Texas Rangers’ Minor League Update: A Focus on Prospects 6-15

#15-C.D. Pelham LHP, Frisco RoughRiders

It has been a tough season for the 24-year-old lefty thus far. Pelham has struggled at Triple-A and Double-A, posting an ERA north of 11.00 at both stops. Precisely, his 12.79 ERA over 12.2 innings and 7:11 K:BB ratio have not helped him work his way back to the major leagues. The hope for the Rangers is that he can eventually turn it around for the big league club that is in desperate need of pitching help.

#14-Cole Ragans LHP, Arizona Rookie League

Ragans, now 21, is a tough read for Rangers fans. The 2016 first round draft pick was one of the club’s top pitching prospects after a great 2017 campaign, but has since undergone two Tommy John surgeries and will likely be out until late 2020. MLB.com sets his projected MLB debut at 2022, though there’s a good chance it will be pushed back further due to his unfortunate injury luck. Kenneth Nash wrote more about Ragans’ injury here.

#13-Tyler Phillips RHP, Frisco RoughRiders

Phillips, 21, has been a pleasant surprise to the Rangers’ farm system this year (as we all know, they could use a surprise or two). He dominated in six starts at Down East and is now getting used to the improved talent in Frisco. He has shown terrific control by walking only 10 batters over 10 starts in 2019, and has an impressive 3.04 ERA. Phillips is expected to make his MLB debut in 2021, but if he can get jump-started in Frisco, it’s possible he could be promoted as a September call-up for the Rangers.

#12-Owen White RHP, Arizona Rookie League

Yet another player hit with the Tommy John bug, White, 19, will not pitch for the Rangers until late 2020 or 2021. The 2018 second round pick will be placed in the rookie league once he recovers, and his MLB debut is not expected until 2023.

#11-Chris Seise INF, Hickory Crawdads (7-day IL)

Continuing the streak of injured players, we reach Chris Seise. The 20-year-old is a former 1st round pick of the Rangers (2017), but has been frequently injured the past two seasons. He is expected to be out all of this season with an injury, and will have played just 21 games in 2018-2019. He is not expected to debut in the bigs until 2022.

#10-Taylor Hearn LHP, Texas Rangers (7-day IL)

Hearn, 24, made his MLB debut in Seattle a few weeks ago, and it went as poorly as a debut could go. The Rangers did send him to the IL after his start, pinpointing an elbow injury. He is expected to resume a throwing program shortly though, and will likely make a few rehab starts in Frisco or Nashville before a decision is made as to whether or not he is ready enough for major league action. Hopefully the key piece of the Keone Kela trade can get healthy quickly so he can begin contributing to the Texas Rangers soon.

#9-Brock Burke LHP, Frisco RoughRiders (7-day IL)

Yet another injured pitcher, Burke, the 22 year-old that was a big part of the Jurickson Profar deal, will hopefully return to the RoughRiders soon. He’s been dealing with a nagging blister and some shoulder fatigue. So far this season he has been limited to just three starts, posting an 0-2 record with a 3.86 ERA. If he can get healthy and start putting together some good outings, there is a chance we could see him in the majors later this year.

#8-Jonathan Hernandez RHP, Frisco RoughRiders

Just looking at his ERA (6.38 across 9 games), it has not been very pretty season for Hernandez. But it hasn’t been as bad as it seems. He has pitched five innings or more in every game except one, and has given up three runs or fewer in all but three games. Outside of three bad starts, he has been solid. Still, he has a lot to prove before being deemed major league ready. Don’t expect to see the 22-year-old in a Rangers uniform until next season. If the team falls out of the race, there’s a chance he could filter to the bigs this year, however.

#7-Joe Palumbo LHP, Frisco RoughRiders

Palumbo has flown through the minor leagues since his Tommy John injury a few years ago, and he currently has a 3.64 ERA in eight games in 2019. In 42 innings, the 24 year-old southpaw has a 56:20 K:BB ratio. If all continues to go well for him at Double-A, he could soon find himself in Nashville, or even in the majors. Unless he starts pitching poorly, it would be safe to assume that he would at least be a September call-up, especially with him being a part of the 40-man roster.

#6-Bubba Thompson OF, Down East Wood Ducks (7-day IL)

*Disclaimer: I swapped Bubba and Leody because I believe Leody has moved into the top 5 with his play this season*

Thompson, 20, had a terrific season in Hickory last year, hitting .289 with a .344 OBP with 32 stolen bases. He has outstanding, MLB-ready speed, but the former 1st-rounder got hurt after just 12 games with a broken bone in his left hand. Through 12 games, he really struggled, posting a .150 average in a very small sample size. Thompson is expected to be in the majors by 2021.