Top Texas Rangers prospects are getting close to the big leagues

Talk is cheap during a rebuild. All the hype surrounding top young players, prospects that can change the entire direction of an organization. But none of this really means anything if these players don’t develop the way they’re expected to. That’s why the Texas Rangers‘ ongoing rebuild took an important step Thursday when it was announced where some top prospects in the organization would begin 2022.

Among those assigned to their posts to begin the season include Jack Leiter, Josh H. Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Dustin Harris and others. Leiter and Smith, in particular, will start the 2022 season at the upper levels of the minors.

#Rangers top prospect Jack Leiter will make his professional debut at Double-A Frisco. The club announced the minor league break camp rosters this morning.

Also, Josh Smith will start the season at Triple-A Round Rock after logging only 102 at-bats at Double A last year.
— Chris Halicke (@ChrisHalicke) March 31, 2022

Prospect assignments in the Texas Rangers organization are proof that things are moving along in 2022

It’s extremely exciting to see that Leiter, the top pitching prospect in the organization, and Smith, one of the top position players, are on the verge of becoming big leaguers. It was anticipated that Leiter, a polished former college ace, would have a head start in his pro debut, and that comes to fruition by sending him to Double-A Frisco. As for Smith, his red-hot spring earned him a promotion to AAA right off the bat, and a stint in Arlington this summer certainly can’t be ruled out.

Dustin Harris, last season’s organizational minor league player of the year, will start 2022 at Double-A, a well-deserved promotion for him as he tackles the challenge of playing outfield.

While Josh Smith & Davis Wendzel will go to Triple-A to likely form the left side of that infield, Ezqueiel Duran will be at AA.

Dustin Harris, who played all 1B and 3B last year, will play the OF at AA
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 31, 2022

Class A Hickory is looking pretty stacked too, with multiple prominent names being assigned there to start the season, including Owen White, Ricky Vanasco, TK Roby, Aaron Zavala, Luisangel Acuna, Evan Carter and Trevor Hauver.

Maybe biggest surprise is that RHP Owen White, who dominated Arizona Fall League, will start the year at Class A Hickory. Not sure he will be there long. But even that rotation is deep

White, Vanasco, TK Roby, Mason Englert, Kevin Gowdy.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 31, 2022

INF Chris Seise is going to start the season at Class A with fell middle infielder Luisangel Acuña.

The outfield includes Evan Carter, Aaron Zavala and Trevor Hauver, all in our top 30.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) March 31, 2022

2022 is shaping up to be a significant year for the Texas Rangers’ minor league affiliates, as the farm system is looking as talented as its ever been. And if you ever needed proof that things are going the way they should be, and that it isn’t just about talk anymore, look no further than these minor league assignments.

The future is bright!

Prospect assignments in the Texas Rangers organization are proof that things are moving along in 2022

Schedule