Texas Rangers 2025 Mock Draft 2.0: Texas grabs prep shortstop to kick off draft

The MLB Draft is the event that every fan can root for and find hope that their team selects the next player that will have their name in the rafters.

Another part of draft season is the ramp up in mock drafts who each team can select. There are many players that fit the Chris Young mold but no telling of who is the one.

This exercise is envisioning Chris Young's selections purely based on what he tends to do across the past couple of years:

Texas Rangers Mock Draft 2.0:

Round 1, Pick 12: JoJo Parker SS, Purvis (MS)

If you go and read Parker's draft profile, he resembles so much of franchise cornerstone Corey Seager as a prospect. An electric bat, athletic profile/build, and questions of whether he will stick at shortstop.

Parker may not reach 12 but I am of the belief that a run on college pitching and confusing underslot picks are imminent. Parker is everything you could look for in a prep bat and to me is can't miss.

His incredibly powerful upbringing is another reason to root for him. If he ends up in Arlington, his bat will translate seamlessly with his strong frame and will be a franchise favorite in the future if selected.

Round 2, Pick 52: Cade Obermueller SP, University of Iowa

After being drafted in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers in 2024 as a sophomore, Obermueller decided to go back to school. He was a projectable player that could raise his stock with one more year.

His stock rose due to a rise in velocity, cutting the walks down, and an electric slider. The Rangers are not scared to pick a pitcher lacking a 3rd or 4th pitch and developing one in the system as well.

Chris Young obviously thinks highly of Obermueller. It was a late round flyer last year but could have laid the foundation for a selection in 2025.

Round 3, Pick 84: Jared Jones 1B, Louisiana State University

LSU is not where they are in 2025 without Jones' bat in the lineup. There is real power in there that has been tested and shown throughout multiple years. There is not much to say about Jones besides his star college status.

There is no telling where he will play defensively but the Rangers system can work magic on any player at this point. Jones is unlikely to go overslot in order to go pro with no reason to return to college. This pick screams Chris Young.

Round 4, Pick 115: Jared Spencer SP, University of Texas

This is undoubtedly a flyer. Spencer suffered a major injury in college and can go much higher but can't return to college. He has electrifying stuff and is a fantastic pitcher when healthy.

There are overslot picks in this mock draft that will force the Rangers to take risks. The risks start here. If you can get him healthy, you gain a risky pitching prospect that could project to be an ace. It might make more sense to take mid round risks at pitchers rather than reach early.

Round 5, Pick 146: Drew Faurot 2B, Florida State

Faurot is another in the long line of Link Jarrett middle infielders. He has a solid glove, solid arm, solid bat, and solid speed. The lack of an elite trait or size makes his ceiling capped but not low.

He is a switch hitter that can mash fastballs with high exit velocities. He is athletic enough with a good enough build to develop his tools to make him a jack of all trades. He also is likely to go underslot to capatalize on his season to avoid getting underpaid again following another year in college.