Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Houston For Three Games July 12-14

[saddles]

More from Shawn McFarland:

Cook was one of the seven college players that the Rangers drafted on Monday. They’ve only picked one high schooler — infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, a fifth-round selection out of Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) who’s committed to N.C. State — through the draft’s first 10 rounds. Lewkowicz said that it “wasn’t a great high school class,” though the draft itself was “thick in the middle.”

In that thick middle was West Virginia right-handed pitcher David Hagaman, the Rangers’ fourth-round pick. He was one of four college pitchers that the Rangers drafted alongside Liberty left-hander Garrett Horn (sixth round), Arizona right-hander Anthony Susac (eighth round) and Northwood right-hander Jake Jekielek (10th round).

Hagaman started and pitched in relief for the Mountaineers this past spring and yielded a 5.91 ERA in 35 innings pitched before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Baseball America billed Hagaman as an arm that clubs may try as a starting pitcher given his three-pitch fastball-slider-changeup mix.

The Rangers are, indeed, one of those teams. Hagaman’s fastball, according to Baseball America, sits 93-94 mph but can touch 98 mph. His slider and changeup both run in the mid 80′s.

“We see him as a starter,” Lewkowicz said of the 6-foot-3 righty. “You never know in the end, but we feel like we’ve got a guy who was really coming into his own as a pitcher. He’s a really dynamic athlete on the mound, and to use our parlance, but [he’s] a special mover.”

 

[DT LUNA]

Pulling for Witt Jr since he is local Texas boy after Adolis busted out.

 

[saddles]

They need a hit by pitch derby for Josh to enter.

 

[saddles]

From Scott Lucas:

Tyler Mahle rehabbing in AZ tonight. 2.2, single, walk, 5 SO, no runs.

 

[saddles]

Day 1 Grade by Flo Baseball

Texas Rangers 2024 MLB Draft Grades: A​

The Rangers took Malcolm Moore in the first round and Moore had a bad season in 2024 but the 2023 campaign was really good. Can he stick at catcher is the big question here, but perhaps they drafted him with a plan of moving him to first and having him concentrate on hitting. But what makes this a great Day 1 for the Rangers is taking the CWS MVP in Dylan Dreiling at No. 65. Dreiling has power and could help the defending World Series Champions by next year.

Texas' Picks: ​

• 30. Texas Rangers: Malcolm Moore, C, Stanford Baseball
• 65. Texas Rangers: Dylan Dreiling, OF, Tennessee Baseball

​

 

[saddles]

1 Malcolm Moore
C, Stanford

2 Dylan Dreiling
OF, Tennessee

3 Casey Cook
OF, North Carolina

4 David Hagaman
P, West Virginia

5 Devin Fitz-Gerald
SS, Stoneman Douglas HS

6 Garrett Horn
P, Liberty University

7 Rafe Perich
3B, Lehigh

8 Anthony Susac
P, Arizona

9 Keith Jones II
OF, New Mexico State

10 Jake Jekielek
P, Northwood University

At the end of the day, I like the hitters we have chosen so far, with the exception of Fitz-Gerald. I would have still taken Sloan or White over Moore. The pitchers we have chosen so far are a mystery to me.

I kept thinking we were going to go under slot on all these guys and follow that up by taking someone who we had an agreement with, to pay them well over slot. That never materialized.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

More from Shawn McFarland:

Cook was one of the seven college players that the Rangers drafted on Monday. They’ve only picked one high schooler — infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, a fifth-round selection out of Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) who’s committed to N.C. State — through the draft’s first 10 rounds. Lewkowicz said that it “wasn’t a great high school class,” though the draft itself was “thick in the middle.”

In that thick middle was West Virginia right-handed pitcher David Hagaman, the Rangers’ fourth-round pick. He was one of four college pitchers that the Rangers drafted alongside Liberty left-hander Garrett Horn (sixth round), Arizona right-hander Anthony Susac (eighth round) and Northwood right-hander Jake Jekielek (10th round).

Hagaman started and pitched in relief for the Mountaineers this past spring and yielded a 5.91 ERA in 35 innings pitched before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Baseball America billed Hagaman as an arm that clubs may try as a starting pitcher given his three-pitch fastball-slider-changeup mix.

The Rangers are, indeed, one of those teams. Hagaman’s fastball, according to Baseball America, sits 93-94 mph but can touch 98 mph. His slider and changeup both run in the mid 80′s.

