Texas Rangers: Maximo Acosta named a 2021 breakout prospect

MLB.com listed minors infielder Maximo Acosta as the Texas Rangers’ breakout prospect of 2021.

Josh Jung might be the Texas Rangers‘ top prospect heading into the 2021 season, but there’s another name fans might want to keep an eye on within the organization’s minor league ranks.

That would be MiLB infielder Maximo Acosta.

Currently ranked as Texas’ No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Acosta was named by MLB.com as the team’s potential breakout player in the system in 2021.

Acosta, just 18-years-old, signed as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019, being touted as one of the elite talents of the entire free agent class.

The young infielder is being developed as a shortstop, his primary position, and looks to one day crack the majors at that spot.

Acosta has drawn rave reviews from scouts since his signing, even garnering comparisons to New York Yankees’ star shortstop Gleyber Torres.

Of course, we should take that comparison with a grain of salt, as Acosta is still so young and unpolished, but nonetheless appears to have a very bright future ahead of him.

Texas Rangers’ infield prospect Maximo Acosta could be a future star.

The 18-year-old grades out at least above average in nearly every category according to the amateur scouting scale of 20-80, where 20 is the worst, 50 is average and 80 is the best.

Acosta’s hit tool is graded as a 55 (above average), as is his glove. His throwing arm and speed grade out even better (at 60 for both), indicating well above average talents in those areas.

Though his power tool grades out as average (50), this is an aspect of the young infielder’s game that could develop with more time as he fills in his six-foot-one, 170 pound frame.

MLB.com even believes Acosta is good enough to become a 20-20 player one day (20 home runs, 20 stolen bases).

The 18-year-old isn’t expected to make his Arlington debut for quite some time, as he’s very young and has limited professional exposure to this point.

The minor league season was also cancelled in 2020, temporarily halting Acosta’s ability to make his stateside debut.

With a minor league season expected to occur in 2021, however, it’s once again easy to see the hype surrounding Acosta as the future at the shortstop position for the Texas Rangers.