Texas Rangers Top 30

CLICK HERE TO SEE TEXAS' TOP 30 2020 PROSPECTS

By Ben Badler

Typically, three consecutive losing seasons yields a bountiful revamped minor league pipeline.

For the Rangers, that's not necessarily the case.

Texas has a deep system but not an elite one. It won't have a Top 50 prospect when we release our 2020 Top 100 and only one Top 30 hitting prospect outside of Nick Solak -- outfielder Leody Taveras -- reached Double-A last year. And the picture wasn't much rosier on the pitching side: Injuries have chewed into development time for many of the Rangers' most promising arms, including Owen Whitie and Mason Englert.

It wasn't all bad news, though.

There's a wave of international talent -- bolstered by Luisangel Acuna (2018 signing), Maximo Acosta and Bayron Lora. The Rangers will also open a new ballpark in 2020 and appear ready to make a push for contention, having acquired the likes of Corey Kluber, Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles this offseason.

There’s a path for the Rangers to reach the playoffs in 2020, but there are still obstacles on that road. Without one of the best teams in the major leagues or one of the best farm systems in the minors, it’s an uncomfortable middle ground for the Rangers to navigate their way back to being the perennial contenders they were in the first half of the 2010s.

Here is our Rangers prospects chat.

Here's how we project their lineup in 2023, with their 2023 age in parentheses.

Catcher: Sam Huff (25)
First Base: Ronald Guzman (28)
Second Base: Rougned Odor (29)
Third Base: Josh Jung (25)
Shortstop: Elvis Andrus (34)
Left Field: Nick Solak (28)
Center Field: Leody Taveras (25)
Right Field: Joey Gallo (29)
Designated Hitter: Willie Calhoun (28)

No. 1 Starter: Mike Minor (35)
No. 2 Starter: Hans Crouse (24)
No. 3 Starter: Joe Palumbo (28)
No. 4 Starter: Ronny Henriquez (23)
No. 5 Starter: Kolby Allard (25)
Closer: Demarcus Evans (26)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Texas' Top 10, click here.

Best Hitter for Average: Josh Jung
Best Power Hitter: Sam Huff
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Yonny Hernandez
Fastest Baserunner: Jake Hoover
Best Athlete: Bubba Thompson
Best Fastball: DeMarcus Evans
Best Curveball: Joe Palumbo
Best Slider: Jonathan Hernandez
Best Changeup: Tyler Phillips
Best Control: Tyler Phillips
Best Defensive Catcher: Sam Huff
Best Defensive Infielder: Anderson Tejeda
Best Infield Arm: Anderson Tejeda
Best Defensive Outfielder: Leody Taveras
Best Outfield Arm: Leody Taveras

CLICK HERE TO SEE TEXAS' TOP 30 2020 PROSPECTS