Where the Rangers' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Rangers' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
1. Evan Carter (MLB No. 5), OF -- Texas (MLB)
2. Wyatt Langford (MLB No. 6), OF -- Texas (MLB)
3. Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 68), SS -- Hickory (High-A)
4. Brock Porter (MLB No. 85), RHP -- Hickory (High-A)
5. Justin Foscue, 2B/3B -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
6. Kumar Rocker, RHP -- Hickory (High-A) -- Injured (Tommy John surgery rehab)
7. Anthony Gutierrez, OF -- Hickory (High-A)
8. Jack Leiter, RHP -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
9. Jose Corniell, RHP -- Frisco (Double-A) -- Injured (elbow inflammation)
10. Owen White, RHP -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
11. Dustin Harris, OF/1B -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
12. Abimelec Ortiz, 1B/OF -- Frisco (Double-A)
13. Cameron Cauley, SS/2B -- Hickory (High-A)
14. Paulino Santana, OF -- Dominican Republic complex
15. Yeison Morrobel, OF -- Hickory (High-A)
16. Emiliano Teodo, RHP -- Frisco (Double-A)
17. Echedry Vargas, 2B/SS -- Down East (Single-A)
18. Josh Stephan, RHP -- Frisco (Double-A)
19. Aidan Curry, RHP -- Hickory (High-A)
20. Mitch Bratt, LHP -- Hickory (High-A)
21. Aaron Zavala, OF -- Frisco (Double-A)
22. Antoine Kelly, LHP -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
23. Marc Church, RHP -- Round Rock (Triple-A)
24. Braylin Morel, OF -- Extended spring training
25. Marcos Torres, OF/1B -- Down East (Single-A)
26. Gleider Figuereo, 3B -- Down East (Single-A)
27. Joseph Montalvo, RHP -- Hickory (High-A)
28. Dane Acker, RHP -- Frisco (Double-A)
29. Izack Tiger, RHP -- Down East (Single-A) -- Injured (elbow inflammation)
30. Jesus Lopez, C -- Down East (Single-A)
Team to watch
High-A Hickory features both of the Rangers' Top 100 prospects who are starting the season in the Minors (shortstop Sebastian Walcott, right-hander Brock Porter), as well as tooled-up 19-year-old outfielder Anthony Gutierrez, a breakout candidate. Other Crawdads to watch include speedy middle infielder Cameron Cauley, sweet-swinging outfielder Yeison Morrobel and precociously polished pitchers Aidan Curry and Mitch Bratt.
Players we could see in MLB in 2024
Infielder Justin Foscue was one of Texas' final cuts in Spring Training and should make his big league debut at some point this year. Right-hander Jack Leiter's first Triple-A start of the season was very encouraging and he could add rotation depth if needed. So could righty Owen White, while Antoine Kelly and Marc Church are potential bullpen pieces and outfielder/first baseman Dustin Harris is one of the system's best pure hitters.
New faces
The No. 2 prospect in MLB Pipeline's 2024 international rankings, outfielder Paulino Santana is an advanced hitter who has earned Julio Rodríguez comparisons for his five-tool potential and personality. He may make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League but should surface in the United States at some point this season.
On the shelf
Right-handers Jose Corniell (the organization's 2023 Minor League pitcher of the year) and Izack Tiger (a seventh-rounder last June) both came down with elbow inflammation and are expected to return in early June.