Texas Rangers: Ranking Top Young Players by Long-Term Potential

ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 04: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers hits in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 4, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) *** local caption *** Joey Gallo

Cornerstone Players

These are the players that will be the cornerstones of the starting lineup for the future. While they aren’t necessarily All-Stars, their roles aren’t in doubt and the Rangers can kind of build around them.

Ronald Guzman, 1B (Age: 23)

Ronald Guzman kind of came out of nowhere this season with all the injuries the Rangers have faced. He kind of took over first base which allowed Joey Gallo to continue to transition into the outfield. Defensively he has potential that is through the roof. Hopefully he can show a bit more discipline at the plate and become a top tier player for the Rangers.

Future Role: Top-End Starting 1B

Joey Gallo, 1B/OF (Age: 24)

Much the center of debate, the projections for Joey Gallo vary greatly. However his pure power at the plate means that the Rangers won’t be moving on from him anytime soon. If he can get his average up, he can reach the potential of the fearsome hitter he was once thought to be. Without much evidence he’ll hit those goals though, he still is a cornerstone for the Texas Rangers.

Future Role: Starting LF

Jurickson Profar, INF/OF (Age: 25)

Once the best prospect in baseball, the ceiling for Jurickson Profar has fallen drastically. Whether you blame the Rangers development of him or not, he’s no longer thought to be the future elite player he once was. However he still has the ability to be a regular and a fan favorite. Lauded for his versatility defensively, he provides Texas with a lot of flexibility. At the plate he’s also a switch hitter which is just a manager’s dream. I happen to think he has the ability to be a starting shortstop unlike many however he could play a plethora of positions.