These Texas Rangers rookies are being noticed by MLB Pipeline

May 9, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Adolis Garcia (53) circles the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Adolis Garcia (53) circles the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

For all the talk about low expectations heading into the 2021 season, the Texas Rangers have gotten plenty of pleasant surprises this year.

Namely, the team has gotten standout production from some of their unheralded rookies. And when I say unheralded, none of these players were organizational top-30 or MLB top 100 prospects entering 2021.

This is a positive development for the Texas Rangers organization, which has had trouble grooming homegrown talents over the last few years, so getting recognition from MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis has to feel rewarding.

Callis lists one hitter (guess who?) and two pitchers to give the Rangers three representatives out of 10 total names on this hottest MLB rookie list.

These 3 Texas Rangers rookies are lighting it up and getting noticed by experts

Pretty cool, we’d say!

Here are the players mentioned, in case you might’ve been wondering:

Adolis Garcia

Surprise, surprise.  Not really, though.

“El Bombi” took the top spot on Callis’ list, to no Texas Rangers fans’ shock.

It’s about time the league took notice of Garcia’s incredible early-season production, particularly his nine home runs, 26 RBI’s, .333 OBP and .918 OPS in 106 at-bats to date.

His penchant for coming up clutch and his on-field energy are something to see, both with the glove and the bat.

The 28-year-old has become a force in the middle of the lineup and figures to remain so for the rest of the season. Garcia has inserted himself firmly in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting early on.

Hyeon-jong Yang

It’s been a fruitful early big league career for former KBO star Hyeon-jong Yang, who signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers this off-season.

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Yang, 33, didn’t make the team out of spring training as many assumed he would after his strong camp, losing out initially to Kolby Allard. He’s here now, though, and making an impact.

Across 12 innings pitched thus far, Yang sports a 2.25 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched, flashing the command and upside that made him a target for the Rangers out of Korea.

The lefty has already made a start this season and is more than capable of filling in should a spot starter be needed down the line.

Yang figures to play an important role as a swingman for the pitching staff, and he’s been a great addition to the roster.

Brett de Geus

A Rule 5 selection by the Rangers from the LA Dodgers organization this past off-season, de Geus got off to a rocky start in 2021 with an 8.10 ERA in his first eight appearances, but has since rattled off four scoreless outings to shave that ERA nearly in half, to 4.76.

de Geus must remain on the Texas Rangers’ roster all season as a Rule 5 selection, or else he will be returned to the Dodgers’ organization.

It’s easy to see why Callis included the righty on his hot rookies list with four scoreless outings in a row, even if the cumulative stats are underwhelming.

The 23-year-old should continue to be an important bullpen piece for the Rangers, especially over the long season.

Overall, it’s nice to see that these Texas Rangers rookies are getting the recognition they deserve. There’s much more talent where these players came from in what is regarded as a highly underrated farm system.

We can only hope that the sky is the limit!

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