Texas Rangers

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: After starring in the Southeastern Conference and earning a spot with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team after his sophomore season, Foscue was selected by the Rangers in the first-round of the 2020 draft. Despite dealing with injuries, Foscue tore up the lower levels in his official debut in 2021, including 17 home runs in just 62 games. He concluded his season with a turn in the Arizona Fall League. He put together another solid season in 2022, though his home run power didn't show up until late, including five longballs at offensive oasis Amarillo.

Scouting Report: Nearly all Foscue's value is centered around his offense, which is why the Rangers went to work rescuing his power from an early-season funk. To do so, they tweaked his hitting mechanics to keep him from collapsing on his back side, which had left him hitting with a more handsy approach that promoted contact at the expense of power. Foscue makes excellent decisions, as shown by a chase rate of 22%, a whiff rate of 17.4% and a stellar in-zone miss rate of just 12%. Foscue also makes plenty of impact on contact, with an average exit velocity of 87.3 mph and a barrel rate of 14.1%. Scouts are intrigued by his pull-side power, but some believe he can be coaxed into weak contact by soft stuff on the outer part of the plate, and internal evaluators note that he's made strides to close a previous hole on hard fastballs near the top of the zone. Defensively, evaluators inside and outside the organization see player who was already short on quickness and athleticism and lost a few steps this year. There's plenty of doubt he can stick up the middle, and some scouts even believe he might not even be a strong enough defender to play first base. There's also plenty of concern given his injury history, which has included a plethora of issues in his midsection, including back soreness entering this year that lingered into the season's early months.

The Future: After helping Double-A Frisco to a Texas League crown in 2022, Foscue will move to Triple-A in 2023. The Rangers are loaded for bear in the middle infield anyway, so he's likely to dabble at other positions as well. If he stays healthy, he could make his big league debut late in the year.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: In his draft year, Winn helped lead his Orange Lutheran squad to the National High School Invitational title. He also won BA's High School Player of the Year award and wa drafted in the first round. He had a breakout season in 2021 and appeared in the Futures Game but took a step back in 2022, when he was the second-youngest pitcher in the Pacific Coast League on Opening Day.

Scouting Report: A chunk of Winn's troubles in 2022 stem from a line drive he took off his ankle early in the season. He tried to pitch through the injury but struggled to land properly and his timing and command suffered. Even when he was healthy, Winn's fastball command was not ideal. The pitch itself was fine--sitting around 94, touching 98 and showing excellent carry through the zone--but he threw it for strikes the least often of any of his four pitches. Winn's best secondary pitch is his curveball, which is a deep breaker in the low 80s. He finishes his mix with a mid-80s slider and a changeup that comes in a touch hotter. Winn threw his changeup the most frequently of his three offspeed pitches--around 21.5% of the time--and the Rangers would like to see that number decrease a bit.

The Future: The Rangers added Winn to their 40-man roster and will likely send him back to Triple-A in 2023 for a bit of a reset. He'll pitch all year at 23 years old and will need to focus on refining his control and getting better at getting outs within the strike zone.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Morrobel was the biggest target in the Rangers' 2021 international class and has lived up to expectations so far at the lowest levels of the minor leagues. He walked more often than he struck out in the DSL in 2021 and then continued to solid swing decisions in 2022, when he posted a strikeout-to-walk rate of exactly 2-to-1 in a year spent mostly in the Arizona Complex League. He was one of three Rangers prospects--along with Gleider Figuereo and Anthony Gutierrez--to place among the Top 10 in the ACL.

Scouting Report: None of Morrobel's tools jumps off the page, but he's got a solid foundation on which to build and the possibility of plenty of strength gains to come leads evaluators to believe there will be more power throughout his game. He's got a sound lefthanded swing that allows him to handle breaking balls from both righthanders and lefthanders and permitted him an in-zone miss rate of just 14%. Morrobel will continue to play center field but will likely head to a corner-outfield spot as his body takes the expected strength gains. External scouts believe he'll have the arm and corresponding power to play in right field. He's an average runner now but might slow down as he matures.

