2 Rangers 2026 draft targets that could get their farm system back on track, 2 that would not

The Texas Rangers farm system has been raided in recent years as the club has made many trades over the years, trying to get back to the promised land after the glory of 2023. It has gotten to the point where barren has become an accurate word to describe the Rangers' pipeline.

Baseball America recently downgraded the Texas farm from No. 24 to No. 27 in its midseason update, citing both a lack of high-end talent and sufficient depth. Sebastian Walcott is a blue-chip talent, though his injury has caused him to (unfairly) drop in the rankings. The only other sure-fire high-end talent in the system is Caden Scarborough, who will rightfully be representing the Rangers in the All-Star Futures Game.

The good news is the MLB Draft is just a few short hours away, and with that lies the opportunity for Chris Young to infuse the system with both talent and depth. Texas picks 16th overall in the first round, and it will be the club's best chance to get the kind of upside that they need. The question will be, how much does Young value risky high-ceiling prospects against more polished, but perhaps lower-ceiling options?

Two draft targets who could rejuvenate the Rangers' system

Hunter Dietz - LHP - University of Arkansas

Hunter Dietz hasn't been linked to the Rangers as frequently as his former high school teammate, Liam Peterson, but if he's there at No. 16, and it seems that he will be, Young should give him a long and hard look.

A six-foot-six, 235-pound lefty with a dynamic fastball-slider combination is the stuff that dreams are made of. Dietz sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, but can run it up to 98. He threw 85 2/3 innings for the Razorbacks this year, racking up 131 strikeouts this season.

He throws a lot of strikes, though his command isn't quite pinpoint. He'll also need to develop his changeup to properly handle right-handed hitters. The biggest concern with Dietz is injuries, but if the elbow troubles are truly behind him, he could be an incredibly high-ceiling starter.

Trevor Condon - OF - Etowah H.S. Woodstock, Georgia

High school hitters are certainly more risky, but the way Condon plays the game makes it easy to fall in love with his ceiling. He's been compared to Chicago Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who currently leads MLB with a 5.9 fWAR.

Condon has blazing speed, advanced plate discipline, and power, making him one of the toolsiest players in the draft. He's been described as playing the game with his hair on fire, and his work ethic has been highly touted, which could mitigate some of the risk. If you're looking to boost the upside of the system, there might not be a better option than Condon.

Two draft prospects that would hold the Rangers' system back

Liam Peterson - RHP - University of Florida

Liam Peterson has commonly been mocked to the Rangers, and by stuff alone, he's one of the best pitching prospects in the draft. He also has ideal size for a workhorse starter with a six-foot-five, 205-pound frame.

The issue with Peterson is the fact that, despite three years in Gainesville, he could never truly conquer SEC competition. His best ERA came in 2025 with a 4.28 mark, and his best FIP was 4.01 this season. He's improved his walk rate every year, but still walks too many batters, posting a 9.8% rate in 2026. The bigger concern is that he just seems to get hit more than his stuff says he should. At some point, the lack of college production becomes a red flag.

Justin Lebron - SS - University of Alabama

Justin Lebron is a power-speed player with a real chance to stick at shortstop and be a plus defender. That alone is enough to pique the interest of a lot of folks. His ceiling is very high, and there is legitimate 30-30 potential here.

The concern comes with how mightily he struggled during SEC play. Lebron hit just .229/.328/.413 against SEC opponents this season, meaning most of his production came while beating up on lesser competition. In a more well-stocked system, his high ceiling but extremely low floor could be a worthwhile gamble, but the Rangers can't really afford to burn a premium asset on a player with high bust potential.

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