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.

Texas Rangers 2022 Draft Prospects: C Kevin Parada

“But the Rangers have Sam Huff and Jonah Heim already.”

While the above is true, sometimes there are can’t-miss talents at positions of strength, and Kevin Parada of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is one of those.

With rumblings that he could go first overall in 2022 (precedent is there with Adley Rutschman to Baltimore in 2019), Parada may not be there for the Rangers by their selection, but if he is, that is certainly worth considering.

The Yellow Jacket starting backstop brings great defense behind the plate who can already call his own games. He also projects well as a hitter, making him the whole package and potentially the next great Georgia Tech catcher after highly regarded names like Joey Bart, Matt Wieters and Jason Varitek.

Could you imagine a battery of Jack Leiter and Kevin Parada? Holy moly. That’s what we would call must-see TV.

Texas Rangers’ 2022 Draft Prospects: INF Jace Jung

Jace Jung‘s older brother is former Texas Tech Red Raider Josh Jung, the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect who was selected with a first round pick in 2019, so Texas knows their way around the Jungs quite well.

Why not add the younger Jung should the opportunity present itself? Jace is plenty talented, demonstrating a plus bat and winning Big-12 Player of the Year, along with a solid glove at second base.

Jace is almost an exact replica of older brother Josh, with many of the same physical traits and playing style. Two Jungs roaming the infield in Arlington would surely be something to see.

Whether he’s there when the Texas Rangers will pick is a legitimate question, but I have to imagine they’ll have Jace Jung high on their board on draft day given how impressed they’ve been with Josh.

Texas Rangers’ 2022 Draft Prospects: SS Carter Young

There are some pundits who believe had Vandy’s Carter Young been eligible for the 2021 MLB Draft, he would’ve been the first shortstop off the board. In a class that had Marcelo Mayer, Kahlil Watson and Jordan Lawlar in it, that’s awfully high praise.

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Young was Jack Leiter’s teammate on the Commodores, so the two would obviously be familiar with each other. Also, Vanderbilt is a college baseball powerhouse.

He’s projected as a plus defender at shortstop with a good arm. With the bat, Young can hit switch, a huge asset to his game, and does well from both sides of the plate.

Young is also compared to former Vandy product and current Brave Dansby Swanson, who has turned into a productive regular for Atlanta. That’s about all you could ever hope for out of a draftee.

With the Rangers linked to shortstops in 2021, it’s likely they’ll explore the idea of drafting one in 2022. If Carter Young is there when they pick, he’ll surely be in consideration.

Texas Rangers 2022 Draft Prospects: SS Brooks Lee

As you might be able to gather from this slider, 2022’s draft class is loaded with shortstops, much like 2021’s class.

Brooks Lee is the last one though, we promise!

Lee, a collegiate shortstop at Cal Polytech, hails from the same state as oft-rumored 2021 draft prospect SS Marcelo Mayer.

The freshman infielder is a switch hitter with plus potential from both sides and is actually ranked as the top hitter in the 2021 draft class according to Baseball America, even ahead of the highly touted Elijah Green. That is some praise for Brooks Lee.

He can pick it with the glove too, so naturally he’s the full package as many of these other prospects seem to be.

Lee probably won’t be a Texas Ranger, as he’ll be selected before they have a chance to pick, but he’s still lots of fun to watch and name to keep track of.

Who do you want the Texas Rangers to select in the 2022 MLB Draft?