T.R.’s Memoirs: Injuries, busts and traded players found throughout Rangers’ less-than-stellar draft history

Editor’s note: T.R. Sullivan covered the Texas Rangers over 32 years for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and MLB.com, and is sharing his “memoirs” with this newsletter. In the latest installment, Sullivan talks about what has been going on with the Rangers in past years with the MLB Draft.

The Rangers drafted high school shortstop Benji Gil with the 19th overall selection in the 1991 MLB Draft. Gil was tall, strong and athletic, with power at the plate and an above-average throwing arm.

The big question was if he would sign with the Rangers or honor a commitment to attend the University of Miami.

So, around noon on Monday, June 3, 1991, I called Gil’s home in Southern California hoping to talk to the lad about his future.