The Future: Morrobel finished the year at Low-A Down East and will return to the level in 2023. He'll work to continue adding the necessary strength to reach his ceiling of an everyday right fielder.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: The Canadian-born Bratt moved to Georgia during the pandemic in order to take advantage of the laxer restrictions that would help him get seen by scouts. The move worked and Bratt was taken in the fifth round of the 2021 draft as the first prep arm in Texas' 2021 class. His $850,000 bonus was tied for the second-most in the round. Bratt got his feet wet in pro ball in the Arizona Complex League after the draft, then spent all of 2022 at Low-A Down East, where he produced a 2.45 ERA in 80.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Bratt employs an uptempo delivery and works with a full four-pitch mix led by a low-90s fastball that touched 95 and plays better because of some deception in his delivery as well as run and carry through the zone. He shows feel to land both his mid-70s curveball and low-80s slider for strikes, but needs to do a better job making them look like two disparate pitches. Bratt's mid-80s changeup is a clear fourth pitch in his mix and projects to be below-average. Bratt is one of the system's most athletic pitchers and the organization believes the way his hips move is a sign of more power to come. Bratt's game is also a bit too reliant on chases right now and he'll need to a better job of getting outs in the strike zone.

The Future: Bratt will move to High-A in 2023, where he look to continue to build strength and sharpen his offspeed pitches. He has the upside of a back-end starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Slider: 50. Changeup: 40. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High

Track Record: Cauley's father Chris played three seasons in the minor leagues with the White Sox and was a member of the staff at Cameron's high school in Texas. The younger Cauley was drafted in the third round in 2021, when he was the first prep player selected in the Rangers' class. He spent all of 2023 at Low-A Down East save for two weeks on the injured list.

Scouting Report: Cauley is an extraordinary athlete with a swing that whips through the zone and lashes line drives. Despite that, he still is working to learn to pull the ball with authority. He covers the outer half of the plate well but gets tied up on pitches on the inner half. To help alleviate that, the Rangers worked with Cauley at instructional league to tone his lower half a little bit and increase the mobility in his hips. Cauley is a double-plus runner who has the potential to be a plus defender if he can make his actions more consistent. If not, his speed would allow him to slide into center field, where his plus arm strength would also be an asset.

The Future: Cauley's numbers weren't pretty in 2022, but the Rangers believe with further refinement he has the upside of an everyday player. He'll work on turning his potential into reality when he moves to High-A Hickory.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 40. Speed: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High

Track Record: Figuereo wasn't a big-name signing out of the 2021 international class, but big time strength gains with the help of trainer and former big leaguer Edinson Volquez. Figuereo scorched the ACL with nine home runs, which tied him for second on the circuit. His offensive numbers were all over the league leaderboard and he was one of three Rangers to rank among the league's Top 10.

Scouting Report: Figuereo's added strength complemented a loose, whippy swing with an excellent bat path to go with sound swing decisions to go with enough raw juice to produce max exit velos of 106 mph. He also tweaked his setup, becoming more upright to generate even more power and improved leverage. He's also shown the ability to manipulate his barrel and make loud contact on more than just fastballs. Defensively, Figuereo has significant improvements to make. His throwing arm is plenty strong for the hot corner but needs to get much more accurate if he's to stick there in the long term. He's got OK footwork but he has a tendency to rush through plays.

The Future: Figuereo got a taste of Low-A to end the season and will return there in 2023. His goals for the season will revolve around getting better defensively and maintaining the progress he showed in Arizona. If he does it again, he could shoot up the rankings.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Kent pitched three successful seasons at Virginia Military Institute and whiffed 132 hitters in his junior year. The Rangers took him in the ninth round and let him get his feet wet in the lower levels of the minor leagues. He reached Double-A in 2021 and ascended to Triple-A by the end of 2022. The Rangers were intrigued enough by the progress Kent made to add him to their 40-man roster and shield him from the Rule 5 draft.

Scouting Report: Kent dealt with a litany of injuries in 2022 to his hip and back and oblique muscles, which required three separate stays on the injured list. At his best, Kent mixes and matches with a five-pitch repertoire that include four- and two-seam fastballs with the latter being introduced in the middle of the season as a way to get more grounders. Kent previously threw a split-fingered fastball but had trouble building up the necessary callouses and began throwing a traditional changeup during the season. Scouts outside the peg the changeup as fringe-average.

The Future: Kent struggled at the beginning of the season but rebounded as the season went on in between stints on the IL. His fastball-slider mix could at least make him a nasty reliever but if his other offspeeds comes forward he could have a bit more ceiling. He should make his debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 45

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Cueva was part of what appears to be an excellent 2021 international class that also netted the Rangers outfielder Yeison Morrobel and infielder Gleider Figuereo. The trio was excellent in the Arizona Complex League and could form an exciting pack of position players at Low-A Down East in 2023. Cueva trained in Venezuela with Kander Depablos and was lauded for a smooth swing from the left side.

