The draft is over and the Rangers have potentially added 20 more players to the minor league system. There is at least one new name who is destined to be a Top 100 prospect in minor league baseball if he signs. Texas will not let first round pick Jack Leiter go back to college if they can help it. He will most likely jump to the top 3, if not the first overall player in the system. But he most likely will also be involved in the new logjam of players who are at the upper levels of the Rangers farm system. By logjam, I mean there are players in High A, AA and AAA who are future major league players that all have competition for a position. This is a good problem to have, but it is a problem never the less. From AA to the Major Leagues there are players blocking the promotions of other players who deserve to be moved up.
Let’s look at the players who deserve a promotion soon to AA, AAA and MLB.
High A Hickory
2B Justin Foscue: Foscue was the 14th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Mississippi State. He started a little slow in 2021 but has come on strong after the a short IL stay. Foscue has pop and grit and is old enough to be in AA. He is also playing well enough to be in Frisco. Problem is he is blocked for playing time. Who is blocking him at AA: Davis Wendzel, Diosbel Arias, Anderson Tejeda, Jax Biggers, Josh Jung
1B Blaine Crim: Crim has shown power with 13 HR’s so far this season. Whether or not he is a future big leaguer is still up for debate. But being a college kid, he is 24 years old and needs to be playing in AA to assess if he is a true future major leaguer. Who is blocking him at AA: Sherten Apostel, Sam Huff
OF Kellen Strahm: Strahm is another college guy playing High A ball at age 24. His minor league numbers haven’t been great, but they are solid. I am not ready to say he is a future big league outfielder, but I am also not ready to say he isn’t either. Strahm needs to face AA pitching to see where he belongs. Who is blocking him at AA: Steele Walker, Josh Stowers, J.P. Martinez, Bubba Thomspson
AA Frisco
3B Josh Jung: Jung has proven in the short amount of time he has played after the foot injury that he is capable of AAA. The problem is that there are players in AAA and the Major Leagues that are preventing him from moving up. A move at the major league level needs to be made to make room for Jung to go to AAA or Arlington. Who is blocking him at AAA and MLB: Brock Holt, Charlie Culberson, Andy Ibanez, Ryan Dorow, Charles Leblanc
OF Bubba Thompson: Thompson has finally played like the first round pick he was in 2017. Injuries set him back the last couple of years along with some poor performances. But Thompson has played like a big leaguer needs to go to AAA to prove he is worthy of a 40 man spot this winter. Who is blocking him at AAA and MLB: Eli White, David Dahl, Delino Deshields, Leody Taveras
RHP Cole Winn: Winn is the best pitching prospect in the organizaton and he is proving it at Frisco. The next hurdle for him needs to be AAA. The problem is, there isn’t a rotation spot in AAA because the big league club needs to make decisions on some starting pitchers who are not likely to be with the Rangers after the trade deadline. Who is blocking him at AAA and MLB: Jordan Lyles, Kolby Allard, Mike Foltynewicz, Wes Benjamin, Joe Palumbo, Brock Burke
AAA Round Rock
1B Curtis Terry: Terry is the player who has proven he needs to be in the big leagues more than any other prospect so far. He is torching AAA pitching and leads the team in HR’s with 15. The problem is that Curtis plays first base or DH. There isn’t really another place to put him. There needs to be some movement at the big league level to clear room for him to get regal AB’s. Who is blocking him in Arlington: Brock Holt, Charlie Culberson, Andy Ibanez, Nathaniel Lowe
CF Leody Taveras: After a taste of the big leagues in 2020 and the start of the 2021 season, Taveras has finally found his groove in Round Rock. He has also developed a bit of a power surge with 11 AAA HR’s since being demoted. With this season being a year of assessment, the best way to see of Taveras has a future in Arlington is to actually be in Arlington. Who is blocking him in Arlington: Eli White, David Dahl, Adolis Garcia
Others to watch who may need to be promoted: AA: OF Steele Walker, 1B/DH Sam Huff, OF Josh Stowers, IF Davis Wendzel, RHP A.J. Alexy, RHP Cole Uvila, RHP Nick Snyder, LHP Jake Latz, RHP Hans Crouse, LHO Cole Ragans AAA: IF Ryan Dorow, IF Charles Leblanc, IF Yonny Hernandez, RHP Joe Gatto,
Players who may be playing their last season in the Rangers organization: AA: OF J.P. Martinez, RHP Blake Bass AAA: RHP Jason Bahr MLB: RHP Matt Bush, RHP Mike Foltynewicz, 1B Ronald Guzman, OF Jason Martin
Nerd Out!
Featured Image: Ft Worth Star Telegram (Curtis Terry)
