Ben Abeldt Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Benjamin James Abeldt
Born 12/01/2003 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Texas Christian
Drafted in the 5th round (146th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2025 (signed for $450,000).

View Draft Report

School: TCU Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

Abeldt has been a high-usage reliever since the day he stepped on campus at TCU and led the team in appearances as a freshman in 2023 and as a sophomore in 2024. Between the two seasons, he owns a 2.81 ERA in 99.1 innings with a 29.5% strikeout rate and a 9.4% walk rate. Entering the 2025 season he was expected to be one of the most exciting relievers in the country, but he suffered a partially torn UCL in February and had Tommy John surgery that kept him out the entire season. When healthy the 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefty attacked hitters from a long, loose arm action and nearly sidearm slot that makes him a nightmare in left-on-left matchups with an extreme crossfire landing that adds even more deception. He sits in the 91-94 mph range and has touched 96 with tons of armside run that leads to a lot of groundball contact. Abeldt’s 78-82 mph slider is a sweeping pitch that he has shown some ability to manipulate and looked like an above-average offering. He also has a low-80s changeup. Abeldt pitched with Team USA in both the 2023 and 2024 summers and served as TCU’s director of bullpen operations while rehabbing from TJ in 2025.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Abeldt spent his first two seasons at TCU working almost exclusively out of the bullpen. Abeldt also spent two summers pitching with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. He was in line for a spot in the rotation before he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in February and had Tommy John surgery. Instead, he spent the season as the Horned Frogs’ informal bullpen coach. The Rangers bet on his upside and drafted him in the fifth round.

Scouting Report: At his best, Abeldt gets his outs on the strength of three pitches and a funky delivery that features a low slot and a crossfire action. His fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 96 with the kind of heavy sink that keeps infielders on their toes. He backs it with a sweepy slider in the 78-82 mph range that drives swings and misses and has above-average potential. He has a low-80s changeup in his back pocket as well, but he threw it just 7.7% of the time in 2024. Despite the high-maintenance delivery, Abeldt did an excellent job in college of pounding the strike zone and should have at least average control in the big leagues.

The Future: Abeldt should be ready for spring training and could move quickly as a reliever. He profiles as someone who can neutralize lefties, and his stock could tick up if he improves his changeup.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50

Draft Prospects

School: TCU Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

Abeldt has been a high-usage reliever since the day he stepped on campus at TCU and led the team in appearances as a freshman in 2023 and as a sophomore in 2024. Between the two seasons, he owns a 2.81 ERA in 99.1 innings with a 29.5% strikeout rate and a 9.4% walk rate. Entering the 2025 season he was expected to be one of the most exciting relievers in the country, but he suffered a partially torn UCL in February and had Tommy John surgery that kept him out the entire season. When healthy the 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefty attacked hitters from a long, loose arm action and nearly sidearm slot that makes him a nightmare in left-on-left matchups with an extreme crossfire landing that adds even more deception. He sits in the 91-94 mph range and has touched 96 with tons of armside run that leads to a lot of groundball contact. Abeldt’s 78-82 mph slider is a sweeping pitch that he has shown some ability to manipulate and looked like an above-average offering. He also has a low-80s changeup. Abeldt pitched with Team USA in both the 2023 and 2024 summers and served as TCU’s director of bullpen operations while rehabbing from TJ in 2025.
School: TCU Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Abeldt immediately contributed for TCU in 2023 and was again a focal point of their pitching staff this spring, posting a minuscule 1.83 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Abeldt has a long, loose arm action and attacks from an ultra low three-quarter slot that borders on sidearm. His limbs fly at hitters during his delivery creating natural deception. Abeldt’s slot is particularly tough on lefthanded hitters, as he releases the baseball practically behind their back. HIs fastball sits 91-94 mph and touches 96 while boasting plenty of run to the arm side as well as some ride when up in the zone. It gets on hitters quickly and is at its best when elevated on the arm side. Abeldt has a high-70s/low-80s slider that is an effective secondary offering, especially against lefthanded hitters. It flashes long, sweeping action and will start behind the hitter before ending up in the opposite batter’s box. It takes on more gyro shape against righthanded hitters with a little bit of depth. His slider has a chance to be a strong 60-grade offering in the future. Abeldt threw his mid-80s changeup sparingly, but it could be a solid third pitch in the future and flashes some tumble and fade.