Rangers top prospect Walcott continues rapid ascent with Fall League nod

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have moved Sebastian Walcott aggressively since signing him for $3.2 million out of the Bahamas in 2023.

In his first full pro season, Walcott was the second-youngest batting qualifier (age 18) in High-A, behind only Padres catcher Ethan Salas. This year, he was the youngest in Double-A at age 19. Now he's the second-youngest Arizona Fall Leaguer, only three months older than Mesa Solar Sox outfielder Brailer Guerrero (TB No. 9).

Walcott has been up to the challenge. Last year, he slashed .261/.341/.443 and led the South Atlantic League in triples (nine), extra-base hits (50) and total bases (192). This season, he batted .255/.355/.386 with 13 homers and 32 steals in 124 Double-A games.

Ranked No. 6 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, Walcott stands out most with his huge raw power and plus-plus arm strength. In addition to his physical gifts, he also has a quality approach and precocious bat-to-ball skills that he has honed by constantly facing advanced competition.

"I think it's good for my development," said Walcott, a member of the AFL's Surprise Saguaros. "Everybody in the big leagues most likely is going to be older than me, all the pitchers, all the hitters, so just kind of having that that warmup before the big leagues is important. It's good because as a hitter you can understand the pitch types and how they're going to pitch you and you can make adjustments off of that."

Walcott will use the Fall League to try to lay some more groundwork for what could be a very special 2026 for him. He's looking to improve his defensive consistency and create a better bat path to maximize his power. If he can do so, it will enhance his chances of playing for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic next spring and making his big league debut later in the year.

At the same time, Walcott is trying not to get too far ahead of himself.

"All that is in sight but I'm just taking it day by day," he said. "The WBC is something I would be more than blessed to be a part of, but it's not my decision. It's a Rangers decision if they want me to play in it and if they do give me permission, I'll take that chance without a doubt. The big leagues is something that everybody dreams of, but I think just worrying about taking care of business in the Minor Leagues and just letting everything else take care of itself is the most important thing for me."

When Walcott signed two years ago, some scouts predicted that he would become the best player ever produced by the Bahamas. His focus was on making the Majors by age 20, though he admits he didn't think it was going to be realistic.

"I always say I'm going to try to get through the Minor Leagues as fast as possible, but to actually have it happen is kind of surreal," Walcott said. "I'm blessed to be in this position that I am right now and I just give thanks every day."

Rangers hitters in the Fall League

Malcolm Moore, C (No. 11): Moore's power and plate discipline got him drafted in 2024's first round out of Stanford, but he got too passive at times and had trouble turning on pitches during his first full pro season. He batted .198/.293/.271 with two homers in 57 games in High-A, missing two months after a foul tip broke a finger on his right hand in mid-April.

Dylan Dreiling, OF (No. 15): The Most Outstanding Player at the 2024 College World Series after homering in all three games in the final round and leading Tennessee to its first national title, Dreiling went in the second round that July. He combines plus raw power with solid speed and hit .226/.319/.381 with 12 homers and 15 steals in 110 games in High-A.

Ben Hartl, C: A 14th-round pick in 2024 out of Kansas, Hartl played primarily first base for the Jayhawks but has focused on catching as a pro. He slashed .245/.389/.305 in 80 games between two Class A stops.

Rangers pitchers in the Fall League

Jose Corniell, RHP (No. 3): Corniell returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024 to once again throw strikes with a solid four-pitch mix, highlighted by a mid-90s fastball that touches 99 mph and a low-80s slider. Acquired from the Mariners as part of a trade for Rafael Montero in December 2020, he posted a 1.59 ERA and 29/3 K/BB ratio in 28 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.

Winston Santos, RHP (No. 4): Back issues short-circuited Santos' season but he can reach 98 mph with his fastball and spin a plus mid-80s slider when he's fully healthy. Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, he logged a 6.75 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.

Emiliano Teodo, RHP (No. 14): Another $10,000 bargain from the Dominican in the Rangers' 2019-20 international class, Teodo won AFL Reliever of the Year honors in 2023 after striking out 19 in 11 scoreless innings while helping Surprise win the championship. Bothered by a shoulder impingement this year, he recorded a 7.81 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. When he's right, he can devastate hitters with three pitches: a sinker than reaches 102 mph, a tight upper-80s slider and a changeup with similar velocity as well as fade and depth.

Kolton Curtis, RHP (No. 23): Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of a Florida high school in 2022, Curtis uses a high-spin, 78-82 mph changeup that dives and fades to help the rest of his repertoire play up. He fashioned a 5.18 ERA with a .211 opponent average and 75 strikeouts in 66 High-A innings.

Joey Danielson, RHP: Danielson began his college career at North Dakota State as a catcher before converting to the mound, and the Rangers signed him for $25,000 in 2024 as a fifth-year senior selected in the 17th round. Armed with a mid-90s fastball with carry and a mid-80s slider, he compiled a 4.34 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 56 innings between High-A and Double-A.