With the Major League Lockout still looming large over baseball’s future I thought today would be a good day to take a look at the future and look at the top 5 Rangers prospects. The Rangers farm system has improved a lot in the past few years during the rebuilding process. The farm system has moved all the way up to 11th according to MLB pipeline and will likely keep ascending in the near future.
#5 Ezequiel Duran 2B/SS – Duran was acquired by the Rangers from the Yankees in the Joey Gallo trade just before this year’s trade deadline. MLB pipeline has Duran as the Ranger’s 7th best prospect but I went a little bold here. Duran took part in this year’s Arizona fall league and had a very successful campaign. In just 19 games Duran hit .278 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs. I think Duran has a really high upside with the club and that for me puts him in the top 5. It will be interesting to see how he fits in with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien essentially locking up the middle infield for the next decade.
#4 Justin Foscue 2B – When the Rangers selected Foscue with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 draft many people questioned the pick. Foscue has quickly shot up the ranks and made it all the way to AA in just his first minor league season. While with the Roughriders Foscue hit .247 with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs in a short sample size. Foscue will all more than likely start this season in AA to get some more time in there. MLB pipeline also has Foscue at the #4 spot. This will be a big year for Foscue in the minors and it will be interesting to see how he progresses in 2022.
#3 Cole Winn SP – The Rangers’ 15th overall selection in the 2018 draft has been a such success since landing in the Texas system. MLB pipeline also has Winn at #3. Winn made it through AA and all the way to AAA last season. Winn was called up to AAA Round Rock late only making 2 starts and posting a 3.38 ERA. Winn is widely considered to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and could be a huge hit for Texas. It is almost guaranteed that Winn will start the 2022 season in AAA although don’t be surprised if we see Winn in Arlington this season.
#2 Josh Jung 3B – In my opinion, Jung was the first major piece to the Rangers rebuild. The Rangers selected the 3rd baseman from Texas Tech with the 8th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft. Jung played in AAA this year and hit .348 with 9 home runs and 21 RBIs. According to an MLB.com article, Jung is the most likely candidate on the Rangers to win the AL rookie of the year award. The main question surrounding Jung is where is he gonna play? With the new additions of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager leaves Isiah Kiner Falefa with only 3rd base to play. I do personally think that it is not out of the question to see Jung at 3rd and Kiner as a utility man but we will just have to wait and see. Jung is a big-time bat and his time will eventually come it is just a matter of when
#1 Jack Leiter – Last summer the Rangers got the best player in the draft selecting Jack Leiter out of Vandy with the #2 pick. Leiter was the most coveted prospect in college baseball that we have seen in a really long time. It was only a matter of where he would end up. With the Pirates passing on him he fell right into the Rangers’ lap and they made the obvious choice. Leiter is #1 on this list becuase of how good he is. We have to remember that the kid has not thrown a single pitch in pro baseball. Although that is the case I expect Jack to fly quickly through the minors and be one of the best pitchers in baseball for years to come. Leiter is such a huge talent that will make a huge impact on the Rangers.