Scouting Report: Of the prospects clustered in the ACL, Cueva might have the highest floor but the lowest ceiling. He's a free-swinger at the plate who will have to tone down that aspect of his approach, and his chase rate will have to be reined in as well. Oppositing scouts saw a player with enough power potential to produce 12-15 home runs a year while making enough quality contact to get to the majors on the strength of his offense alone. Early in his career it was thought that he might have to move over to second base. His speed and athleticism ticked up, however, and now he has a decent chance of sticking at shortstop. That thought is not unanimous, and some believe he will slide over to second base in the long run.

The Future: Cueva got a taste of Low-A to end the season and will return to the level in 2023. He'll get a chance to prove his offensive chops against better pitching and will work to keep himself at shortstop. He has the ceiling of an everyday, bat-first middle infielder.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Ragans' ascent to the big leagues was one of the best stories in the minor leagues in 2022. After being drafted in the first round in 2016 and debuting the next spring,two Tommy John surgeries and the pandemic kept him off the mound until 2021, when he also made the Futures Game. He made his major league debut on August 4 and made nine starts, working to a mark of 0-3, 5.40.

Scouting Report: After all the time recovering, it's only natural that Ragans' rust-removal process would be lengthy. More than that, the Rangers also noticed that he learned to better pace himself throughout the season in order to maintain the crispness on his stuff from Opening Day until season's end. Ragans operates with a four-pitch mix led by a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 96. His best offspeed pitch is a potentially plus changeup in the 82-84 mph range that he threw for plenty of strikes both in the zone and for chases. His repertoire also featured mid-70s curveball of varying quality and a new cutter in the low 90s that he can manipulate to make look like a slider with deeper break. Both the curve and the cutter project to be fringe-average to average, and the Rangers would like to see him add more power to both. He struggled a bit with fastball command down the stretch but overall showed average control.

The Future: If he continues to add more power to his mix, Ragans could carve out a career as a back-end starter. He'll likely see plenty of big league time in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 60. Cut: 50. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Teodo signed for just $10,000 as a 19-year-old but has already rewarded the Rangers' confidence some of the system's best pure stuff. Teodo was an off-the-radar prospect who didn't even have a trainer and was identified at a tryout camp the year before he signed. The whippy-armed former position player spent his first pro season in the Arizona Complex League before moving to Low-A, where his 115 strikeouts led the team and placed seventh in the Carolina League.

Scouting Report: Teodo works with a three-pitch mix led by a mighty four-seam fastball that averaged 96 mph and touched 101. He shows much better command of the pitch, especially up in the zone, when he doesn't try to throw it as hard as he can. Teodo's slider is a sharp-snapper as well. The breaking ball averages around 85 mph and touched 94. He has a below-average changeup that could get better with further repetitions and was thrown just 5% of the time. There's no question that Teodo has an impact arm. Now, the Rangers will have to figure out where it plays. His wiry body and spindly lower half might push him toward the pen, but Teodo stayed at Texas' minor league complex over the winter in an effort to add mass and turn himself into a potential starter who could air it out for five innings.

The Future: Teodo will head to High-A Hickory in 2023 and will work to sharpen his command and build enough stamina to remain a starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Walcott continues what has been a more fruitful pipeline from the Bahamas to pro ball in recent years, adding to a list that also includes Marlins prospects Ian Lewis and Janero Miller, as well as Marlins mainstay Jazz Chisholm. Walcott is a big, athletic player who is at shortstop for now but his athleticism could fit in the outfield as well depending on how his body develops.

Scouting Report: Walcott is already quite tall at 6-foot-4 and has plenty of room to add power as he grows into his body. He's got bat speed and present strength, too, and has already produced exit velocities up to 105 mph. He might not be a true average defender at shortstop, but his arm strength--which is at least plus--will serve him well on the left side of the diamond. The arm and power would fit at third base or a corner outfield spot if he needs to move as he gets bigger and stronger.

The Future: Walcott will debut in the Dominican Summer League, but the Rangers showed last year with Anthony Gutierrez that they're unafraid to be aggressive with even their youngest players if their performance warrants an accelerated timetable.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Bradford was the Big 12 pitcher of the year in 2018 but had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome the next season. He also spent a summer with Chatham of the Cape Cod League, where he was teammates with future Blue Jays all-star Alek Manoah and future 1-1 pick Spencer Torkelson. The injury limited Bradford to just three starts in his draft year, but the Rangers still popped him in the sixth round. He reached Double-A in his pro debut and spent all of 2022 at the same level.

