3 Rangers top prospects who are dangerously close to becoming busts

If you've ever seen the classic Kevin Costner movie Bull Durham, then you know just how rough and unglamorous the life of a minor-leaguer can be. Still, amid bus rides to small-town ballparks and very little money, these dreamers who want to prove they are worthy continue to plug away, hoping for a call-up and then a long major league career.

For the Texas Rangers, there are a handful of these ballplayers who are entering that very tenuous grey area in their career where they are becoming too good for Triple-A, but, for whatever reason, not able to stick with the big league club. The next stop for these three Rangers is the dreaded "Bust" category.

3 Rangers top prospects who are dangerously close to becoming busts

Justin Foscue - 2B/1B

Sitting in line behind a talent like Rangers' third baseman Josh Jung is not a great place to be. There isn't a ton of upward mobility, and Justin Foscue is beginning to figure that out. So the organization moved him over to play both first base and second base. He is what is commonly referred to as a "4-A player" in that he appears to have done all he can do at the minor league level, but is stuck in the purgatory between the minors and majors.

The Mississippi State product was drafted by the Rangers in 2021 and has shown some flashes that he could be the answer as a corner infielder, but at age 26, time is now working against him. Foscue has good hands and has consistently hit in the .280-300 range at Frisco and Round Rock. Still, seeing Alejandro Osuna get the nod over Foscue doesn't bode well.

Emiliano Teodo - RHP

The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic is heading in the wrong direction. Drafted in 2021, the right-hander is currently at Triple-A Round Rock and is sporting a bloated 8.10 ERA in 13.1 innings pitched. He has surrendered 4 homeruns and allowed 14 walks, which is a ratio of more than a walk per inning. He has spent time on the IL with arm fatigue as well.

Teodo started his minor league career as a promising starting pitcher. In 2023, his ledger of 5 wins, 3 losses with 84 Ks in 61 innings was enough to get him an invite to spring training and a Double-A Frisco designation to begin 2024. Since then, Teodo has struggled with control issues out of the bullpen. It's getting close to put-up-or-shut-up time as he enters his mid-20s. at Round Rock this year.

Winston Santos -RHP

It's been a rollercoaster ride for Winston Santos in his first four years in the Rangers' minor league system. Every time he gets past the A+ level Hickory to Double-A Frisco, he struggles and ends up back where he started. Like Teodo, Santos landed on the IL for a few weeks in April with a lower back issue.

The organization loves his live arm, and he has also shown flashes that he could eventually be a good major leaguer. At Frisco, he has maintained a terrific strikeout-per-inning ratio with excellent command. His K/BB ratio is tremendous, but the team has not been willing to move the 23-year-old past the Double-A level.