Sebastian Walcott is a top prospect in baseball, but what's his fit with the Rangers?

Sebastian Walcott, 18, has quickly risen to future star status with the Texas Rangers. While we inch closer to the 2025 season, Walcott was ranked as the fourth best shortstop prospect in baseball, and 17th overall by MLB Pipeline.

The 6-foot-4 Bahamian shortstop was signed by the Rangers in January 2023 as an international free agent and made his professional debut that June. In 48 games, he put his well-rounded skill set on display but it wasn't until 2024 where his meteoric rise happened.

Walcott played 121 games for High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco and in that time showed off his quick hands, power, speed, arm and above average fielding. Overall he ended the season hitting .265 with 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 26 SBs and a .455 on-base percentage.

Walcott's upside is tremendous, with plus-level power, arm strength and speed. He has great bat-to-ball skills recording 121 hits, 9 triples and 34 doubles last season. However, he does have a tendency to be too aggressive at the plate striking out 132 times.

Where will the Texas Rangers use him on the field when he's ready for the big leagues?

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are manning the middle infield spots together with the major league club until further notice. Josh Jung is young and still on his rookie contract and is set to enter his first year of arbitration next year.

Fortunately there is time to figure that out, as he still needs at least another year in the minor leagues to help maximize his development and get consistent playing time. Where he ends up playing depends on several factors, including ability and timing.

How much will he develop at shortstop? What challenges will he face? Will there be any setbacks in the process? All of these questions are valid when thinking about a prospect, especially one who is only 18-years-old.

"While he needs to be more consistent with his hands, footwork and throwing accuracy, he does have smooth infield actions for his size and rocket arm," according to MLB's scouting report on Walcott. "If he winds up outgrowing shortstop or lacking dependability for the position, he'd profile well at third base or right field."

Then you start to wonder what the makeup of the Rangers roster will look like when he is ready to take that step into the big leagues.

Despite what some online chatter may be, Seager is still a plus fielder at his position. Then as long as Jung stays healthy he will continue to man the hot corner for Texas. What remains to be seen is Adolis Garcia's status post-2025. He will enter his final year of arbitration next winter and then free agency in 2027.

Garcia had a bad year in 2024, if his play doesn't improve, it could potentially lead to the front office having some tough decisions to make in a year or two.

Walcott's build and arm profile fit well as a right fielder and given that the the Rangers' foundation plays Walcott's two primary positions, shortstop and third base, it makes sense that right field is in his future.

But still all of this depends on how he develops at his position. Does he show massive improvement at short? Do the Rangers start playing him in the outfield and does he show flashes of brilliance in his new role?

At this point, one thing is for certain. By this time next year he will be the consensus top prospect in all of baseball with a bright future ahead.