Scouting Report: Bradford works with a four-pitch mix led a fastball whose movement helps it play better than its low-90s velocity. The combination of a deceptive delivery and excellent extension makes the fastball extremely difficult to hit at the top of the zone, but he's at his best when he moves it around to all four quadrants. Bradford backs the fastball with a low-80s slider and a high-80s cutter. The latter was introduced because of an inconsistency in Bradford's delivery that allowed hitters to easily tell when the slider was coming. Longer extension meant fastball and shorter extension signaled a slider. The cutter gave Bradford a similar movement profile--albeit with firmer velocity--that he could achieve with the same delivery as his four-seamer. Bradford's best offspeed, however, is his 82-85 mph changeup, which kills spin effectively and can be a useful weapon in any count.

The Future: Bradford was inconsistent in the early portion of the season but figured it out later and got back to the best version of himself. He could fit in the back of a rotation if he carries that momentum into 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 40. Changeup: 60. Cutter: 50. Control: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Rangers went high school-heavy in the shortened 2020 draft, popping four prep players after taking Justin Foscue out of Mississippi State in the first round. The last player in their class was Saggese, who looks like he could be another pleasant surprise along with second-rounder Evan Carter. His average (.308), slugging percentage (.487) and OPS (.846) each placed among the top 10 in the South Atlantic League, where he was the circuit's third-youngest player on Opening Day.

Scouting Report: Saggese is a very aggressive hitter who swung 56% of the time but made loud impact on contact. Internal evaluators said he did a good job being more patient as the year wore on but still could stand to improve even further. He chased far too often. He doesn't have the cleanest actions in the field but is nimble enough to make plays on the run thanks to average arm strength despite a throwing stroke with a bit of a hitch that could lead to inconsistency. He's a fringe-average runner who can turn in times closer to average when he gets clean breaks out of the box. The Rangers also love Saggese's baseball rat tendencies and note his intense level of focus during games.

The Future: Saggese finished 2022 at Double-A Frisco for the last part of the regular season and then the team's run to the Texas League title. He'll return to the level in 2023, when a refined approach married with the league's hitter-friendly atmosphere could lead to a big season.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: Pollard was the Rangers' fifth-rounder in the 2022 draft and was induced to turn pro instead of heading to Washington State thanks to a signing bonus of $418,500. He got into two games in the Arizona Complex League after signing before heading to instructional league. He was also part of the team's annual instructional league college tour and held his own against older competition.

Scouting Report: Pollard stands out for his athleticism, which translates in the field and on the bases. He glides around the diamond with ease and stole 59 bases--to go with 11 home runs--in his senior season of high school in Georgia. There's little doubt he sticks at least on the left side of the infield, where his plus arm would fit perfectly. If not, his speed would also fit nicely in center field. He needs plenty of polish offensively and the Rangers have already worked with him to be more consistent in his approach. He tends to get too big with his swing and the Rangers would like to see him stay within himself with a line drive approach geared toward contact up the middle.

The Future: Pollard will likely return to Rookie-ball in 2023. He's got a ceiling of a sparkplug-type of player who causes havoc on the bases and provides impact up the middle.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Torres was part of the Rangers' most recent international class and began opening eyes thanks to a mature body and present tools. He performed well in the Dominican Summer League and continued impressing evaluators during fall instructional league.

Scouting Report: Torres swing is loose and quick and produces excellent natural bat speed thanks to an incredibly strong set of hands. He impressed his organization by taking the skills he displayed during showcases and translating them into game action. He showed sound swing decisions and impact in the DSL but worked at instructional league to optimize his bat path to keep it in the zone longer. Torres will likely get chances in center field as he moves up the ladder but a thickening build could push him to a corner as he matures. Torres was exposed to all three outfield spots in the DSL but predominantly played left field. He ran the 60-yard dash in 6.6 seconds during showcases, giving him potentially plus speed as if he slows down a tick as he gains muscle.

The Future: Torres will move stateside in 2023, when he'll try to build on the success he showed in the DSL and instructional league. If everything clicks, he could be an average regular in left field.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After being drafted in the third round in 2018, Ornelas put up solid if unspectacular numbers. Those figures got a bump in 2022, although he also had noticeable splits favoring home games and at-bats against lefthanders. The Rangers added him to the 40-man roster after the season to shield him from the Rule 5 draft.

