Why Texas Rangers won't draft a first round pitcher in the 2025 MLB Draft?

The Texas Rangers have made a habit of drafting pitchers in the first round of the annual Major League Baseball Draft over the last 15 years but this summer things will be different

Since 2010, Texas has selected a pitcher in the first round nine times, most recently, selecting Vanderbilt pitchers Jack Leiter (2021) and Kumar Rocker (2022) in back-to-back years. Other pitchers include Luke Jackson (2010), Dillon Tate (2015), Cole Ragans (2016) and Cole Winn (2018).

But under the Chris Young era, it's really only been a pitcher if the situations are direly calling for it. This year it's not necessary and here's why.

Why the Rangers won't draft a pitcher in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft?

The answer to this questions is simple. The Texas Rangers don't need to reach for a pitcher in the first round. If you want to dig deeper into it, the talent elsewhere throughout the field is too rich to focus soleley on pitching.

Texas currently has the No. 12 pick and based off MLB's prospect rankings there's no legit options when their pick comes around. The four best arms in the draft (Seth Hernandez, Kade Anderson, Jamie Arnold and Liam Doyle) will be long gone and I venture to guess the next 2-3 will be as well.

The Rangers also do not need a pitcher, at least not more than other vital positions on the diamond. The rotation and bullpen have enough young pitchers to supplement them into a pitching staff of veteran experienced arms ready to compete for the organization's second championship.

Who are the Rangers projected to draft?

By this time of the year, there are several mock drafts out there and they all differ in their opinions. MLB Pipeline has the Rangers drafting Georgia high school shortstop Daniel Piece, ESPN has Texas taking a different high schol shortstop but other iterations of drafts have them dipping into the collegiate ranks as well.

When we look at draft board rankings, two notable college names stick out. One is Wake Forest's shortstop Marek Houston, who started his career with the Demon Deacons as a contact hitter started developing his power this season.

The other name is Texas A&M University's outfielder Jace LaViolettte. The 21-year-old is easily on the NCAA's top power bats and ended with 68 career home runs.

But the decision solely relies on the Rangers and while there are good pitching on the draft board. Texas will be safer going with a proven collegiate position player.