Texas Rangers Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Oct 18, 2025 11:30 AM EDT

I am now working on the St. Louis Cardinals Top 20 list and comments for the book. The next team is the Texas Rangers, to be followed by the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Use this thread to discuss the Rangers organization. Is there enough talent left in this farm system to continue producing playoff teams, either providing fodder for trades or players for direct promotion? As usual, feel free to point out any interesting sleepers who might otherwise fly under the radar.

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Some burgeoning talent

Had a chance to see a lot of talent on display with Hickory Crawdads this season, and it doesn’t just stop with Jurickson Profar (who is as legit as they come). Christian Villanueva looks like a star at 3B (some David Wright-Adrian Beltre comps as far as I’m concerned), Cody Buckel has incredible pitchability, and relievers like Ryan Rodebaugh and Zach Osborne should help the Rangers down the line. Nick Tepesch also looks like a potential Bronson Arroyo type (although with more GB tendencies).

by BenjGC on Oct 18, 2025 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

Plenty of talent..

Deep A ball rosters.. Great scouting in LA and the willingness to spend the $$ to bring in that talent.

The questions are going to center around what to do with Olt, how quickly does the AA rotation refill after the trading of Weiland and Erlin and Does Perez at a 21 year old in AAA put it all together…

JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes;!"- RCCook

LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"

by laxtonto on Oct 18, 2025 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Weiland and Erlin still seems like an awful lot to give up for Mike Adams, even after the Rangers winning the pennant. That trade seems like a bit of a head scratcher…

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Oct 18, 2025 11:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Adams most likely will be the closer next year and a type A FA after that

Erlin and Weiland will thrive in SD, but being Flyball guys would have struggled in Texas.

Got no real problem with the deal

JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes;!"- RCCook

LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"

by laxtonto on Oct 18, 2025 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

you really think Feliz is going to move to the rotation?

I’ve always been skeptical, but I’m especially inclined to feel that way after seeing his peripherals drop off this year.

I just don’t see why the Rangers would risk it. If they hold pat, they’ve got a dominant 8th-9th inning tandem and one starting rotation slot to fill (assuming C.J. Wilson is not retained). Changing it up means you’re taking Feliz out of the pen (which plays to his strengths and where he is outstanding) and moving him to the rotation (where his repertoire and durability both get called into question). Furthermore, you’re moving Adams to the closer role, and weird as it is, sometimes that can mess up great setup guys. That seems like an awful lot to gamble with given the reasonably expected returns.

I know Feliz’s stuff sounds sexy in the rotation, but I think it’s time to call this one like it is. He’s a premium closer, let’s just let him be who he is and reap the benefits.

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not an awful deal by any means. You obviously have to give up something to get a good late inning guy like Adams…but I just feel they might have overpaid a bit.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Oct 18, 2025 3:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

i agree

i think they overpaid

whether or not Wieland/Erlin were expendable in the Rangers system is an irrelevant point when asking whether the Rangers overpaid or not. what you should be evaluating is whether or not you think someone else would have offered more for Wieland/Erlin. or for instance, gotten a reliever of Adams’s calibre for less.

it’s hard for me to believe that if the Rangers really shopped Wieland/Erlin, a team wouldn’t have jumped on that and offered a lot more. plenty of teams who need starting pitching arms.

by blue bulldog on Oct 18, 2025 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to me

I thought it was a great deal & it made a lot of sense for both organizations considering their current states.

by Matt0330 on Oct 18, 2025 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Adams comes with 2 picks attached

And Wieland/Erlin were pretty fungible given the depth of the system, Wieland especally.

by nivarsity on Oct 18, 2025 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I would have like to have used those trade pieces for something more.

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Texas is in the World Series, right?

