Texas Rangers

TRACK RECORD: Arihara was one of Japan’s top college pitchers at Waseda University and won the Pacific League rookie of the year award in 2015 pitching in the same Nippon Ham rotation as Shohei Ohtani. Arihara was more solid than spectacular over the next five seasons, including going 8-9, 3.46 in 2020. The Fighters posted him after the 2020 season and he signed with the Rangers for two years and $6.2 million.

SCOUTING REPORT: Arihara’s fastball velocity has dropped over the years from the mid 90s at his peak to 90-94, but he has the command and varied pitch mix to succeed even at his lower velocity. He shows average command on his worst days and plus command on his best, and fills the strike zone with five pitches. Arihara’s changeup and splitter are both above-average pitches and tunnel well off each other. His changeup moves late to his arm side and his splitter plunges with late downward movement. He mainly throws his changeup to lefties and his splitter to righties, but he can use either effectively in any situation. Arihara also has a curveball and slider that are both fringy. Arihara doesn't miss many bats, but he is durable and efficient.

THE FUTURE: Arihara projects as a potential back-of-the-rotation starter for the Rangers. He is 28 years old and still has a few years left in his prime.

TRACK RECORD: Lora was the top power hitter in the 2019 international signing class when he signed with the Rangers for $3.9 million. His pro debut was delayed when the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league season. Lora got on the field for instructional league after the season but was limited by a wrist injury.

SCOUTING REPORT: Those who worship exit velocity will go crazy for Lora, who produces readings of 115 mph. His batting practice sessions are comparable to those of the best power hitters in the game. His power is rooted in a good foundation, natural sequencing and plenty of leverage and torque. His massive size doesn't hurt, either, and the Rangers were encouraged by how well Lora took care of himself during the shutdown. While there was some concern Lora might grow too big and be limited to a designated hitter, the Rangers believe he can play right field. He's a below-average defender with below-average speed and will have to watch his weight. His arm strength is average, but accuracy needs work.

THE FUTURE: As long as his wrist is healthy, Lora should make his pro debut in 2021. He is likely to skip the Dominican Summer League and open in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Running: 30. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.

TRACK RECORD: Heim took a circuitous path to his major league debut in 2020. Drafted out of high school by the Orioles in 2013, he’s been traded twice: first by Baltimore to the Rays in 2016 for Steve Pearce, then a year later by the Rays to Oakland for Joey Wendle. Heim didn’t break camp with Oakland in 2020, but the A’s installed him as Sean Murphy’s backup midway through the season and kept him on their playoff roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: Heim is a strong defender with impressive receiving and blocking chops, especially considering his 6-foot-4 frame. He has a solid-average arm that plays up with his strong accuracy. Long branded a glove-first catcher, Heim’s bat has begun to catch up the last two seasons. He controls the strike zone as well as any player in the system and has begun to show moderate all-fields power to go along with his average hitting ability. Oakland challenged Heim prior to last season to play with more energy and assertiveness, and he responded by assuming more of a leadership role.

THE FUTURE: Heim should compete for a backup role again in 2021. Some in the A’s organization believe his ceiling is a second-division regular, but it will be tough for him to start in Oakland with Murphy entrenched behind the plate.

TRACK RECORD: Acquired as the player to be named later in the Keone Kela trade with the Pirates in 2018, Apostel joined catcher Sam Huff, shortstop Anderson Tejeda and lefthander John King as players who jumped from high Class A straight to the majors in 2020. He went 2-for-20 with nine strikeouts in his debut and was understandably not quite ready.

SCOUTING REPORT: Apostel is a large man with power in his bat, and the Rangers see some quality hitting tools, too. Apostel understands the strike zone and looks to do damage when the ball is in the zone, though he is much more productive against lefthanders than righties. His power is to all fields. The main question is where Apostel ends up on defense. He moves well at third base with quick reactions and good range and has a plus arm. A switch to first base could be in the works because of the presence of Josh Jung and lack of depth at first base in the organization. Apostel logged time at first against lefthanders in his debut.

THE FUTURE: Apostel will begin 2021 back in the minors. He may get regular at-bats in the majors depending on how incumbent first baseman Ronald Guzman produces.

