Rangers sign top three selections from 2013 Draft

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has signed its top three selections from the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Both of the club's first round selections, right-handed pitcher Alex "Chi-Chi" Gonzalez (23rd overall) and shortstop Travis Demeritte (30th overall), as well as the team's second round pick, right-handed pitcher Akeem Bostick, completed physicals today and have signed contracts.

Gonzalez has been assigned to Spokane of the Northwest League, while Demeritte (duh-MARE-it) and Bostick (bah-STICK) will go to the Arizona League.

Gonzalez, 21, went 9-5 with a 1.83 ERA (23 ER/113.1 IP) over 15 starts in his junior year for Oral Roberts University, posting 126 strikeouts against 27 walks. His 126 strikeouts were the second-most in the nation during the regular season. Gonzalez was named the 2013 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, the second time he has won his conference's pitcher of the year award. In 2011, Gonzalez won the Summit League Pitcher of the Year award as a freshman was named a 2011 NCBWA Freshman All-American. Gonzalez was previously selected by Baltimore in the 11th round of the 2010 June draft out of Boca Raton (Fla.) High School.

Demeritte, 18, batted .404 (36-89) with 42 runs, 7 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 37 RBI, and 5 stolen bases for Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, Georgia. He set a school record with 32 career home runs. Baseball America tabbed the shortstop as its 11th-best high school position player in the draft and 23rd-best position player overall. Demeritte had committed to the University of South Carolina.

Bostick, 18, went 10-0 with a 0.62 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 56 innings over 11 games at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina. He also hit .316 with 4 homers and 15 RBI to help his school win the region title. A three-sport athlete at West Florence, Bostick had committed to Georgia Southern to play baseball as well as wide receiver. His cousin, Brandon Bostick, is a tight end for the Green Bay Packers.

THREE MORE AGREE TO TERMS: In addition to the signing of the club's top three picks, the following three players have also agreed to terms:

11th Round-Ryan Cordell, CF, Liberty University

18th Round-David Gates, RHP, Howard College

29th Round-Justin Sprenger, RHP, Tennessee Wesleyan College

With today's six transactions, the Rangers have now signed or agreed to terms with nine of its top 10 and 11 of the club's first 13 selections in the 2013 June draft. Overall, the team has agreements with 18 of its 41 selections in this year's draft.