& a fortified bullpen is no small part of their run especially this postseason. Great trade to me.

by Matt0330 on Oct 18, 2025 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

Ogando-Adams-Feliz are doing some Nasty Boys mojo.

by gogotabata on Oct 18, 2025 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Mark Lowe , Darren Oliver, Scott Feldman, Pedro Strop, Michael Kirkman, Scheppers, Hurley, Tateyama, Uehara

THey don’t need Arthur Rhodes

That bullpen depth is truley devine, The Cards have probably the 2nd best Bullpen at the start of the 8 man tournament behind only Texas, and look whose left standing.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 18, 2025 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Strop is with the Orioles now.

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by Robert L. Bishop on Oct 18, 2025 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Ned Devine?

by Matt0330 on Oct 18, 2025 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what I was thinking.

Adams has definitely helped them out in reaching the World Series, but two quality pitching prospects like what they have up could have possibly been used to acquire a bigger piece. But we can only speculate.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Oct 18, 2025 3:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

*like what they gave up

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Oct 18, 2025 3:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

What bigger piece was available?

They had a one key need and got pretty one of the 5 best players to fill that need.

by realitypolice on Oct 19, 2025 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Wilmer Font

Seems like he’ll be a tough one to grade. What do people think of him at this point? He is a C+ cross-your-fingers type?

by auclairkeithbc on Oct 18, 2025 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

David Perez

Am I justified in being excited about him or is he just an over-hyped electric arm with no control?

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Oct 18, 2025 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder about this too.

Fastball command was one of his calling cards coming into the season, but on the surface that appears to have regressed. Still, he is an 18-year-old with 43 Ks in 30 IP this year against players who are 3-4 years older.

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

You're justified in being excited I think

Huge fame, a fastball that already has big velocity and two secondaries with “plus” potential

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I think cautious optimism is the way to go with him

Given the hype around him, I do think the initial returns were a little disappointing even with context. With that arm, though, he is definitely worth watching.

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess it depends

How excited were you about Adys Portillo 12 months ago today?

by realitypolice on Oct 19, 2025 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Watch out for Jordan Akins, by the way.

He is quickly becoming one of the prospects that I’m most excited about. Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara are obvious entries on that list as well.

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

Highest ceiling in the Org according to Parks

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Surprised he didn't give that title to Alfaro

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by Robert L. Bishop on Oct 18, 2025 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Alfaro was 2nd

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Oct 18, 2025 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Christopher Hanna

Does anyone know anything about this guy? - http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hanna-001chr

I drafted him as a lottery ticket after he struck out 40 in 28ip after getting drafted last year. This year, in the NW league as a 19 YO lefty with potentially some projection (6’1" 180lbs), he posted a 7.3 H/9, 2.1 BB/9, and 8.5 K/9 in a swingman role.

Don’t get me wrong, he is undoubtedly a C or maybe a very low C+ right now, but I literally can’t find much of anything on this guy despite there seemingly being quite a bit to like here.

http://rswanzey.blogspot.com

by rswanzey on Oct 18, 2025 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

..

So… guess not?

Literally all I can find is that he’s already added velocity since being drafted and entered the system with 3 pitches (including a pretty solid change).

He got knocked around early on adjusting to the level, but finished on a tear with a 1.54 ERA and 29 H, 11 BB, 42 K in his final 41 IP.

He’s a real deep sleeper, but I think he bears watching. Will be 20 and likely in low A next year.

http://rswanzey.blogspot.com

by rswanzey on Oct 19, 2025 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Profar

I have a serious man crush. The guy’s amazing.

With that said, I’m uber-intrigued with R. Guzman. Every scouting report GLOWS about his tools. Anyone have a feeling he could have an ascension in the Profar vein next year?

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Oct 18, 2025 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

There's a lot to like in this system

They have elite guys in Jurickson Profar, Martin Perez, and Leonys Martin. There is great second level pitching talent in Cody Buckel, Barrett Loux, Tanner Scheppers, Robbie Ross, and Neil Ramirez. There are good bats in Mike Olt, Engel Beltre, and Jake Skole. Decent draft and IFA. I’d say there’s plenty to like in the Rangers system.

by lomo45 on Oct 18, 2025 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

Engel Beltre's position as a prospect is quickly becoming... precarious

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

indeed

No clue what is happening there. His tools are awesome, but rather than consolidating and building on his success last year, he just completely fell apart. No consistency in his game.

