prospect, and Mitch Bratt, a recent fifth round selection.
A great athlete that can field his position well, Bratt’s probably the best pitching prospect you’ve never heard of – at least not yet. The Canadian-born southpaw features a high quality four-pitch arsenal highlighted by a plus fastball. Sitting in the 92- to 96-mph range, Bratt’s heater will touch a tick or two higher on occasion as well. Easy velocity, like he’s just playing catch without actually exerting himself. Wipeout, hard tilting, mid-80s slider that’s one of the best in the minor leagues. Solid average curveball that shows similar break as the slider, though it’s several miles-per-hour slower. Firm changeup that avoids the fat part of the bat. Bratt is a strike-throwing machine. He’s destined for a #3 / #4-type role. He’ll be a consensus Top 100 prospect by midseason 2023.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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6. Luisangel Acuna, 2B / SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: It’s difficult growing up in the shadow a famous baseball playing brother. There aren’t too many people that remember Chris Gwynn or Craig Griffey or Ozzie Canseco or Tommie Aaron. Luisangel Acuna, whose brother, Ronald Acuna Jr., happens to be one of the game’s brightest stars, is bound and determined to make sure that doesn’t happen to him. Acuna’s younger brother, Bryan just completed his professional debut in the Twins’ organization in 2022. And the Acuna brothers’ father, Ronald, spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues before retiring. Luisangel, who sometimes goes by the nickname Jose, made his affiliated debut with the club’s Dominican Summer League team in 2019, mashing a scorching .342/.438/.455 in 55 games. After minor league action returned from its COVID hiatus, Acuna held his own as a 19-year-old in Low-A, batting a respectable .266/.345/.404 with 15 doubles, three triples, 12 homeruns, and 44 stolen bases (in 55 attempts). Last season Acuna moved quickly through High-A as he slugged .317/.417/.483 with 10 doubles, eight homeruns, and 28 stolen bases in only 54 games. His numbers, though, took a noticeable dive following his early August promotion up to Double-A (.224/.302/.349). Acuna finished the season with an aggregate .277/.369/.425 slash line with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 homeruns, and 40 stolen bases. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 15%. Acuna missed the opening month of the year due to a hamstring issue.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 20-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in any High-A league (min. 225 PA): 145 to 155 wRC+, a double-digit walk rate, and a 22% to 26% strikeout rate. Those three hitters: Anthony Volpe, Andy Pages, and – of course – the supremely underrated Luisangel Acuna.
Despite the terrible numbers with Frisco, Acuna’s stint in Double-A started off a solid footing as he hit .247/.314/.441 over his first 23 games with the RoughRiders. His final 18 games (.173/.271/.200) proved to be a millstone that dragged his overall numbers down. Defensively, Acuna’s a man without a position, or at least not yet, but the Rangers already have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager at second base and shortstop. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see him takes his talents / athleticism to centerfield in 2023. Plus speed, above-average hit tool, average power. There’s a lot to like wrapped up in a 5-foot-10, 181-pound package. Very similar offensive profile with more power as former Ranger Delino DeShields Jr. Acuna profiles as a .280/.340/.430 hitter.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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7. Kumar Rocker, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: There are more than a few parallels between former University of Tennessee ace right-hander Luke Hochevar and former Vanderbilt University ace Kumar Rocker. They’re both 6-foot-5, well-built, hard-throwing right-handers. Both hurlers dominated during their respective careers in college. Both players were represented by mega-agent Scott Boras. Both players were eventual first round picks. And, of course, both players failed to come to terms with the clubs that drafted them and would eventually spend some time in the Indy Leagues as they waited for the following year’s draft. Hochevar, of course, would eventually be drafted by the Kansas City Royals #1 overall and turned in a long, mostly uninspiring big league career. Rocker, on the other hand, was the third overall pick last June – one of the draft’s biggest, if the biggest, surprise. The Mets found an undisclosed issue that caused some concerns in his post-2021 draft physical and (B) he had surgery, deemed a “minor scope” on his powerful right shoulder in September of 2021. Rocker has popped up with the Tri-City ValleyCats in the Frontier League, dominating – of course – the second-rate competition. Through his first four games, spanning 20.0 innings, he struck out 32 and tallied a 1.35 ERA. Texas signed Rocker to a deal worth $5.2 million last summer. He made his debut in the Arizona Fall League, throwing 14.0 innings, recording an 18-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Scouting Report: Here’s 2021’s pre-draft analysis:
“Consider the following:
- Between 2011 and 2020, here’s the list of SEC pitchers to average at least 13 strikeouts and fewer than three walks per nine innings in a season (min. 75 IP): Ethan Small.
