This Texas Rangers 2021 Futures Game Prospect will make MLB debut

With the news of Jon Gray’s oblique strain, forcing him to the IL, the Texas Rangers are planning to reach into their deep talent well to give one of their promising pitching prospects a chance to shine.

That would be lefty Cole Ragans, MLB Pipeline’s 29th-ranked Rangers prospect and our 19th-ranked prospect.

Cole Ragans is getting called up to the Texas Rangers a year after his 2021 Futures Game appearance

Ragans, 24, is finally getting his big break after being drafted in the first round back in 2016. Injuries have hampered his progression, but the lefty finally got back on the map with his appearance in the 2021 All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field last summer.

This year, Ragans has been even better, pitching to a combined 3.04 ERA in 18 starts between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock. In those games, he’s pitched a total of 94.2 innings, striking out 113 batters while posting a reasonable 1.12 WHIP.

Ragans will be the latest of the Rangers pitching prospects to receive an opportunity to prove themselves at the big league level, following in the footsteps of names like Glenn Otto and A.J. Alexy. It’s notable that the 24-year-old will beat out fellow Cole, Cole Winn, a higher-ranked prospect, to the big leagues. Winn, of course, is struggling in Triple-A this year, and with the emergence of Ragans, there’s no need to rush the former, who can continue fine-tuning his game.

Few in the Texas Rangers’ minor league ranks have overcome as much adversity through their minor league journey as Cole Ragans, so we can’t think of someone more deserving of this break. We can only hope he’ll get an extended look at the big league level provided he pitches well, and what better way to kickstart your big league career than pitching in front of the home fans, who quite frankly, need any reason to feel better about this team right now.