Sebastian Walcott, the Rangers' No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline (MLB’s No. 7 overall), has a UCL tear in his right elbow that will require surgery, president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters on Thursday. The 19-year-old infielder is expected to miss most or all of the 2026 season.
Walcott seemed likely to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A, putting him on track to potentially impact the big league club at some point during the summer.
Walcott, who was born in Nassau, Bahamas, joined the Rangers for a signing bonus of $3.2 million during the 2023 international signing period.
A right-handed hitter with strong bat speed and impressive power, Walcott has consistently thrived against older competition during his time in the Rangers’ farm system. He played a full season at the Double-A level in 2025 and slashed .255/.355/.386 with 13 homers and 32 stolen bases.
Walcott was slated to play in the Arizona Fall League, but he was shut down with arm fatigue after one game, and he began to feel increased soreness as he started throwing more this spring.
Although there are questions about his long-term defensive home, the youngster has drawn rave reviews for his arm strength. He’s one of only six ranked infield prospects to earn a 70 grade from MLB Pipeline on the 20-80 scouting scale and received consideration for the best overall arm.
There's still a chance Walcott will be able to play at some point in 2026, either before the end of the Minor League season or in the AFL. While UCL surgery typically comes with a recovery time of 12-18 months for pitchers, the timeline for position players is often shorter.