Pair of talented Rangers prospects making rapid climb up rankings
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The Texas Rangers are enjoying an early return on investment that they made on a pair of prospects that joined the organization within the past two years.
Malcom Moore was selected No. 30 overall in the 2024 Draft and ran into some hard luck when a foul tip broke a finger on his right hand and sidelined him for two months at the start of his first pro full season last year, limiting him to 62 total games. But the 23-year-old backstop rebounded this year in a big way and his stock has soared as a result -- opening the season as Texas' No. 18 prospect but making the leap into the organization's top 5 (No. 4) during MLB Pipeline's refreshing of their rankings.
Moore is joined by fellow Rangers prospect Daniel Rodriguez among the biggest risers in all of baseball. The 2025 intentional signee out of Venezuela wasn't even on the club's Top 30 Prospects list at the start of the year and is now No. 15.
Moore mashed his way into the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft after clubbing 31 homers in two seasons for Stanford. In his time with the Cardinal, Moore showed the ability to hit for both power and average while drawing a healthy amount of walks. He was the second catcher selected that year behind Walker Janek (No. 28 to the Astros) and signed for $3 million. Texas sent him straight to the High-A level where he began his pro career later that year and held his own in the South Atlantic League, recording 19 hits (nine for extra bases) with 12 RBIs and three stolen bases in 25 games.
Breaking his finger in April the following season derailed his 2025 campaign, as he slashed .267/.463/.467 before he got hurt, but just .197/.266/.249 over 52 games afterward at the High-A level. To make up for the lost time and to give him some extra reps, the organization sent him to the Arizona Fall League this past fall.
"When you go down with a broken hand and miss the first half of the season, it's kind of a bummer," Moore told MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis in the desert. "You don't really want to do that in your first season, so coming here to play, it's just an honor. I'm really having a lot of fun with it."
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Moore collected 13 hits in 17 games with the Surprise Saguaros of the Fall League and carried that momentum with him this season where he has looked every bit of a first-rounder and played his way to Double-A. Across two levels, Moore is slashing .264/.353/.488 with 15 home runs, a triple, 19 doubles, 48 RBIs, 48 runs scored and 30 walks. When he's going well, the lefty-swinger produces hard contact to all fields, which has been back on display this year as the 23-year-old has been producing higher exit velocities now that his hand is fully healthy.
Rodriguez was one of the more polished players in the Rangers' 2025 international class and signed for $247,500 out of Venezuela. After a lackluster showing over 43 games last year in the Dominican Summer League, Rodriguez excelled in his first stateside season with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rangers and showed that polish on all sides of the ball.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound shortstop is beginning to tap into his raw power while exhibiting a disciplined approach at the plate, as well as impressing with his defense and baserunning ability. The righty swinger slashed .302/.393/.490 with 15 extra-base hits (his five triples were third-most among the circuit), 35 RBIs, 33 runs and 13 stolen bases over 46 games this year. Rodriguez is showcasing solid speed to go along with good instincts on the bases. In the field, his actions, strong arm and internal clock should allow him to stay at shortstop for the long term.