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Texas Rangers Top Prospects Prior to the Deadline: 11-20

By Kenneth Nash |
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

With just days before the MLB trade deadline, we’re taking a look at the top prospects within the Texas Rangers organization.

Before the MLB trade deadline, we’re taking a look at the top prospects within the Texas Rangers organization to get a better picture of what holes need to be filled on the final few days. We’ll evaluate the Top 20 Prospects in the Rangers organization starting with 11-20. We’re basing our rankings off of scouting reports, current production and future potential. For references, we’ve taken scouting information from MLB Prospect Watch and then formulated our own list.

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 15: Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 15: Yohander Mendez #65 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the top of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

20. RHP Kyle Cody

Cody was the 6th round draft pick of the Texas Rangers back in 2016. He entered the season as one of the top arms in the Rangers system but dropped due to injury struggles. At 6’7″ and 245 lbs. Cody has a strong body that allows him to generate velocity. He sits in the mid-90s predominantly but can reach back and hit the upper-90s from time to time. In 18 starts in 2017, he posted a 2.83 ERA and struck 101 through 95.1 innings. He’s developed a slider that makes for an impressive strikeout pitch and increases his versatility on the mound. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential of a middle of the rotation starter for Texas. Cody currently is assigned to the Rangers Rookie league affiliate.

ETA: 2021

19. RHP Mason Englert

The Rangers seemed to have gotten a good value with their 4th round pick in this year’s draft. Mason Englert, 18, was a standout pitcher at Forney high school before the Rangers took him this year. Texas offered him well over slot value to get him to sign but he has loads of potential. His 6’4″ frame helps him increase his velocity. With a good secondary pitch in his slider, he could stand to work on his curve and changeup which are just average at this point. If he can continue to improve his motion and command, he could become a middle of the rotation starter. Currently Englert hasn’t been assigned to a minor league level.

ETA: 2022

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18. RHP AJ Alexy

Alexy, 20, gets forgotten a bit, but he came to the Rangers as part of the Yu Darvish deal that brought Willie Calhoun to Arlington. A 2016, 11th round pick, Alexy has shown quick development since arriving to the Texas system. Sporting an above average fastball and an equally impressive curve, Alexy is fairly fresh as a pitcher as he didn’t start full-time pitching until late high school. In 2018 for Single-A Hickory, Alexy has appeared in 17 games, 15 of which were starts. He has a 4-7 record with a 4.29 ERA and 94 strikeouts through 79.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .241 against him. His development will take time, but he has the makings of a back-end rotation pitcher or a solid bullpen piece.

ETA: 2020

17. LHP Yohander Mendez

Mendez has already made headlines this season as he cracked the big league roster, but was subsequently sent down for disciplinary reasons. A 23-year old, Mendez is probably the most big league ready pitcher on this list. At 6’5″ and just 200 pounds, he still could stand to add some muscle which could help with velocity on his fastball. He’s fallen drastically in prospect rankings this year as he’s struggled. Across three minor league levels in 2018, Mendez sports a 1-8 record with a 4.87 ERA which is evidence of his fall. Currently he’s in Double-A Frisco and despite a 6.75 ERA in 2 starts, opponents are hitting just .233 against him. Hopes are that he can be a middle rotation quality starter but I think he tops out as the 5th starter in the rotation.

ETA: 2018

16. SS Jonathan Ornelas

Ornelas, 18, was the 3rd round draft pick of the Rangers in this year’s draft out of Arizona. A high upside infielder, the Rangers were able to keep him from going to Tennessee after high school. Already assigned to Rookie ball, Ornelas has impressed at the plate with a .286 average through 27 games. Of his 28 hits, 11 are for extra bases which is promising as he might have the potential to be an okay power hitter. He lacks speed which puts his career at short in jeopardy but I view him as more of a third baseman in the upper levels of baseball.

ETA: 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: C.D. Pelham #58 of the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Team works the eighth inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

15. RHP Jason Bahr

Jason Bahr is one of the more intriguing prospects the Rangers have right now. At 23, Bahr wasn’t initially a very highly rated prospect. When Texas acquired him from the Giants though earlier this month, Bahr was shooting up prospect rankings as he was dominating lower minor leagues. In 13 starts for the Giants Single-A affiliate, Bahr went 6-4 and held opponents to a .211 batting average while posting an impressive ERA of 2.75. He still needs development and he’s struggled a bit with the Rangers Single-A Advanced team, Down East, but he the potential to be a back end of the rotation starter. At worst he becomes a reliever in the majors.

ETA: 2020

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14. LHP CD Pelham

Pelham, 23, has one of the most electric arms in the Rangers system which is a reason to be excited. A 6’6″ lefty who was once a 33rd round draft pick, Pelham has made improvements in leaps and bounds over the past season. Currently with Double A Frisco, Pelham sports a mid to upper 90s fastball and a low 90s cutter. He struggles with control but his stuff is still menacing to say the least. He’s split 2018 better High-A and Double-A but his number in High-A Down East were fantastic. Working out of the bullpen he appeared in 23 games recording 11 saves while sporting a 1.95 ERA. He’s struggled in Frisco thus far but if he can build up his control a bit he has the makings of a late inning reliever, possibly a closer.

ETA: 2019

13. SS Chris Seise

Seise, 19, has enough potential to be higher up this list, but season ending injury has knocked him down a bit. Still, the 2017 1st round pick of the Rangers has loads of potential. In 2017, Seise split time between Rookie ball and Low-A hitting .284 in 51 games. He has decent power potential but could stand to work on his plate discipline moving forward. His bat, paired with speed give him the tools to stick in a lineup in the bigs. Defensively, he can be a big league shortstop if he can stay healthy.

ETA: 2021

12. RHP Tyler Phillips

A 16th round draft pick of the Rangers in 2015, Phillips is highly ranked because of his potential. A 6’5″ pitcher, he has a low 90s fastball that can create a lot of groundballs. The 20-year old has spent 2018 with Single-A Hickory where he’s made 17 starts posting an 8-5 record with a 3.18 ERA. If he can develop some stuff that’s less hittable, he could develop into a decent end of the rotation starter as he has all the physical tools necessary. I’d peg him as a potential number 4 starter in the big leagues.

ETA: 2021

11. INF Anderson Tejada

Anderson, 20, is currently the highest ranked infielder in the Rangers organization. Naturally a shortstop, Tejada sports an above average arm from the position. In 2018, he’s played in 92 games for the Single-A Adv. Down East Wood Ducks and hit .256 with 14 homeruns. A lefty at the plate, he could stand to work on plate discipline as he strikes out a bit much already but he has the power to be a major league hitter. If he continues to develop, Tejada could be a major league shortstop, although I see him moving to 2nd or 3rd due to speed.

ETA: 2020

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