Reviewing the Texas Rangers Last Five 1st Round Picks

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ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 5: The outside of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington before the American League Wild Card game between the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles on October 5, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

In honor of the start of the 2019 MLB Draft tonight, we’re taking a look at the last five 1st round picks taken by the Texas Rangers.

The 1st round of the MLB Draft takes place tonight at 6 ET and represents the next wave of baseball talent to grace America’s Pastime. For the Rangers, they currently are sitting on the #8 pick meaning they have the opportunity to take a real impact player early on. With such high anticipation on how the Texas Rangers will opt to use this selection, we’re taking a look at their past five 1st rounders, how they’ve progressed as well as who Texas passed on in that draft.

TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 21: (EDITOR’S NOTE: SATURATION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS IMAGE) Dillon Tate #93 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees photo day on February 21, 2018 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2015, Pick #4: RHP Dillon Tate (UC Santa Barbara)

In 2015 the Texas Rangers opted to take the high-upside Dillon Tate out of UC Santa Barbara with the 4th overall pick. Tate, a 6’2″ right-hander was considered a top talent in the 2015 draft and quickly became one of the highest ranked prospects in the Rangers system. However, Tate’s fastball velocity dropped from the upper-90’s to the low-90’s during his time in Single-A. With the Rangers, he never seemed to take the steps forward expected and quickly slipped from the top of the prospect charts.

In 2016, the Rangers sent Dillon Tate to the New York Yankees as part of a deadline deal to get Carlos Beltran to Arlington. Tate climbed his way to Double-A in the Yankees organization before being dealt in the summer of 2018. New York sent him to the Baltimore Orioles as a piece of the deal that took Zach Britton to the Bronx. Currently, Tate is in the minor league system of the Orioles and has made 5 appearances (2 starts) for the Double-A Bowie Baysox.

Notable Players Passed On:

OF Kyle Tucker (5th, HOU)

OF Andrew Benintendi (7th, BOS)

OF Ian Happ (9th, CHC)

SS Kevin Newman (19th, PIT)

RHP Walker Buehler (24th, LAD)

2016, Pick #30: LHP Cole Ragans, North Florida Christian HS (FL)

The Rangers went with pitching again in 2016 opting for a left-hander, Cole Ragans out of Tallahassee, Florida. Texas went with the high upside prep pitcher in the supplemental part of the 1st round and sent him to Arizona to play Rookie ball for the remainder of the 2016 season. In 2017, Ragans went to Short-Season Spokane where he made 13 starts for the Indians. His 87 strikeouts in just 57.1 innings really helped push him up prospect rankings.

In March of 2018 Ragans had to undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow that caused him to miss the entirety of the 2018 season. With hopes that Ragans could put himself back on track in the minors in 2019, the Rangers and Ragans were dealt a blow when Ragans had to undergo a 2nd Tommy John surgery throwing his future with the club into some doubt.

Ragans still is considered to be a high potential pitcher and hopefully with a fully-healed elbow, can really make his mark on the organization. On the bright side, Ragans is still on 21-years old and there is no rush to push him up the system. However, having 2 elbow surgeries in 2 years does raise some questions and will be tough to come back from. Currently, MLB Prospect Watch has Ragans as the 14th overall prospect in the Texas Rangers system.

Notable Players Passed On:

LHP Kyle Muller (44th, ATL)

1B Pete Alonso (64th, NYM)

SS Bo Bichette (66th, TOR)

RHP Jon Duplantier (89th, ARI)

ARLINGTON, TX – JUNE 16: (L-R) Bubba Thompson from McGill-Toolen High School, Chris Seise out of West Orange High School and right-handed pitcher Hans Crouse out of Dana Hills High School pose for a photo after the Texas Rangers announced the signings of several of the club’s top selections in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 16, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2017, Pick #26: OF Bubba Thompson, McGill–Toolen Catholic HS (AL)

Texas opted to go outfielder in the 1st round of the 2017 draft taking prep center fielder, Bubba Thompson out of McGill–Toolen Catholic HS in Mobile, AL. A standout high school baseball and football player, Thompson was regarded as one of the best pure athletes in the 2017 class. Texas sent Thompson to Rookie-League where he played in 30 games and posted a .257 average. The Texas Rangers placed Thompson with Single-A Hickory in the 2018 season where he spent the entirety of the year. He made 84 appearances for Hickory posting a .289 average with a .790 OPS and 32 stolen bases.

