​The Texas Rangers will select 16th overall on Saturday in the MLB Draft, continuing a recent pattern of adding college players with their early picks. In Arlington, Gavin Fien represented a shift last year when the Rangers ended six straight years of choosing a college player with their first pick. They made Fien, a prep shortstop/third baseman, the No. 12 overall selection and gave him his first taste of professional baseball late last season with Low A Hickory. He got a full dose of pro ball in January after being traded to the Nationals in the MacKenzie Gore deal.
That does not rule out the possibility of the Rangers taking another prep player with their 16th pick on Saturday in the 2026 MLB Draft, but history suggests they may continue prioritizing college talents as they have in recent years. The club will have four picks on Saturday and 16 on Sunday, with a little over $10 million remaining in their bonus pool. The draft remains rich with talent, according to Rangers amateur scouting director Kip Fagg, who emphasized depth across both college and prep ranks. The objective is to draft and sign quality players across all 20 rounds, but he noted that the first round remains pivotal.
Over the past decade, eight of the Rangers’ first 10 picks have reached the majors, and six are currently on the active roster. On Thursday, for instance, 2020 first-rounder Justin Foscue hit a homer and drove in two runs; 2019 first-rounder Josh Jung doubled and scored; 2018 first-rounder Cole Winn delivered a crucial out in the ninth inning and earned the win; and 2023 first-rounder Wyatt Langford returned from the injured list to deliver a walk-off hit. “We’ve become a lot better at streamlining the process of selecting guys, and they’re showing up in the big leagues, which is kind of cool,” Fagg said.
In theory, college draftees can reach the majors more quickly. While the Rangers say they don’t draft for need, they will need to replace pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi in a few years. All teams aspire to draft and develop starting pitching. The Rangers’ scouting network spans the country, but history shows a preference for players from warm-weather, talent-rich southeastern regions. They also aren’t hesitant to take players who are injured or just coming off injuries. With the No. 16 pick, several scenarios are possible, and the Rangers may lean on what has worked over the past decade, particularly from 2019 to 2023, including Cole Ragans, who went 30th overall.
That pattern appears to align with the current mock drafts predicting where the Rangers will focus. Here are some players who could be on the Rangers’ radar. A Florida-based pitcher stands out: a 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander who can reach the upper 90s and spent the season in the Gators’ rotation. He mirrors the Rangers’ recent mold in acquiring big, power arms like A.J. Russell, their 2022 second-round pick, and represents the type of athlete who could be a fit for the organization at the 16th spot.