Rocker’s production and, of course, dwarfed that of Small’s time at Mississippi State. Rocker’s been project to be a top pick – if not the top pick – since bypassing the 2018 draft. Explosive fastball, arguably the best offspeed pitch in the entire class (slider), and an above-average curveball. The broad-shouldered righty will also mix in an underrated changeup, which he relied on more than normal during the season’s final championship game. There was talk heading into the draft that Rocker has some reliever risk, but he’s no Dillon Tate. Rocker may not develop into a bonafide ace, but he’s going to be a very good, if not great major league starting pitcher.”
Prior to the 2022 draft, reports had Rocker’s heater upwards of 99 mph and still flashing his plus-plus slider. He’ll likely be one of the most viewed hurlers at the start of 2023.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2024
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8. Thomas Saggese, 2B / 3B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 50 | 50/40 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: It’s going to take a few more years for things to shake out, but the Rangers’ 2020 draft class may end up being one of the better ones in baseball. The front office opened up the midsummer draft by selecting Mississippi State infielder Justin Foscue. They followed it up with prep outfielder Evan Carter, who’s already established himself a consensus Top 100 prospect, then they snagged a couple of high school arms in Tekoah Roby and Dylan MacLean. And they closed it out with a wiry shortstop out of Carlsbad High School – Thomas Saggese, who received the fourth highest bonus in the round that summer. No longer a shortstop with the abundance of options at the position, both in the big leagues and minors, Saggese would make his debut the following summer with the Down East Wood Ducks. He slugged an impressive .256/.372/.463 with 14 doubles, three triples, 10 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases (in only 14 attempts). Last season, unsurprisingly, the Rangers sent the infield vagabond to Hickory. And Saggese continued to shine as he raised the bar by mashing .308/.359/.487 with 22 doubles, two triples, 14 homeruns, and 11 stolen bases (in 14 attempts). His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, surpassed the league average by 27%. Saggese spent the last week of the season getting his feet wet in Double-A. He just happened to go 8-for-21 with three doubles, two triples, one homeruns, and a stolen base. That’s a pretty successful five-game cameo.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only a pair of 20-year-old hitters posted a 122 to 132 wRC+ mark with a 21.5% to 23.5% strikeout rate and a 6% to 8% walk rate. Those two hitters: former three-time All-Star and 2010 batting title winner Carlos Gonzalez, who earned more than $80,000,000 in his career, and – of course – former fifth rounder Thomas Saggese.