This season, Thompson was promoted to High-A Down East and played in 12 games for the Wood Ducks before hitting the Injured List with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Entering the season, Thompson was ranked as the #48 prospect in the game by Baseball Prospectus and #108 by Fangraphs. MLB Prospect Watch has Thompson as the 5th prospect in the Rangers organization.

Notable Players Passed On:

N/A

2017, Pick #29: SS Chris Seise, West Orange High School (FL)

Fortunate to have 2 picks in the 1st round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Texas opted to go position player again at pick 29 taking Chris Seise out of West Orange High School in Florida. Seise lit it up pretty quickly once being placed in Rookie League hitting .336 in 2017 and was quickly promoted to Short-Season Spokane. Seise missed the entirety of the 2018 season after having to undergo rotator cuff surgery.

The shortstop started the 2019 season with Single-A Hickory and played well in his first 21 games posting a .241 average and showing that he’ll have the ability to stick at short defensively. Seise fell victim to the injury bug though after being forced into surgery for a torn labrum and will miss the remainder of the season. Currently, MLB Prospect Watch ranks him as the 11th prospect in the Rangers organization.

Notable Players Passed On:

N/A

ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 24: The Texas Rangers logo to the entrance of the press box is shown before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on September 24, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images) /

2018, Pick #15: RHP Cole Winn, Lutheran HS of Orange County (CA)

The Rangers went back to the pitching well in last year’s draft opting to take prep right-hander, Cole Winn, out of California. With the 15th overall pick, Winn seemed like great value coming off a season where he posted an 8-2 record and a 0.20 ERA. Winn was named California’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year.

The Rangers did not send Cole Winn to Rookie League instead putting him into their new program designed for prep pitchers to let them rest while getting them prepared for pro ball. Entering 2019, he cracked the Top 100 on 3 prospect rankings and is listed as the 2nd prospect in the Texas organization by MLB Prospect Watch. Winn was assigned to Single-A Hickory to open up the 2019 season. The 19-year old has made 3 starts so far and has struggled with command a bit issuing 10 walks in just 8.1 innings. Hopes are still very high for Winn as he seems to have the ceiling of a front of the rotation starter.

Notable Players Passed On:

LHP Matthew Liberatore (16th, TB)

RHP Brady Singer (18th, KC)

3B Nolan Gorman (19th, STL)

SS Brice Turang (21st, MIL)

It’ll be interesting to see which route the Rangers go in this year’s draft as they have the opportunity to really bring a star player into the organization. Their MO has generally been to go upside and athleticism but some needs behind the plate and at 3rd base may force their hand in another direction. Texas will definitely have their pick of a few talented players. Make sure to follow us @NolanWritinFS on Twitter for Rangers draft updates and analysis.

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In honor of the start of the 2019 MLB Draft tonight, we’re taking a look at the last five 1st round picks taken by the Texas Rangers.

2015, Pick #4: RHP Dillon Tate (UC Santa Barbara)

Notable Players Passed On:

2016, Pick #30: LHP Cole Ragans, North Florida Christian HS (FL)

Notable Players Passed On:

2017, Pick #26: OF Bubba Thompson, McGill–Toolen Catholic HS (AL)

Notable Players Passed On:

2017, Pick #29: SS Chris Seise, West Orange High School (FL)

Notable Players Passed On:

2018, Pick #15: RHP Cole Winn, Lutheran HS of Orange County (CA)

Notable Players Passed On:

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