4 under-the-radar names the Texas Rangers should take in the 2025 MLB Draft

The Texas Rangers only have a handful of days until the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft kicks off on July 13 and with that comes a lot of decisions.

While the Rangers' potential first-round pick has gone through a bevvy of predictions from the Nolan Writin' staff, the Rangers have plenty of picks throughout the draft's 20 rounds.

All that in mind, here are four potential under-the-radar options that the Rangers could grab at various points throughout the draft and feel good about their future.

5 out-of-the-box draft options for the Texas Rangers

Cody Bowker, RHP (Vanderbilt University)

The Rangers have a solid track record in recent years of drafting right-handed pitchers from Vanderbilt so it can be assumed that Bowker is on Chris Young's radar.

Ranked as the 186th best prospect in the draft by MLB, the six-foot-one pitcher from Maine appeared in 16 games for the Commodores, striking out 99 batters and only allowing 28 free passes. His did have a 4.68 ERA but had several premier outings this spring.

He features a fastball in the mid-90s that he is able to pound the zone with a get hitters to chase. The Rangers have the 146th pick in the fifth round, which would be a bit of a reach but not too bad.

Brandon Compton, OF (Arizona State University)

The 47th ranked prospect, which is early second-round, the Sun Devil outfielder has been a heck of a player for ASU during his two seasons in Tempe.

As a red-shirt freshman in 2024, Compton hit .354 with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and a .661 slugging percentage and was named the Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year. His most recent season wasn't as powerful with only nine homers but still was able to drive in 84 runs and 19 doubles.

Compton's MLB player comp is another former Sun Devil lefty in 12-year MLB veteran Kole Calhoun. He has the ability to provide a good amount of pop from the lefty batter's box but his defense leaves a lot to be determined.

Connor Essenburg, OF/LHP (Linclon Way West - IL)

An 18-year-old two-way player in high school, Essenbrug is currently committed to play college ball at the University of Kentucky.

Essenburg is ranked as the sixth-best lefty and 58th-best pitcher in the nation, according to Perfect Game. He can touch 95 mph from the mound and has potential to make real headway as a pitcher as he develops. But some scouts prefer him as a pitcher with a swing that has 20-homer capabilities.

As the 221st ranked prospect in the draft, Essenburg won't be until the 9th or 10th round and the Rangers pick at 235 and 265 in those rounds. If they did grab him it would take him a lot to pry him away from his Kentucky commitment.

Gavin Turley, OF (Oregon State University)

Following his senior season of high school, Turley was drafted in the 19th round of the 2022 draft by his hometown team Diamondbacks but chose to honor his commitment to Oregon State.

Now after three seasons in Corvallis, the right-handed hitting outfielder is leaving with a career .314 average, 53 homers, 189 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS. He goes into Monday's draft as the 78th ranked prospect.

It is probably even safe to assume he could go much earlier than that so if he indeed does fit the Rangers' future they might need to grab him as the 52nd overall pick in the second round.