Friday on the Farm: Rangers’ 2019 second-rounder nearing return after missing past two seasons
(Rangers Today/Jeff Wilson)
Anyone who has followed the Texas Rangers closely enough for long enough might be inclined to think that the team not having a second-round draft pick this year isn’t the worst thing.
The second round has been a draft wasteland, with only three second-rounders since 2008 (Robbie Ross, 2008; Nick Williams, 2012; Hans Crouse, 2017) reaching the majors. Only one of those (Ross) played with the Rangers.
They are surrendering their 2022 second-rounder as draft pick compensation for signing free agent Marcus Semien
But there’s hope that recent second-rounders are about to buck the trend.
The one shining the brightest is Evan Carter, selected 50th overall in 2020 to a chorus of criticism from industry draft analysts who hadn’t done their homework. Right-hander Owen White (2018), outfielder Aaron Zavala (2021) and even the since-traded Crouse are showing that the Rangers might have gotten some second-rounders right.
Missing from the above group is 2019.
Ryan Garcia is that second-rounder, a right-hander from UCLA who was also selected 50th overall after the Rangers had picked Josh Jung (eighth) and Davis Wendzel (41st) in the first round and supplemental first round. They have reached Triple A in their careers.
Garcia, a right-hander, hasn’t pitched since the summer he was drafted.
That’s about to change.
