Rangers hope lightning strikes twice with small-town Tennessee draft pick

They say that if you're good enough, no matter how remote or far away you play, the Major Leagues will find you.

The Rangers' scouting staff came calling and found Evan Carter, a gem in the tiny town of Elizabethton, Tennessee, as the 50th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Now, they have dipped into the small-town talent in the same area with the hope that they have captured lightning in a bottle a second time.

Josh Owens is an Evan Carter-type and he's from the same place

The Rangers used the 84th pick in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft to select Josh Owens, a unique two-way player from Providence Academy High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles due west of Carter's hometown of Elizabethton.

The area produced 2023 World Series hero and current centerfielder Evan Carter, and though Owens plays shortstop, he is projected to be the same line-drive type contact hitter at the plate. Owens, like Carter, is of slight build and relies on his superior hand-eye skills and quickness to succeed.

The Rangers were intrigued by the two-way player's upside

Josh Owens was the only two-way player drafted in the first three rounds of the draft and his unique skillset drew the attention of Rangers' scouts.

Eventually, those reports from the road made their way up the chain to Chris Young, and the organization decided to pull the trigger on the 18-year-old. He has been listed as a two-way player, but he will likely have to prove it again as he begins his major league journey. He is purported to be a more effective hitter at this point than an accomplished pitcher.

With all the hype and success surrounding two-way star Shohei Ohtani in LA these days, the Rangers are crossing their fingers and hoping that Owens can be similar to the Dodgers' phenomenon.

They are obviously not forecasting the same type of singular success as Ohtani, who is arguably the best player in the entire league. They would be thrilled if he develops into another Evan Carter caliber diamond in the rough. Nonetheless, the upside potential of Owens, and killing two birds with one stone, proved too much to pass up.