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Guy can't take a walk to save his life.

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by Robert L. Bishop on Oct 18, 2025 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

that is certainly one of his problems, but I don't think it's the most pressing problem

He just really doesn’t seem to have his head in the game a lot of the time. His swing and his approach at the plate are both wildly inconsistent. He has the raw talent and physical potential to be a gifted hitter and productive player even with an overly aggressive approach, and he could be a regular even if he doesn’t walk all that much. It’s striking to me, though, how downright lazy he can look out there. I’ve seen him play in-person both of the last two years, and the commitment to making adjustments or even having quality ABs is just not there. I guess the walks might go up as a byproduct of an overall improvement in his focus, but I don’t believe the reverse is necessarily true, if that makes sense.

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think his head IS in the game

The problem seems to be that it’s only there because his ass is in the game, and his head is stuck firmly in there.

by realitypolice on Oct 19, 2025 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Loux had a really good season in Myrtle Beach

but as a college kid, shouldn’t he?

Still awesome that TEX signed him for like 300K though

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Jorge Alfaro

Don’t forget The Legend and his potentially 80 arm/80 power combination.

Other good secondary arms: Roman Mendez and Luke Jackson.

I also think Cody Buckel is wildly underrated.

by gogotabata on Oct 18, 2025 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

Next big name is going to be Marte... SS

will fit in nicely with Profar, Sardinas, and Odor… And I think there is one more MINF I am leaving out in the lower levles..

JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes;!"- RCCook

LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"

by laxtonto on Oct 18, 2025 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Alberto.

Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.

"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.

by Aquaman, Esq. on Oct 18, 2025 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe he's thinking of Herrera

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm

dude had a pretty solid season in Hickory

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven't heard much from fellow Ranger watchers about Guy Edmonds

He’s a catcher from Australia. He had a good year, but I know litle about him.

Northern Virginia's greatest Ranger fan.

by Ajax68 on Oct 18, 2025 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Ronald Guzman

16 year old.

by AckAttack on Oct 18, 2025 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

This guy and Mazara

I don’t think John typically gives these guys any more than C+. If that high

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

gave Elier a B-

him and Guzman were typically seen as 1 and 1a.

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by doublestix on Oct 19, 2025 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I think a lot of people know about Guzman by now

$3.5 million signing bonus and all that.

Jason Parks gushed about him a couple of weeks ago, although yeah, I think it’s safe to say that he wasn’t exactly about to say that the kid looks awful in any case.

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't exactly gush over Mazara

I try to call it as I see it. Admittedly, I love toolsy players and will often champion them in the face of poor results. But Guzman really impressed me. Mazara…not so much.

Texas Farm Review

by jparks77 on Oct 19, 2025 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear you

I wasn’t looking to imply there was a bias in your perspective. What I was trying to say is that these are very young kids who each just got a huge pile of money because of a belief in the legitimacy of their talents, and I don’t think anybody, you included, would see much value in being overly negative about their respective futures at this stage in the game. It’s obviously a good thing that Guzman is so impressive already, of course.

by mrkupe on Oct 19, 2025 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

the system

is really fantastic. They are going to be in the discussion with the Rays and Jays for the best in all of baseball.

detroitbaseballpage.com

by dbpjohn on Oct 18, 2025 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

Why do you say the Rays?

Just wondering. I think they are a top 5 organization but not top three.

by AckAttack on Oct 18, 2025 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

they have outstanding

depth and Moore is the top pitching prospect in the game. They do lack the top 50 guys besides Moore and maybe Hak Ju Lee, but their pitching is nice with Torres, Barnese, Colome, Romero, Archer,Thompson, Guerreri, and Lara to name a few. Plus I like all the athletes in the system. Beckham re-emerged this year, and positionally I feel like they are going to have some guys emerge out of the last couple draft classes.

detroitbaseballpage.com

by dbpjohn on Oct 19, 2025 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Going to be interesting to see where Matt West places

Was a third baseman until this year when Texas decided to try him on the mound in spring training and found out that his fastball hits 98, and that he also has a really good slider.

