With 29th pick, Texas takes SS Seise

June 13th, 2017

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have shortstop signed through at least 2022. Apparently, they now have the guy who will replace him at some point.
The Rangers used the 29th overall pick in the 2017 Draft by taking shortstop Chris Seise from West Orange (Fla.) High.
The Draft continues on Tuesday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, with exclusive coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
"This kid is a premium defensive shortstop, no doubt about it," scouting director Kip Fagg said. "Everybody in our organization who scouted him said he is going to be an everyday shortstop in the big leagues. He's got great range and a great arm."

He can hit, too. Seise, who stands 6-foot-3, batted .413 with 31 runs scored and 24 RBIs for West Orange. He has a baseball scholarship waiting for him at the University of Central Florida but said he plans on signing with the Rangers.
:: 2017 MLB Draft coverage ::
Texas drafted Seise's high school teammate Kole Enright in the third round last year, and Seise was hoping the two of them could hook up again in the Rangers' farm system.
"That would be something," Seise said. "I knew they liked me, but on Draft day, anything can happen. I had a feeling they would take me."
Signing in Texas will allow Seise's father a chance to meet Ivan Rodriguez, the Rangers' former All-Star catcher, who is going into the Hall of Fame this summer. The Seise family is of Puerto Rican descent.
"That would be amazing," Seise said. "My dad was a catcher, and Pudge was his favorite catcher."
Rangers' 26th overall pick: Bubba Thompson
Rangers' 66th overall pick: Hans Crouse
Seise has his eye on another player of Puerto Rican heritage. He wants to emulate , the Astros' terrific young shortstop.
"I really like Carlos Correa. He is one of my favorites," Seise said. "I feel like I can play the game like him. He is pretty tall, too, but that's my goal, to play the game like him."
The Rangers used the 26th overall pick to select Bubba Thompson, an outfielder from McGill-Toolen High in Mobile, Ala. Both Thompson and Seise fit one of the Rangers' primary goals going into the Draft.
They like fast, athletic players who can play in the middle of the field. The Rangers go to extra lengths to find those players.