From college to pros: A look back at impressive collegiate careers by Rangers players

With the college baseball season kicking off across the country this weekend I thought it would be fun to revisit some legendary college performances from current members of the Texas Rangers.

This was a fun one to figure out because the truth of the matter is that a lot of players with the Rangers that were on a roll in college but I had to go with my gut.

Before we get to my list, I'd like to leave an honorable mention list: Cody Bradford, Jacob deGrom, Jack Leiter and Josh Smith.

Jon Gray, Oklahoma (2011-13)

Gray was a straight up menace to society in his two seasons at Oklahoma. After spending his first year at a junior college, Gray transferred to Oklahoma at the start of his sophomore season.

His junior season in 2013 was straight up domination. Gray finished the year 10-3 with a 1.64 ERA and 147 strikeouts 17 starts. During that season he was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week three times, a unanimous All-Big 12 selection and Big 12 Conference tournament Most Outstanding Player helping lead the Sooners to the program's first national title since 1997.

If all that wasn't enough he was also named the National Player of the Year and later selected third overall by the Colorado Rockies in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Josh Jung, Texas Tech (2017-19)

The Rangers third baseman appeared in nearly 100 games for the Texas Tech Red Raiders' baseball program.

As a freshman he started all 62 games at the hot corner, batting .306 with six home runs and 43 runs driven in and was named the Big 12 Conference's Freshman of the Year. Which for him was just the start of a legendary collegiate career.

Ahead of this final year at Texas Tech, Jung was considered to be one of the best collegiate players in Division I. That junior season he moved from third base to short but didn't let that stop him, being named the Co-Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.

Little did we know that he'd arguably be the second-best Red Raiders of the Jung family as his brother Jace, now with the Detroit Tigers, has given him a run for his money in that regard.

Wyatt Langford, Florida (2021-23)

Similarly to Sborz, Langford remained in his home state spending three seasons in Gainesville a Florida Gator.

During his time as a Gator he was every bit what we've come to know him as. A player that can not only hit for power but also has elite contact skills and can run as fast as The Flash (ok, maybe not that fast but still).

While at Florida he batted .363/.471/.746/1.217, with 47 home runs, 120 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and walked more than he strikeout. He currently holds the Gators single-season home run record (26), was a 2023 First Team All-American and helped lead the Gators to the 2023 College World Series finals.

Langford was drafted fourth overall by the Rangers in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Rangers and made his big league debut last season. He is widely considered to be one of the best young players in the game.

Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (2019-21)

Kuma Rocker was part of the impressive Vanderbilt Commodore 1-2 punch, alongside his current Rangers' teammate, Jack Leiter, Rocker is perhaps is the only pitcher of that era who could go toe-to-toe with Leiter. A Georgia native, Rocker was drafted out of high school in 2018 but chose to fulfill his college commitment to Vanderbilt.

He is best known for his performance in the Super-Regional round against Duke on June 8, 2019 where he became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter during the NCAA Division I baseball tournament, striking out 19 batters. Rocker was awarded with the 2019 Baseball America Freshman of the Year award.

In 2021, Rocker started 21 games as a junior striking out 179 batters in 122 innings of work finishing the year 14-4 with a 2.73 ERA and WHIP below 1 at 0.93.

Selected by the New York Mets as the tenth overall pick in 2021, the Mets ended up not offering him a contract after reviewing his medical information. Rocker spent a year in independent ball and got drafted the following year third overall by the Rangers.

Josh Sborz, Virginia (2013-15)

Sborz, a Virginia native, opted to stay close to home for college and attend the University of Virginia. In his three seasons a Hokie, Sobrz appeared in 80 games, recording a career 2.21 ERA 17 saves, 181 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP.

His defining moment came during the 2015 College World Series when he was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player in Virginia's run to the national championship. In the tournament he recorded three wins, a save and throw 13 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.

Following the championship run he was drafted 74th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers and in Feb. 2021 he was designated for assignment by the Dodgers and shortly after that traded to Texas.