Top 5 candidates for the Texas Rangers’ 2022 first round draft pick

5 candidates for the Texas Rangers’ first round selection in 2022

#3: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan High School (GA)

Son of former Texas Ranger Andruw Jones, Druw currently (at the time of writing this post on January 25, 2022) sits at number one on many top draft prospects lists for this year. His dad was a five-time All-Star and ten-time Gold Glove winner, but much like with Jace Jung, life is not about living up to your relatives – it’s about carving your own path and creating your own success, and Druw is certainly well on his way to doing just that in the Majors.

PROS: Defense, speed, five-tool potential

What pops out from Druw’s talent the most is his skill in the field – he may very well be the best defensive prospect in this entire class. He has a quick first step that gives him a lot of range as a center fielder, and he’s even been profiled as a possible future shortstop thanks to his versatility, but his arm and speed combination showcase him as a potential defensive star down the line.

It’s not just his glove that stands out, however. Druw Jones could very possibly be the best five-tool talent to emerge from this draft pool. His bat speed and extension in his swing are both very advanced for a hitter his age. He’s capable of beating out slow grounders thanks to his flashy speed. Scouts have raved about his raw power and athleticism. He can run, he can hit, he can field, and he has all five tools as high-ceiling aspects of his game.

CONS: A LOT of hype to live up to

Seriously, I think the only drawback to a player as talented as Jones is that he has massive, MASSIVE shoes to fill. Shaq size shoes. And I don’t just mean amounting to or eclipsing the resume of his father. Baseball Factory scouts have said that Druw is “instinctive and fast” and “[has] one of the highest ceiling[s] in the country”. Prospectslive.com describes him as having “superstar potential”. They say too much of anything will kill you, and hopefully, Jones can manage to temper expectations and develop into the five-tool player he’s capable of becoming. Look, if this is the worst thing to take away from a scouting profile as a player, that’s a pretty good spot to be in if you ask me.