SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Few archetypes captivate fans more than two-way stars. Shohei Ohtani is the most talented and magnetic player in the game. Babe Ruth is perhaps the most famous and best player of all time. Bullet Joe Rogan set the standard in the Negro Leagues.
Two-way stars are rare because it's hard enough to get to the big leagues and even harder to excel as either a hitter or a pitcher, let alone both. But the Rangers will try to beat the odds with not one but two prospects who made brief pro debuts last year. They're going to simultaneously develop Seong-Jun Kim (No. 15, signed out of Korea for $1.2 million last May) and Josh Owens (No. 6, a third-round pick from a Tennessee high school in July) as both shortstops and right-handers.
"We're going to collaborate as an entire group," director of player development Josh Bonifay said. "Every department within the organization is aligned to make sure these guys are healthy and their workload is right. We want to maximize their strengths on both sides of the ball. They look good when they take the mound, when they take the field and their batting practice is impressive as well."
The son of Jeremy Owens, who stole 399 bases in 18 pro seasons, Josh comes from the same part of the Tennessee where the Rangers found Evan Carter. Signed for an over-slot $1.1 million, he possesses plus speed and has the potential for similar raw power. He also displays good actions and a strong arm at shortstop, and his slingy delivery produces fastballs that reach 98 mph with heavy sink and low-80s sliders with intriguing sweep.
"Josh is hard for hitters to pick up with his lower slot and the ball gets on you quick and it moves," Bonifay said. "He's got good bat speed and takes good at-bats. He understands his strengths when he's at the plate and uses them to his advantage. He's got juice."
Kim was projected to go in the first round of the Korea Baseball Organization draft before Texas landed him with international bonus pool money, originally earmarked for Roki Sasaki. He projects as an average hitter with 15-homer power and solid defense at shortstop, while his low-90s fastball and low-80s slider highlight a four-pitch arsenal. He should add more power at the plate and on the mound as he matures physically.
"Kim isn't as big as Owens but he has one sweet swing," Bonifay said. "It's line drives, he uses the whole field and he'll definitely grow into some power. He understands his swing and how it works. He has a diverse arsenal, too."
Camp standout: Leandro Lopez (No. 14)
After missing most of 2024 with shoulder fatigue, right-hander Lopez dedicated himself to improving his conditioning and earned a spot on the Rangers' 40-man roster after logging a 2.40 ERA, .198 opponents' average and 116 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings between High-A Hub City and Double-A Frisco. Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, he stood out in big league camp by striking out 10 of the 20 Cactus League hitters he faced while sitting at 95 mph with his fastball and dealing a nasty upper-80s slider.
"Leandro was impressive with his ability to go in there and pound the strike zone," Bonifay said. "He did a good job of attacking with his heater and mixing his arsenal up."
Breakout potential: Ismael Agreda (No. 28)
Another international bargain, right-hander Agreda turned pro for $20,000 out of Venezuela in 2021. He significantly boosted his stock last year by posting a 2.64 ERA with a .163 opponents' average and 95 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings in Single-A Hickory. The Rangers think he's ready to take another step forward in 2026.
"Ismael came in in really good shape," Bonifay said. "He has been up to 100 mph this spring and his secondary stuff is coming along well. His curveball and slider are good and hard, and his changeup is improving."
Bounceback candidate: Izack Tiger (No. 11)
The highest pick in Butler County (Kansas) CC history, right-hander Tiger went in 2023's seventh round and swiftly became one of the system's best pitching prospects. He played in the Spring Breakout in March 2024, but injured his elbow shortly thereafter and had internal brace surgery that September that cost him all of last season. He can overpower hitters with the velocity and carry on his fastball and the power and depth on his slider.
"Izack is electric on the mound," Bonifay said. "His fastball is firm, mid-90s to 100 [mph], and it gets to the top rail. He'll blow it by you and then slice you up pretty good with the breaking ball. His ability to get punchouts is special."
Draft sleeper: Jack Wheeler (No. 19)
A three-sport star at Morris High School (Illinois), Wheeler flew a bit under the scouting radar because he didn't spend much time on the prep showcase circuit. The Rangers waited until the sixth round to draft him last July, signing him away from an Illinois commitment with an over-slot $525,000 bonus. He makes good swing decisions and hits balls harder than most teenagers, and he has a strong arm that produced fastballs up to 92 mph when he pitched.
"Jack will be an animal," Bonifay said. "He already has some of the highest exit velocities in the entire organization, and he's going to get stronger, too. When he connects, it's impressive. He's made a lot of strides at third base. The instant comparison for me is Richie Sexson: big and physical with longer levers. The player and the person and the teammate are off the charts, too."