35 K to 1 BB in 26 IP for his first exposure in Spokane

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

Good call

Easy guy to forget in a system with this much intriguing talent, but big stuff and great results.

by blackoutyears on Oct 19, 2025 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

On a podcast I listened to today

Jason Parks called him the best relief arm in the system and that he has, “two legit 70-grade pitches and commands his slider better than any other pitcher we have in the minors”

It’s crazy that he just started pitching seriously this year

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 20, 2025 2:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Anyone have thoughts on Justin Grimm?

9.66 K/9, 3.22 BB/9 in 50 A innings
7.27 K/9, 2.99 BB/9 in 90 A+ innings (53% GB rate, too)

Just don't piss her off, otherwise she'll get all Dien Bien Phu up in your Boxer Rebellion - caknuck

btho Iowa State

by MonkeyEpoxy on Oct 18, 2025 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

I remember good ol' Andy Seiler saw a lot of him back when he was in college

Good arm with mechanical flaws. I’d love to hear more about how he’s throwing these days, especially if he’s smoothed out his mechanics (which supposedly were costing him a lot of command).

by mrkupe on Oct 18, 2025 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Matt Thompson

John,

I was just wondering what happened with Matt Thompson this year and the horrific wild pitch rate that he had this year. I posted a similar question in an earlier thread a few days after it came out, so I apologize if you already answered this.

by travisice9 on Oct 19, 2025 2:23 AM EDT reply actions

Here is what Matt Thompson has to say about it.

Cole: You had some control issues in spring training and early this regular season. Then in an interview earlier this season, you said you had corrected the issue mechanically and went on to post a string of solid starts with few walks. Now obviously the problem is back. What exactly happened?

Thompson: My ball has been cutting all year. I go through times where I can control it, and I go through times where I fight my release point. I had about six starts there in May where I just said to myself, ‘I don’t care if it’s cutting, I’m just going to throw it for strikes and I’m going to use it. I don’t care if my velo is down or whatever––I’m just going to throw it.’ And I kind of did that. After that sixth start or whatever, I tried to fix it again. Because my velo wasn’t there, and I wanted a straight fastball. It has just been kind of hit and miss since then.

Cole: You were working with a true cutter in spring training. Are you still throwing that?

Thompson: No, I banged it. I think that’s what my problem was. My hand discipline changed. When you throw a cutter, you’re supposed to stay behind it and throw it like a fastball. Well, I got cutter-happy. I was watching the movement when I threw the ball. So I threw the ball, pulled my head off so I could see it, and that translated into my four-seam, and since then my four-seam has been cutting.

I feel bad posting that from behind a pay wall. The rest of the interview is fantastic as is all of the interviews Jason Cole does with Rangers’ prospects.

Emily Jones: Adrian Beltre's pretty good?
Mike Napoli: Wow. How about that guy.

by rooster on Oct 19, 2025 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Rougned Odor

I feel like he doesn’t get the attention a 17-year-old who did what he did for two months might normally garner. I know he faded in August and September, and that most think he’s ultimately going to play 2B rather than SS, but he has an impressive set of both skills and tools.
And seriously, his name is ROUGNED! ODOR! How can we not love that?

by realitypolice on Oct 19, 2025 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting prospects at each and every level.

The system might have had a bit more higher end talent a couple of years ago, but I can’t remember a time when it had prospects at each and every level.

Aside from the players in the system, I think the Rangers have a really good recent track record of knowing when and who to push and who to hold back, and I think this stems from their individualized approach to development.

Miguel de los Santos might be a break through candidate, which sounds weird, but, what I mean is that I have read, I think from Jason Cole, that he’s made some changes to his pitching approach late this year.

Also, Robbie Ross might be a guy that gets more performance out of his stuff than most would.

Emily Jones: Adrian Beltre's pretty good?
Mike Napoli: Wow. How about that guy.

by rooster on Oct 19, 2025 2:49 PM EDT reply actions