While the Rangers could not repeat their 2023 World Series season, they are still a great baseball team with a rotation that should have Jacob Degrom leading the way for a better outcome in 2025.
Their minor league system continues to be strong. Sebastian Walcott was my top-ranked player in the Rangers organization until mid-August when Kumar Rocker flew by him and then all the way to the Major Leagues. WOW, what a performance by Mr. Rocker. All arrows are pointing up. However, Walcott had a great season and should develop into a power-hitting outfielder or first baseman.
Winston Santos and Alejandro Rosario blew up this season and look like viable starting options for the Rangers as early as 2026. Justin Foscue is a good player and needs a chance to play. He could become trade bait if he can’t find playing time with the Rangers in 2025. Finally, there is Jack Leiter. The arsenal points to a top-of-the-rotation starter, but until he throws more strikes, his ceiling is a number four starter or even a bullpen arm.
There’s a lot to like with the Rangers, and there is an excellent chance for them to compete for another title in 2025.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Kumar Rocker
- Biggest Mover: Winston Santos and Alejandro Rosario
- Biggest Disappointment: Dustin Harris
- Emerging Prospect: Paulino Santana
1. Kumar Rocker (RHP)
- Highest Level: Major ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 SP with upside
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He’s back pitching and touching the upper 90s with his fastball with excellent control.
We had to wait a long time for Kumar Rocker to get healthy, but once he did, WOW…did he look good?
Rocker spent the first half of the season rehabbing from his 2023 TJS but finally got into a game in early July and was dominant. He started five games in Double-A and posted a 0.46 ERA. He was promoted to Triple-A, starting two games, striking out 18 and walking one. The Rangers had seen enough and promoted him to Texas to finish the season, where he posted a 3.86 ERA.
The stuff is impressive. His fastball touches 99 MPH, and his slider is back to being a 70, maybe an 80-grade pitch. His change-up and sinker are effective against glove-side batters, and while they are not at the same level as his fastball and slider, they are good enough. If he can continue to throw strikes, this is what #1 starters look like.
Assuming no setbacks in his health, he should start the 2025 in the Texas rotation.
2. Sebastian Walcott (3B/SS)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF or Top 15 1B
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He has tremendous bat speed and the potential to hit for significant home run power. However, there will likely always be a lot of strikeouts.
The Texas Rangers aggressively assigned Sebastian Walcott to High-A to begin the 2024 season one month after his 18th birthday. This made him the youngest player in the Sally League by nearly 18 months, and it showed. He struggled to make contact and looked lost at times. However, he got more comfortable as the season progressed and ended with a solid season. If you consider how young he was, it was a fantastic season. He slashed .261/.342/.443 with ten home runs and 26 stolen bases. Because they could, the Rangers rewarded his season by having him spend the last week of the season in Double-A.
Walcott’s game will be about power. His bat speed and exit velocities are excellent and will only improve as he matures and gets stronger. The swing is long, and combined with how hard he swings, strikeouts will likely always be an issue. But he could pop 40 home runs one day, and with his ability to not expand the strike zone, there should always be solid OBP.
He’s still playing shortstop, but I think a move to a corner outfielder or even first base might ultimately be where he plays. He’s extremely young and has a bright future, but he is far from a five-tool player and might be closer to a three-true-outcome player.
3. Justin Foscue (3B)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 3B/1B
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He can flat-out him with 15 to 20 home run pop and 8 to 10 stolen base potential.
Justin Foscue got an early call to Texas when Nate Lowe hit the IL. After two games, Foscue hurt his oblique and missed the following two months of the season.
When healthy, there’s a lot like. Since he cut down his strikeouts in 2022, he’s walked more than he’s struck out, posting mid-teen’s strikeout rates. There are above-average exit velocities and average foot speed. Once he gets full-time playing time, the ceiling is a full-time regular with 15 to 20 home runs, 8 to 10 stolen bases, and a chance to hit .280 with 70 points more for his OBP.
There are some challenges defensively. He’s played third base, but ultimately, he fits better at first base, DH, or maybe left field. His fantasy impact will likely depend on the position where he finally lands.
In total, Foscue had 44 plate appearances in Texas and didn’t hit (.048 batting average). While it was a small sample size, the performance will likely hurt his chances of breaking camp in the spring with the Rangers. Ultimately, he’ll likely need a change of scenery to break through. The scenario reminds me a lot of Michael Busch.
4. Winston Santos (RHP)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: His fastball and slider have taken a meaningful step forward this season.
Winston Santos arrived at spring training, throwing noticeably harder. His fastball is up to 98 MPH (sits 94 to 96) with some horizontal cutting action (almost like a two-seamer). His slider also looks improved, and he already flashed a plus change-up. It’s an athletic delivery, and he can throw strikes.