Scouting Report: Ornelas doesn't have a standout tool but he hits the ball plenty hard and has enough defensive versatility to move around the diamond with ease. He's an extremely aggressive hitter who has below-average swing decisions and pitch recognition. He made some swing adjustments to help him stay behind the ball better and increase his impact on contact, though the Rangers would still like to see him get the ball in the air more often. Ornelas took most of his defensive reps at shortstop and third base but got four games apiece at second base and center field.

The Future: After a year bouncing around the diamond for Texas League-champion Frisco, Ornelas will head to Triple-A to try to prove his breakout was real. Better pitch recognition skills and more fly balls will aid that effort. He could make his big league debut in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Ramirez is an alumnus of Salesian HS in Los Angeles, which counts two NFL players among its alumni base. He matriculated to Long Beach State and started for three years sandwiched around a stellar turn in the Cape Cod League in 2021, when he tied for the league lead in strikeouts. A shoulder injury ended Ramirez's season on April 22 but the Rangers popped him in the seventh round.

Scouting Report: At his best, Ramirez operates with a heavy sinking fastball in the low 90s that plays particularly well to his glove side. He also does a fantastic job manipulating the shape of his low-80s, slurvy slider. The next step will be bringing his changeup forward. The pitch flashed above-average in college but was not thrown enough to comfortably to project it to reach those heights as a pro. Ramirez has also shown solid control and command with decent feel to move his pitches around all quadrants of the strike zone. The Rangers would like to see that aspect of his game take a step forward.

The Future: Ramirez did not pitch after signing but was invited to the team's instructional league camp in Arizona. His pedigree should allow him to begin his career at one of the Class A levels. He has a ceiling in the back of a rotation.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Roby was the Rangers' third-round pick in the shortened draft during the pandemic year of 2020. He was lauded for his ability to post high spin rates as well as his fiery demeanor on the mound. His 2021 season was cut short by an elbow strain, but he made every turn during a full season at High-A Hickory.

Scouting Report: Roby works with a four-pitch mix led by a low-90s fastball that peaked at 96. He needs command the pitch better, especially in the lower part of the zone. Roby backs the fastball up with a high-80s curveball with spin rates around 2,800 rpm as well as a changeup in the low 80s. He changed the grip on the pitch during the season to help it play better. The Rangers added a slider to Roby's repertoire near the end of the season to give him something with a velocity in between his four-seamer and his curveball-changeup duo and holds the same line as his fastball for longer on its way to the plate. Command was Roby's biggest issue this year, and it led to 19 home runs allowed. Scouts were a little surprised by Roby's command issues because his arm action and delivery are fairly clean.

The Future: Roby will head to Double-A in 2023 and will be severely challenged to improve his command in the hitter-friendly Texas League.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 40. Changeup: 50. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: Specht was the Rangers' sixth-round pick but fourth selection overall because they lost their second- and third-round picks for signing free agents. He drew interest for his lefthanded offense, and Texas bought him out of his commitment to Kentucky with a $450,000 signing bonus. He played in three games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Scouting Report: Specht has a smooth swing from the left side that is geared for more impact than contact. His power is mostly to the gaps now but should turn into home runs as he finishes filling out his frame. The Rangers are especially buying in on Specht's power potential based on strong batting practices and a solid idea of the strike zone. He's an above-average runner who could handle center in a pinch but will likely move over as he gains mass. His plus arm will fit nicely in right field.

The Future: Specht could head to Low-A Down East or stay back in Arizona for extended spring training and the Arizona Complex League depending on how the rosters shake out in April. He has a chance to be an everyday right fielder with further seasoning and a more refined hit tool.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: Vargas was signed in the Rangers' most recent class for a small bonus of just $10,000. He quickly proved his worth in the Dominican Summer League, where he produced an .878 OPS. His offensive skills mask his lack of a true defensive home or standout athleticism.

Scouting Report: Vargas' best attribute is his contact ability. He needs to stay in the zone more, but his high rate of chase was mitigated by excellent bat-to-ball skills on pitches in the zone. He reminds some within the organization of an early-stage version of Ezequiel Duran because of his ability to make loud contact despite a bit of a free-swinging approach. The Rangers worked with Vargas at instructional league to try to clean up his bat path. Vargas is not the most athletic player in the world but has the chance to stick on infield--either at second or third base--and has the arm strength to handle the left side. He's a fringe-average runner who can steal bases on a combination of instincts and aggression rather than being any sort of burner.

The Future: Vargas will move to the Arizona Complex League in 2023, when he'll try to harness his approach to make the most of his contact ability and try to point himself toward a ceiling as a utility infielder.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.