Even after two strong showings to open up his career, Saggese remains incredibly underrated – even within the Rangers’ improving farm system. From a defensive standpoint, the former prep shortstop has bounced between the keystone and the hot corner with average or better results with the leather. His bat, though, profiles better at second base. Above-average hit tool, average thump and a little bit of speed. There may be enough in the tank where he tops out at 20 homeruns in a season. Great looking swing with natural loft and plenty of bat speed. Don’t sleep on this guy. A strong showing in Double-A could position the former Carlsbad High School star as a potential late season calling.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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9. Cole Winn, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 55 | 60 | 50 | 60 |
Background: It’s difficult to believe, but nearly a decade ago the Rangers had a highly touted, early round draft pick that was simply annihilating the completion. This former prospect posted an incredible 120-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 96.2 innings in the old South Atlantic League. A year later, he shredded High-A to go along with a 1.31 ERA across 13 starts and posted a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 69.0 innings in Double-A, the true testing ground. Then…POOF! Just like that he lost control of the strike zone and never regained it. He walked 35 guys in only 10.2 innings in 2013, another 56 in 59.2 innings the next season, and 39 in 51.0 innings. He would hang on for one season longer than wash out of the minor leagues. Cody Buckel just – inexplicably – lost it. The Rangers selected right-hander Cole Winn in the middle of the first round in 2018. A year later he was battling some minor control demons in the old South Atlantic League, averaging 5.1 walks per nine innings. But after minor league action returned from its COVID-induced absence, Winn discovered a newfound ability: throwing consistent strikes. He finished the year with a dazzling 107-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 86.0 innings, all of which occurred in the upper minors. Last season, with his prospect status surging to an all-time high, Winn – simply – lost control of the strike zone as he walked 87 hitters in 112.2 innings of work.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, there have been 47 instances in which a 22-year-old hurler surpassed the 100-inning mark at any Triple-A level. Cole Winn’s walk percentage, 15.2%, is the second worst total, trailing only former reliever Franklin Morales. Directly after Winn are several notable – successful – big league hurlers, like: Tyler Glasnow, Edinson Volquez, and Trevor Bauer.
There aren’t too many 22-year-old hurlers in the upper minors that could go toe-to-toe with Winn’s arsenal – both in terms of quality or depth. Plus, mid-90s fastball, plus 12-6 bending curveball, above-average downward biting slider, above-average tumbling changeup. It’s the repertoire of a quality big league pitcher – and one that’s likely to earn at least $75 million in his career. Last season the command was beyond atrocious – particularly with his fastball, which he was often missing high and to the third base side of the plate. Winn has the athleticism and has thrown consistent quality strikes in the past. So there’s hope that he can regain his once promising career – a la Glasnow, Volquez, or Bauer.
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Extremely High
MLB ETA: 2023
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10. Justin Foscue, 2B / 3B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 50 |
Background: The Alabama native had a mediocre true freshman season for SEC powerhouse Mississippi State University, batting .241/.332/.353 as the team’s main third baseman. The 6-foot, 205-pound infielder had a massive breakout during his sophomore campaign with the Bulldogs, though, slugging .331/.395/.564 with 22 doubles and 14 homeruns. And Foscue maintained that production line during his abbreviated junior campaign too, mashing .321/.464/.509 with plenty of extra-base hits before COVID prematurely ended what could have been a special season. The Rangers drafted him in the opening round that summer, 14th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $3.25 million. The former Bulldog would make his affiliated debut in 2021, spending time with Hickory and Frisco as he batted an aggregate .275/.371/.590 with 19 doubles, one triple, 17 homeruns, and a pair of stolen bases. The organization sent him to the Arizona Fall League – where he continued to hit (.257/.416/.529). Foscue spent the entirety of 2022 with the RoughRiders of Frisco, slugging a Foscue-like .288/.367/.483 with 31 doubles, one triple, 15 homeruns, and three stolen bases (in seven total attempts). His overall production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average threshold by 16%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, six 23-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): 110 to 120 wRC+, 12% to 16% strikeout rate, and a 9% to 11% walk rate. Those six hitters: James Darnell, Justin Sellers, Pablo Reyes, Bryan Peterson, Brian Friday, and Justin Foscue.
A “professional hitter” if there ever was one. Foscue does things well, without having a true standout offensive weapon. He’ll take the occasional walk and clobber the occasional dinger. He makes consistent contact. And he’ll swipe a bag or three in a year. Foscue’s always been a safe low ceiling / high floor guy – a professional hitter.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Low toModerate
MLB ETA: 2022/2023
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, and Baseball America.
