Texas Rangers Prospects: Offseason Rankings #16-20

Into the middle rankings of the Texas Rangers organization, this group contains some players with high ceilings that are still trying to put it together.

These middle-tier prospects for the Texas Rangers have high ceilings, with some drawbacks, but will still be exciting to keep up with over the course of their careers with the Rangers.

#20 Ryan Garcia RHP

Garcia was selected with the 50th pick in the 2019 draft by the Texas Rangers out of UCLA. He had a terrific career at UCLA, posting a 2.11 ERA across 54 games (25 starts coming mostly in final two years) with 206:65 K:BB ratio in 183 innings of work. Garcia doesn’t have any overwhelming pitches, but he’s one of those players that does everything well, and could become a mid-rotation player when he reaches the majors.

Outlook: Garcia was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year for 2019 and could be a player that flies through the minors to make his debut around 2022.

#19 Cole Ragans LHP

Ragans was the Rangers first pick by the Rangers in the 2016 draft, and looked like he was going to fly through the minors, but his ascension through the minors has come to a stop thanks to two Tommy John surgeries. When we last saw Ragans, he posted a 3.61 ERA in 13 starts in 57.1 innings with an 87:35 K:BB ratio. He’s got some above average stuff but needs to refine his command a bit once healthy.

Outlook: Ragans will hopefully return to the mound at some point in 2020, and if he can stay healthy, he’s still a candidate to move quickly. Perhaps he could hit the Majors around 2022.

#18 Jonathan Ornelas SS

Ornelas was the 3rd round pick by the Rangers in 2018, and he possesses pretty average tools, aside from an above average arm. In A ball, Ornelas hit .257 with six home runs across 113 games. He was originally drafted as a SS, but the Texas Rangers have moved him around the infield, as he is capable of playing multiple positions.

Outlook: Ornelas’s key to climbing up the prospect ladder is his bat. If he can develop at least an average bat, he could be up in Arlington by 2022.

#17 Tyler Phillips RHP

Phillips caught the attention of a lot of those that keep up with the Rangers prospects early in the season as he killed it in six games at High-A. He earned a promotion to Double-A where he struggled early, but seemed to settle down as the season went on. His changeup is his most advanced pitch but he has the makings of a nice fastball and posted a 102:26 K:BB ratio across both levels in 131 innings.

Outlook: Given that Phillips was added to the Rangers 40-man roster, we could see him soon. At the earliest the end of 2020. Possible a more defined role in 2021.

#16 Jonathan Hernandez RHP

Hernandez flew onto radars early in 2018, as he posted a 2.20 ERA across ten starts with a 77:17 K:BB ratio in 57.1 innings of work. He has slowed down significantly since then, as he was promoted to AA, and has posted a 5.06 ERA across 160 innings. Hernandez features a pair of plus pitches in his fastball and slider that give him a floor as a nice reliever. Texas still hopes to stretch him out as a starter long-term though.

Outlook: Hernandez likely will see some time as a big league reliever in 2020 considering he made his debut last year. He could start the season in the Triple-A Nashville rotation though.