Texas Rangers: Jud Fabian could be a name to watch on draft day

The 2021 MLB Draft is loaded with great college talent, and Jud Fabian is one of the best bats out of the bunch.

The Texas Rangers have a multitude of options waiting for them with the second overall pick, but this college outfielder may peak their interest the most.

Jud Fabian could be considered one of the most complete players in this years draft.

He doesn’t excel in any one area, but from an outsider’s standpoint, it is very hard to find holes in his game.

Jud Fabian could be a name to watch on draft day for the Texas Rangers.

Fabian is also one of the brightest kids in the draft, as he decided to graduate from Trinity Catholic High School in Florida early and later attend the University of Florida.

The Ocala, FL native pulled his name from the MLB Draft in 2019, opting to go the collegiate route, but easily could have been a first-round talent then, as well.

One month after he left high school, he made his first start for the Gators and lead off against Marshall University.

He had just turned 18-years old and went two-for-five with a run driven in during his SEC debut.

What a way to be welcomed to college.

At such a young age, he obviously had his ups and downs against higher velocities and breaking balls far superior to any he faced in high school, but after hitting two homers against Yale, he finally began to figure things out.

He would play 54 games for Florida that season, hitting .232/.353/.411 with seven homers for the Gators. He also put up a 14.2% walk rate against the rest of the SEC, which is unheard of.

After the season ended, Fabian would play in the Cape Cod League and further assert his authority there. Once again, he was one of the youngest players in the 500-player pool.

https://twitter.com/GatorsBB/status/1231417445295906816?s=20

He had 24 starts for the Bourne Braves, hitting an impressive .290/.350/.500 slash and six long balls.

There were only four players in the entire league with a better OPS than Fabian that season.

He played in all 17 games for the Florida Gators in 2020, even during a shortened campaign, and crushed again to the tune of a .294/.407/.603 slash line with five home runs.

He also had a walk percentage sitting at 16% and cut his strikeouts by 23% from 2019 to 2020.

If Kumar Rocker wasn’t in this draft, there could be an argument made that Jud Fabian could be the best player in the country.

https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1356391885007450113?s=20

The Texas Rangers could select a hitter with the No. 2 pick, and Fabian has all the tools.

Major League Baseball has him ranked 8th overall in their 2021 Prospect Rankings.

He grades out with a 50 hit tool, 60 power, 55 run tool and 50 arm and fielding. He sits at a 55 overall by MLB.com’s standards.

He projects a lot like Mitch Haniger, with a very similar swing mechanics, his ability to draw walks, the raw power, as well as the penchant for swinging and missing that comes with that profile.

I believe he could be a potential .270-.280 hitter with average to above-average power.

The lefty-throwing, right-handed batter has a unique skill set that the Texas Rangers would love to have in their system if Fabian piques their interest at No. 2