“We see him as a starter,” Lewkowicz said of the 6-foot-3 righty. “You never know in the end, but we feel like we’ve got a guy who was really coming into his own as a pitcher. He’s a really dynamic athlete on the mound, and to use our parlance, but [he’s] a special mover.”

I am sure we will turn Hagaman into a top tier pitcher. Yes, being sarcastic.

 

[scotsman#1948]

From Scott Lucas:

Tyler Mahle rehabbing in AZ tonight. 2.2, single, walk, 5 SO, no runs.

seems he was so dominate that he only threw 23 pitches to 10 batters and the Rangers decided to stop there

 

[scotsman#1948]

Yankees and Dodgers desperately want Garrett Crochet from the CWS and the White Sox are making it clear they want a huge return for him. hopefully he ends up with 1 of them and it cost them because he's scheduled to pitch the 2nd game of the 4-game series against us

 

[saddles]

From Evan Drellich:

Rob Manfred said it is possible that MLB would test the automated strike zone challenge system in spring training in 2025, which could lead to potential implementation in 2026. But it is not a guarantee they will move on that schedule, and he feels the spring test is important.

 

[Senator_fan]

From Evan Drellich:

Rob Manfred said it is possible that MLB would test the automated strike zone challenge system in spring training in 2025, which could lead to potential implementation in 2026. But it is not a guarantee they will move on that schedule, and he feels the spring test is important.

Part of the early retirement agreement made between MLB and Angel Hernández was that he would be designing the first year’s implementation of the automated strike zone challenge system so some pitches that are 3-6 inches out of the zone would be called strikes.

 

[Kelleyman]

This is from Jeff Wilson:

GM Chris Young says that Malcolm Moore will remain behind the plate despite some industry scouting reports that question his ability to stick at the position. #Rangers like his leadership and his bat.

Who knows if this just rhetoric
And other issue is the west coast t minus the desert in not batter friendly

I had hoped we get Janek per previous post but thought Moore might be the fallback

 

[saddles]

Who knows if this just rhetoric
And other issue is the west coast t minus the desert in not batter friendly

I had hoped we get Janek per previous post but thought Moore might be the fallback

If both Moore and Janek had been taken, do you think they would have taken who they thought was the third best catcher or reverted to a draft the best player available philosophy?

 

[saddles]

Rangers select Dalton Pence in the 11th, another reliever.

 

[saddles]

12 round pick

420

C

Josh Springer​

Corona

HOMETOWN: Corona, CA
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 205
BAT/THROW: R-R
COLLEGE COMMITMENT: Oregon
Springer is a natural hitter with a quiet, compact swing featuring heavy hands and huge rotational torque. He covers every quadrant in the zone, and has the maneuverability to battle off tough pitches. For now, it's mostly fringe-average power, but this is a good frame and scouts think he could change his approach a tick and lean into potentially solid power at the next level, maybe more. He possesses the hand and barrel speed necessary to get there. He's a much twitchier athlete than his exit velocity figures suggest, so as he ages and matures into his game process, Springer should see his output jump considerably. Springer is a strong athlete who's willing to dive onto balls in the dirt and sacrifice the body. He's a fringy catch-and-throw guy who relies on anticipation out of the crouch to post pop times. His arm strength will need to improve, though he'll barely be 18 years old on draft day. A real model darling. Teams will want to see whether he is capable of handling third base or the outfield as we approach the draft. If anyone is convinced of his athleticism on the infield, he's got a shot at going in the Top 3 rounds.

 

[saddles]

11th round pick

332

LHP

Dalton Pence​

North Carolina

HOMETOWN: Cherryville, NC
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 220
BAT/THROW: L-L
A big, strong, barrel-chested southpaw, Pence has been a steady force for the Tar Heels since arriving in 2021. An injury slowed him as a true freshman, but he's been building and building since. Pence has been up to 94, sitting 91-92 over extended outings. His best secondary is a turn-em-over changeup that might lack separation off the fastball, but does feature late, diving action to miss bats. Pence will need to develop a better secondary weapon as he continues to mature.

 

[saddles]

Aidan deakins in the 13th. He us another pitcher with an injury history. The Rangers seem fascinated with thise in this draft.

 

[saddles]

Ben Hartl taken in the 14th round. He is a college catcher who went to Kansas and hit well this year.

 

[saddles]

Brooks Fowler from Oral Roberts in the 15th. He is another college pitcher with a high ERA.

 

[saddles]

Eric Loomis is the 16th round pick. He checks both boxes. He is a relief pitcher and he has a very high ERA.