The Rangers are always the last organization that I write about. In the past, it’s been a struggle to find the different ways to say the same thing…high-upside, high-risk, no pitching. This year, it was different…much different.
The system is tremendous. Sure, there are high-upside players that might not hit enough, but there are some flat-out studs on the list and the best group of pitchers they’ve ever had.
Wyatt Langford tore up the minors after being drafted last July. Evan Carter looked like one of the best players on a Major League team that won the World Series. While everyone is going bonkers over Ethan Salas, Sebastian Walcott might have a higher fantasy upside (if he hits enough). It goes on and on.
I do like the pitching and will let you read about that, but even Jack Leiter might have finally figured some things out.
For an organization to have a Major League team this good with tremendous depth in the minor leagues can only be rivaled by the Dodgers. That’s saying A LOT!
Enjoy the read and get as many of these players rostered on your Dynasty League team as possible.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Wyatt Langford
- Biggest Mover: Sebastian Walcott and Abimelec Ortiz
- Biggest Disappointment: Jack Leiter
- Emerging Prospect: Echedry Vargas
1. Wyatt Langford (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: First-Round Pick
- Tools Summary: He has 20-30 upside with high OBP skills, and it won’t take him long to make his Major League debut.
Wyatt Langford was the fourth overall pick last July and has done nothing but hit since his debut. There are extremely fantasy-friendly tools, as he’s a 70-runner with plus power. He has a patient approach at the plate but might be prone to some swing-and-miss. That was not a problem in 2023, as he hit everything hard.
After the draft, I had Crews in front of Langford in FYPDs. I do not have that position now. I believe Langford has the higher upside (I always believed that) and has demonstrated the hit tool to have a realistic chance to achieve that.
2. Evan Carter (OF)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2023 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 OF
- Tools Summary: A plus hit tool with speed and power.
Evan Carter had a season! He started off in Double-A and ended the year playing with the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
He’s a very good player. He has a feel to hit with speed and power. The one fly in the ointment is he struggles against left-handed pitching. He hit 18 home runs across the Majors and Minors in 2023, and all were hit against right-handed pitchers. He had 11 plate appearances in Texas against left-handed pitchers and did not get a hit.
He’s only 21 years old and can grow out of this problem. However, make no mistake, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed for him to hit his ceiling. For fantasy managers wanting to grab a potential stud outfielder next season, be careful. It’s all setup for him to be a platoon player in 2024.
3. Sebastian Walcott (SS)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 SS with risk
- Tools Summary: Athletic with elite bat speed that produces hard contact.
Sebastian Walcott commanded one of the most significant bonuses in the 2023 International class, signing for $3.2 million. He was signed as a shortstop, but at 6-foot-4, he must work hard to stay there. He’ll likely move to third if he stays in the infield.
He’s a bat-speed kid with tremendous exit velocities that were reported when he spent time in Arizona during spring training. He started the season in the DSL, and the Rangers were so encouraged by his advanced feel to hit that they brought him stateside in late June and later promoted him to High-A to finish the season. While he showed some swing and miss, he hit the ball hard with high-end exit velocity and plenty of home run pop.
There’s significant upside here, and the fact that the Rangers are promoting him so quickly speaks volumes.
4. Owen White (RHP)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP with upside
- Tools Summary: His strikeout rate is down, but the stuff is good enough to get guys out.
In a system with two highly touted college pitchers (Leiter and Rocker), Owen White is the top pitching prospect. He has an above-average arsenal with a fastball that can touch 96 MPH, with his change-up being his best secondary pitch. His strikeout rate was down in 2023, but that could be a factor of many things (working on certain pitches, adjustment to a new level, etc.). I’m not too worried about that, as the whole package points to a mid-rotation starter, if not more.
5. Dustin Harris (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF
- Tools Summary: He has more speed and less power than I initially thought. He does post a high on-base percentage.
I overestimated Dustin Harris’ power and underestimated his speed when writing his scouting report last year. The data shows average exit velos but a high launch angle that projects a future home run pop of 10 to 15 instead of 20+. Generally, I do not like to rely on high LA as a predictor of future power, so I have backed off the lofty previous home run totals.
While we don’t have sprint speed data, he stole 41 bases in 2023 and 19 in 2022. I’ve seen him play and got above-average sprint times to first, so I think projecting 20 stolen bases is reasonable. He’s always shown high OBP skills with a patient approach and average strikeout rates. If you add it all up, that’s a full-time regular who should be able to produce 15-15 seasons with perhaps a bit more speed in some years and post a .340+ OBP.
6. Anthony Gutierrez (OF)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF
- Tools Summary: Toolsy outfielder with a feel to hit.
Anthony Gutierrez signed one of the biggest bonuses at $2 million in the 2022 International Class. The Rangers have been aggressive with him, keeping him in the Complex League for only six games before promoting him to Low-A, where he more than held his own.
He’s tooled up and is at least a 60-runner with plenty of bat speed to suggest future power. He needs to get stronger and add loft, as he’s currently posting a 50% ground ball rate. However, all the signs are pointing up for Gutierrez to grow into an impact player at the highest level.
7. Justin Foscue (3B)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2023-24 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 OF or Top 15 2B
- Tools Summary: He has the potential for a plus hit-tool with 15 to 20 home run pop.
Justin Foscue continues to play well but has become a man without a position, as he’s blocked at both third and second. Plus, he’s not a very good defender and might have to move to left field, where his bat will have to carry him. He can hit, though. He walked more than he struck out last season, hitting 18 home runs and stealing 14 bases. Since he’s a below-average runner, I’m unsure where the 14 steals came from.
Long-term, he’s a 15 to 20-home run guy who should be able to post an above-average batting average and OBP.
8. Abimelec Ortiz (1B)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 1B
- Tools Summary: A big, strong kid with 70-grade raw. He should be a solid on-base player with more strikeouts than you would like.
Abimelec Ortiz split his time between Low and High-A last season, showing high exit velocities with a leveraged swing. He’s a wide body already and likely will get bigger over time. While he was signed as an outfielder, the Rangers primarily played him at first, and that is likely where he profiles best. Finally, there’s swing and miss in his game, and Double-A will be the big test to ensure he can hit advanced pitching. There are enough on-base skills to get him over a .300 OBP, but you’re rostering him for the 30 home runs pop and hoping he hits enough to get to it.
9. Max Acosta (SS)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 20 SS or a Top 15 2B
- Tools Summary: 20-15 upside with a feel to hit. He’s a kid to invest in.
Max Acosta was one of the big international bonus babies in 2019 whose career was hurt by the missed COVID year. The approach is aggressive, but he makes solid contact with speed and emerging power. Last season, he slashed .260/.312/.361 with 11 home runs and 26 stolen bases. As he matures and fills out, more power should emerge with a chance to post 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases annually.
10. Brock Porter (RHP)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 SP with risk
- Tools Summary: He has the size and arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation.
The season started rough for Brock Porter when he walked four in his professional debut and did not make it out of the first inning. After that, he was great. He showed a three-pitch arsenal led by a fastball that he can touch 96 to 97. The control was inconsistent throughout the season, but he has the size and arsenal to pitch at the top of the rotation.