At 6 feet tall, his lack of plane has caused him to be homer-prone, particularly as he’s faced better hitters in Double-A. However, modifying his pitch mix and improving his pitch location should partially neutralize the issue.
While the excessive home run rate in Double-A does give me pause (1.6 HR/9), his stuff and control give him a number three starter ceiling.
5. Alejandro Rosario (RHP)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP or Closer with risk
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: Big arm-strength kid who has made significant strides this season. Fastball is in the upper 90s with much-improved control.
The Rangers drafted Alejandro Rosario in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft. In college, he had good stuff, a fastball that would sit in the mid-90s with a plus slider, but he was hittable and walked too many.
The Rangers have worked with him to improve his delivery, and not only is he throwing more strikes, but his slider and change-up are much better. His fastball is a sinker, and he is getting ground balls at a high rate (57%). Oh yeah, he’s now hitting the upper nineties with it.
6. Emiliano Teodo (RHP)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP or Closer
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He has two double-plus pitches in his fastball and slider. He struggles to throw strikes, which might lead him to a role in the bullpen.
Emiliano Teodo finally stayed healthy and showed the world what is possible. He throws hard with his fastball, topping out at 100 MPH (I heard he hit 102). His money pitch is his slider, thrown hard (89 MPH) with extremely high spin. He doesn’t have a consistent change-up and struggles to throw strikes.
The above profiles usually wind up as relievers, and Teodo likely does as well. But he’s been very effective in the upper minor, even starting the Future Game in July. While he’s not the same size as the Yankees’ Luis Gil, he has a similar skill set. That has worked out quite well for Gill and the Yankees.
7. Jack Leiter (RHP)
- Highest Level: Majors ETA: 2024 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 60 SP with upside or Closer
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He has plus stuff but has never been able to throw strikes consistently.
It was a better season for Jack Leiter. While he pitched most of the season in Triple-A, he made nine appearances (six starts) in Texas, posting an 8.83 ERA. However, he did show flashes of the stuff that made him the #2 overall pick in the 2021 Draft.
I’ve written about Leiter extensively, so I’ll keep this year’s update brief. He has a plus arsenal with a fastball that will touch 98 MPH (95.6 MPH average) with a solid slider and change-up. Everything plays up because of his impressive extension (6.8 feet). However, he struggles to throw strikes, which looks like who he will be. It is odd because his mechanics are pretty simple. He just can’t repeat them.
There’s a chance he figures it out, but realistically, he is likely a high-end number four pitcher who will show flashes of being much better than that—like I viewed Jon Gray early in his career. There’s also a non-zero chance that he moves to the bullpen.
8. Echedry Vargas (2B)
- Highest Level: Low-A ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 2B
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He’s showing a great understanding of the strike zone with plus speed and perhaps even average power. There’s a lot to like here.
Echedry Vargas blew up in the ACL in 2023, and I fell hard for him. He makes excellent contact with plus speed. While he showed power in the Complex League, he’s not very physical, and his swing is more geared for contact. He’ll hit for some power, but he’s likely a .375 to .400 SLG player with 12 to 15 home runs. However, combining that with 15+ stolen bases and a feel to hit, there’s much to like.
Vargas is extremely aggressive at the plate and only walked 21 times in 97 games. To succeed in the Major Leagues, you must walk more than once a week. If he doesn’t address this, his upside could be limited.
9. Max Acosta (2B)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2025 Fantasy Ceiling: Middle Infielder
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He’s a light-hitting middle infielder with plus speed.
I’ve been tracking Max Acosta since the Rangers signed him in 2019. He’s survived a lot, including missing the COVID-19 season and having surgery to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Finally, we know what we have – a light-hitting middle infielder who makes excellent contact. The floor is a solid utility player, but I think there is enough to be a full-time regular.
From a fantasy standpoint, it’s about the speed, and he has plenty of it. If he does work into playing time, he could help a fantasy team with stolen bases and runs scored.
10. Paulino Santana (OF)
- Highest Level: DSL ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF with risk
- Last Updated: 01/14/25
- Tools Summary: He’s athletic with a feel for hitting and plus speed. He needs to get stronger.
The Rangers signed Paulino Santana in January for $1.3 million. He was one of my favorite players signed during the period, as I love the athleticism and feel of hitting. While he doesn’t have much current power, he has the frame and bat speed for power to emerge. He’s an exciting prospect that Dynasty League owners need to consider investing in.
While he didn’t show any over-the-fence power in his first taste of professional baseball (DSL), he did slash .292/.465/.364 with 20 stolen bases. I expect him to start 2025 in the Arizona Complex League.
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