Rangers drop devastating Sebastian Walcott injury news that wrecks start of spring training

Rangers' top prospect Sebastian Walcott expected to miss most or all of 2026 season due to elbow injury

Rangers fans received awful news regarding their favorite team's top prospect on Thursday morning. Shortstop/third baseman Sebastian Walcott, MLB Pipeline's No.7-ranked prospect, is going to undergo elbow surgery due to a torn UCL and will likely miss most or all of the 2026 season, according to The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. President of baseball operations Chris Young said he may get at-bats during the fall league or winter ball, per DLLS Sports' Jeff Wilson.

Walcott, who is Texas' only prospect ranked among MLB Pipeline's Top-100, could have been ready to make an impact as early as this upcoming season if he hadn't suffered the brutal injury. He is only 19 years old, 20 next month, but if the Rangers were needing an offensive boost late in the season or key infielders, such as the oft-injured Corey Seager, landed on the injured list, the Rangers likely would've called Walcott up if he was performing well in the minors.

Now, Rangers fans will have to wait until at least 2027 to see Texas' top prospect in the big leagues. And, the 2027 season may not even happen, with many around the league preparing for a possible lockout. If a lockout occurs, it'll be a long time before Walcott makes the jump to the majors.

The Rangers signed Walcott, Baseball America's No. 16-ranked prospect and Baseball Prospectus' No. 11, for $3.2 million in January 2023. He reached High-A as a 17-year-old in 2023 and was promoted to Double-A Frisco toward the end of the 2024 season. He spent the entire 2025 season with the RoughRiders, slashing .255/.355/.386 with 13 homers, 19 doubles, 59 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 124 games as the youngest batting qualifier in Double-A. Overall, he has posted a .258/.347/.427 slash line in 293 minor league games.

Walcott, a right-handed batter, has a quick swing and has an excellent 65 power grade per MLB Pipeline. Because of his quick swing, he tends to pull the ball when he makes contact.

Walcott, who stands at 6-foot-4, has an amazing 70-grade arm. However, he needs to improve his defense, as he tends to commit many errors. He'll likely be moved to third base or right field full-time at some point in his career. And while he stole a good number of bases last season, he is projected to be an average runner once he's fully developed.

Walcott has a ton of potential and should be a mainstay in the Rangers' lineup in the future. It's too bad his development will be stalled this year.