This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ARLINGTON -- Across the past two Trade Deadlines, the Rangers have dealt quite a bit of prospect capital in an attempt to return to the postseason. In turn, the farm system -- at least externally -- has not been as highly regarded afterwards.
The Rangers feel good about where their farm system is at this point, and there also isn’t a stated goal toward beefing up the system this offseason.
“I think our goal is to win at the Major League level,” said general manager Ross Fenstermaker. “Our goal is to continue developing the players that we have and enhancing their progression throughout our system, to put them in a better position to contribute to our club. Ultimately, if those opportunities present themselves [to trade for prospects], we're going to explore them like any other opportunity. But I don't think that's a stated goal.”
That said, here are three players to watch who could be major contributors going into 2026:
Walcott was recently shut down in the Arizona Fall League due to arm fatigue, but he remains the only Rangers prospect ranked in the MLB Pipeline Top 100 while clearly being the most exciting player in the entire system.
"I always say I'm going to try to get through the Minor Leagues as fast as possible, but to actually have it happen is kind of surreal," Walcott told MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. "I'm blessed to be in this position that I am right now and I just give thanks every day."
Walcott’s only 19 and hasn’t yet played above Double-A, but he is close, there’s no doubt about that. In his first full season with the Frisco RoughRiders this year, Walcott slashed .255/.355/.386, though it wasn’t without its ups and downs.
Despite his talent, president of baseball operations Chris Young emphasized that they don’t want to “rush the process” when it comes to him.
“We want to make sure that we take the necessary developmental steps,” Young said. “He is a unique talent. …The hope is that we can give him the time he needs to develop, and then he'll knock the door down when he's ready. My hope is that it's next year, because I think it would be great for our fans, and I think when he does get here, he's going to help us win.”
RHP Jose Corniell (No. 3)
Corniell made his MLB debut on the final day of the regular season, allowing four runs (three earned) in 1 2/3 innings against the Guardians. He allowed a walk-off homer to Brayan Rocchio, which allowed Cleveland to clinch the AL Central, but don’t let that dissuade from the potential of the 22-year-old.
The right-hander won Texas' Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award in 2023, when he posted a 2.92 ERA in 101 2/3 innings for Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory, but he went down during ‘24 Spring Training with a right elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery and sidelined him for all of that season and most of ‘25.
In 13 Minor League starts between the Rookie-level ACL Rangers (four starts), Frisco (six starts) and Triple-A Round Rock (three starts) in 2025, Corniell posted a 1.89 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP, a .172 opponents' average and 41 strikeouts to nine walks in 38 total innings.
Corniell posted a 0.45 ERA with Frisco (20 innings) and a 3.65 ERA with Round Rock (12 1/3 innings) after his brief rehab in Arizona.
All of that is just leading to what everybody in the organization hopes to be a big league jump coming in 2026.
RHP Emiliano Teodo (No. 14)
Teodo is one of the more fascinating prospects in the Rangers' system.
The right-hander was signed for a $10,000 bargain from the Dominican in the 2019-20 international class and eventually won AFL Reliever of the Year honors in 2023 after striking out 19 in 11 scoreless innings. He’s shown he can be electric as both a starter and reliever at different points during his Minor League career.
But this season, Teodo was bogged down by right shoulder injuries, leading to a 7.81 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 29 walks in 27 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. When he’s going right, he’s got a sinker that reaches 102 mph and a slider and changeup that work perfectly off of it. He just hasn’t been healthy enough to make it to the big leagues and showcase it.
The big league club’s needs will likely inform whether the Rangers use him as a starter or reliever in 2026, but it’s not a stretch to expect him to make an appearance sooner rather than later.