Texas Rangers Prospects: The next Max Muncy in the making?

The Texas Rangers have plenty of first base depth in the minor league system, but Blaine Crim is an underdog with a chance to be someone great.

When the Texas Rangers drafted Blaine Crim in the 19th round of the 2019 draft, he was merely a college hitter who could be used as depth.

He quickly turned the heads of many scouts in the Rangers’ system when he turned his Gulf South Conference success into a professional dumby-thumping.

Blaine Crim spent four years at Mississippi College in the Division II ranks, and demolished baseballs over his time there.

Crim put up video game numbers for the Choctaws from 2016 to 2019, hitting a combined .350/.404/.585 with a .990 OPS.

Blaine Crim is a name to watch within the Texas Rangers’ minor league ranks.

He tore up the Division II level, and the Texas Rangers liked what they saw.

He did just the same in his debut season for the AZL Rangers and Spokane.

Crim outperformed many with a .348/.411/.543 slash line and had an OPS right above .950 (.954).

He added 77 hits, 17 doubles, eight home runs and 48 driven in over the course of 55 games at the lowest levels of the Rangers’ farm system.

He made a name for himself and ended up winning the Northwest League MVP in 2019.

Crim isn’t the biggest guy, standing at 5’11, which isn’t the ideal first baseman’s frame.

But, if he continues to crush professional pitching, he’ll surely continue his climb through the minor leagues.

Blaine Crim is also listed as a two-way player, a primary first and third baseman, but also a right-handed pitcher.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine him continuing the .900 OPS success throughout his entire career, but he’ll need to prove he can continue to do damage at every new level, especially if he wants to remain a two-way player.

Crim has the makings of a Max Muncy-type player, one who raked in college and finally figured everything out in the big leagues, but will have to continue to grind each at-bat to find himself moving up.

It may be an uphill battle for Crim, but he is an interesting prospect to keep and eye on and to learn his name.

The kid can flat out hit, and I expect to see him rise quickly through Hickory and into Frisco this coming season.