Texas Rangers Draft: A way too early peek at 2022’s class

Let’s be honest: the MLB Draft is one of the few things in baseball these days giving the Texas Rangers much in the way of relevancy.

For a rebuilding team, the draft feels like the playoffs. A few days (besides perhaps the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game) where the attention and spotlight falls on you for a change. A high pick can mean the world to an organization.

This year, the Texas Rangers had the incredible fortune of being able to select Vanderbilt ace Jack Leiter with the second overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft. We can only hope they get that lucky again with another high pick in 2022.

With that in mind, here are a few names to watch over the next year or so as potential Texas Rangers draftees come 2022, in no particular order.

Texas Rangers 2022 Draft Prospects: OF Elijah Green

Unless the Rangers can land the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, don’t count on this scenario, but high school OF Elijah Green is widely projected as the top prospect in the class as of now.

Green, a football star as well, looks to be pursuing the baseball path as a pro and he will be coveted. He’s the most exciting high school outfielder since Angels prospect Jo Adell with expectations that he could be a plus hitter and defender with raw power. Green has some speed and a tremendous outfield arm too. He’s a five-tool player if we’ve ever seen one.

Again, don’t expect him to be a Ranger at this current juncture, but he’s worth watching from a talent standpoint alone. Texas could use some high ceiling outfielders in their system, though, and Green fits that mold.