Marc Church

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #17 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium.
  
  Track Record: Church’s time in high school was split between shortstop and the mound, so he was relatively inexperienced compared to most prep products. Nonetheless, the Rangers’ interest was piqued and they chose him in the 18th round and signed him for $300,000. The pandemic delayed his pro debut until 2021 and he’s moved methodically through the system over the years. He made his big league debut on Sept. 28 with a scoreless inning against the Angels.
  
  Scouting Report: From the moment they drafted him, the Rangers knew Church’s development was going to be a long-term play. He had plenty of experience to gain and lots of room to add strength to his frame. He’s a pure relief prospect, but he’s got the stuff to be extremely effective if he can increase the quantity and quality of his strikes. Church’s bread and butter are his fastball and slider, each of which grade as potentially plus pitches. His changeup has gone through several iterations, and in the Arizona Fall League he moved to a split grip which showed early signs of being an above-average offering. Church needs to sequence his pitches better and improve his control and command, but his 2024 season stands as a breakout.
  
  The Future: Church has already gotten a taste of the big leagues. With a few more tweaks, he could return there for good. He fits as a late-inning reliever who can pile up the swings and misses.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #465 prospect in 2019 draft
  A converted infielder, Church is new to pitching, but this spring impressed scouts with arm strength and a fastball that has been up to 93 mph. He's also shown a solid curveball that could become an average pitch, which is impressive considering this is his first spring on the mound. Church is listed at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds and is committed to North Carolina A&T.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Midseason Update: Church has one of the most dynamic two-pitch mixes in the Rangers&#39 system and could pitch high-leverage innings one day. There have also been discussions about possibly trying him as a starter, at which point he&#39d have to develop his seldom-used changeup into a viable third pitch. Presently, he cuts down hitters with a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. The latter pitch earns grades of at least plus from scouts, some of whom have have been willing to dub it a future 70-grade offering.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A converted infielder, Church is new to pitching, but this spring impressed scouts with arm strength and a fastball that has been up to 93 mph. He's also shown a solid curveball that could become an average pitch, which is impressive considering this is his first spring on the mound. Church is listed at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds and is committed to North Carolina A&T.