Will Texas Rangers pitching prospect, Brock Porter, start next season at Double-A Frisco?

The Texas Rangers have a pitching prospect who has made quite an impression after being drafted in the fourth round in the 2022 MLB Draft. Brock Porter is only 20 years-old and he is turning a bunch of heads with the Down East Wood Ducks this year. MLB pipeline has Porter ranked as the organizations 4th best prospect and 95 overall for all teams.

Even though it's his first full season pitching in the minor leagues, MLB analysts think that the Rangers might have a future starting pitcher down the road. Let's take a look and see if Porter is deserving of a promotion next season to Frisco.

Brock Porter: How are his stats looking this season?

Porter has put up some "video game-like" numbers this season. So far through 20 games started, he's pitched 65 1/3 innings and has struck out 91 batters. His WHIP is pretty impressive as well at 1.18. Not many 19-year-olds (the age he started the season) walk into an organization and put up stats like this.

He is sporting a 2.48 ERA on the year and has only allowed one home run as well. Porter has walked 41 and hit eight batters, which is something that he will no doubt be working on. While Porters numbers have been outstanding this season, they have come against low Single-A competition.

Brock Porter: Does he deserve a promotion next season to Double-A?

Porter does deserve to be promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders next season. It would do him some good to go up against tougher opponents so he can grow as a pitcher. If he were to remain at the Single-A level next season, I believe it would hurt his progress and development. If he were to struggle a bit at Frisco next season, they could always send him back down to work on his skills.

One factor that might be working against Porter is how Jack Leiter has developed. He started out his minor league career in Double-A and has had his fair share of struggles, although he is hopefully getting on the right track as of late. Porter isn't Leiter, but it will be interesting to see how the Rangers handle their next up and coming pitching prospect.

Workload management is a big deal for all young developing pitchers and Porter's workload this season is no exception. He has gone five innings one time with most of his outings being in the three to four inning range. His pitch count high for the season is 74, with most of his starts being in the 50-60ish range.

Brock Porter: Conclusion

The Rangers are lucky to have drafted Porter last year. He has made a huge impact in such a short time and the Rangers' front office has taken notice. I wouldn't be shocked to see him pitching in the major leagues by the age of 22. He's got the talent and stuff to pitch in the big leagues.

I think he is going to be fast-tracked through the minor leagues if he keeps striking out batters left and right. I'm pretty sure that the Rangers got a couple of calls about him at the trade deadline this season. Rangers General Manager Chris Young would be wise to shut down any trade proposal with him in it. Porter has a bright future in this organization and fans can't wait to see him develop into a starting pitcher for the Rangers.