​Today marks the kickoff of the 2026 MLB Draft, and here’s a comprehensive look at what the leading mock drafts are projecting for the Texas Rangers. Baseball America’s mock draft version 7.0 has the Rangers picking Stoneman Douglas High School left-hander Gio Rojas with the 16th overall selection. In BA’s notes, the “other names we’re hearing” include Tyler Bell, Liam Peterson, Justin Lebron, Hunter Dietz, and Aiden Robbins.
Fangraphs’ mock draft version 1.0 (with v2.0 expected to drop later today) projects the Rangers will choose University of Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz. This pairing places Dietz at the top of the Rangers’ radar, though Fangraphs also keeps Dietz in consideration alongside other names like Lebron and Grindlinger.
MLB Pipeline’s final mock draft features two Texas-area emphasis points: Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis both project California prep two-way standout Jared Grindlinger to the Rangers. Mayo notes that Texas’s preference leans toward Grindlinger as a hitter, suggesting the Rangers value his offensive upside in addition to his pitching.
Keith Law’s final mock draft has the Rangers selecting Ole Miss right-hander Taylor Rabe. Law’s projection also leaves room for other familiar names in Texas’s mix, listing Grindlinger, Lebron, and Dietz as possibilities in the conversation for their first-round pick.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel foresees the Rangers selecting Florida Gators right-hander Liam Peterson with their first-round pick, while Dietz, Cameron Flukey, and Mason Edwards appear as alternate targets in his scenarios. McDaniel also envisions Aiden Robbins slipping to Texas in the second round, illustrating how multiple mock drafts place a variety of Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss, California, and local prep talents in the mix for the Rangers’ Day 1 selection.
Taken together, the consensus across these prominent outlets is that Texas has a few clear themes in play: a preference for tall, projectable arms from collegiate programs (like Dietz and Peterson), compelling prep arms with upside (such as Grindlinger or Rabe), and intriguing high-upside bats who can contribute on multiple fronts (including Lebron, Bell, and Robbins). The Rangers’ first-round strategy appears to balance immediate pitching upside with long-term development potential, while still considering players who can contribute offensively as two-way talents or hitters with potential for development into impactful pitchers.
For fans tracking the 2026 draft, these projections illustrate a busy, talent-rich early round for Texas, with a slate of plausible targets spanning prep right-handers, college arms, and multi-positional high-upside players. As the draft unfolds and the official selections come in, these scenarios will either crystallize into a clear plan or give way to new possibilities as teams negotiate on bonus slots, signability, and organizational depth.