TRACK RECORD: A converted outfielder who signed for just $10,000, Henriquez had a sterling debut in the Dominican Summer League before hitting a few bumps in an aggressive assignment to low Class A Hickory in 2019. His only 2020 action came during instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Henriquez might not look the part at 5-foot-10, but the Little Engine That Could stands out as a premium strike-thrower with the best delivery in the system. His fastball sits in the mid- 90s, but it tends to be flat and plays down from its raw velocity, so he has worked to try to get more vertical movement to his heater. Henriquez's real weapons are his plus slider and a changeup that has flashed plus. He has a knack for controlling his emotions and staying calm when trouble arises.

THE FUTURE: Henriquez will likely never be a 200-inning starting pitcher but he may be able to cover 150-180 innings. The biggest test will be to see if his stuff, namely his fastball, is good enough once he gets to Double-A.

TRACK RECORD: Wendzel won the Big-12 Conference co-player of the year award with Josh Jung in 2019. The Rangers drafted both when they selected Jung eighth overall and Wendzel 41st overall after the season. Wendzel got into only seven games after signing, but he spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and finished in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's instincts at the plate and defensive versatility stand out the most about him. He controls the strike zone and makes quality swing decisions, which results in hard contact. The Rangers are confident he will rap plenty of doubles and believe there are more homers in his bat than they did a year ago. His defense isn't an issue, other than finding him a spot. He can play second base, third base and shortstop at an average clip as well as across the outfield. He played some center at the alternate site. He has the plus arm to fit in multiple spots.

THE FUTURE: Wendzel's status as a polished college hitter should serve him well. He has a chance to move quickly alongside fellow top picks Jung and Justin Foscue.

TRACK RECORD: A native of Prosper, Texas, Walker was one of college baseball's top hitters at Oklahoma when the White Sox drafted him 41st overall in 2018. The Rangers acquired him for Nomar Mazara at the 2019 Winter Meetings. Walker joined the alternate training site in September and showed off an experienced, polished offensive game.

SCOUTING REPORT: Walker has a solid track record of hitting. He has an advanced approach and good plate discipline. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and hits the ball hard back up the middle and to right field. He has average power with enough natural lift in his swing to find gaps and clear fences. The power he has now is to his pull side. Though athletic enough to play center field, Walker projects as a solid right fielder. He's very confident, which has led some to see aloofness from time to time and questions about if he will bring his best every day.

THE FUTURE: Walker does a lot of things well, which makes the Rangers confident he will be a major league contributor sooner rather than later. He will likely open 2021 at Double A Frisco, only miles from his hometown.

TRACK RECORD: The Rangers shocked the industry when they drafted Carter with the 50th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a below-slot $1.25 million to forgo a Duke commitment. The Rangers believed the prep outfielder would have been a big riser had the high school season not been canceled. Carter made that belief look prescient with an impressive showing at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers see five-tool potential in Carter, who was only 17 when drafted. He already hits for power, something assisted by how well he commands the strike zone, and should only get stronger as he physically matures. Carter posted a .304/.467/.446 slash line at instructs with as many walks as strikeouts. The Rangers believe Carter can add another 25 pounds to a long-levered frame that already passes the eye test. Carter has above-average speed and the athletic ability to play center field, where he already projects as above-average.

THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send Carter to low Class A Hickory to start 2021. He could be a draft steal if he lives up to the expectations created at instructs.

TRACK RECORD: Several clubs considered Garcia the top catcher in the 2016 international class when the Rangers signed him for $800,000. Garcia has moved slowly and is yet to play above short-season ball, but the Rangers opted to add him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.

SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Garcia has a good idea of the strike zone for his age. That allows him to be a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter and fairly equal from both sides of the plate. Garcia isn't much of a power threat, and what power he does have is to the pull side. His bat is behind his defense, which is the best among catchers in the system and will be his ticket to the big leagues. He is an above-average receiver who moves well with quick footwork. He has an above-average, accurate arm that has allowed him to throw out 35 percent of attempted basestealers in his career.

THE FUTURE: Garcia will jump to full-season ball in 2021. He will try to distance himself from a pack of catchers system-wide and take the lead in the race to be Sam Huff's future backup.

TRACK RECORD: As an amateur in the Dominican Republic, Morrobel earned a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the country. He was the Rangers' top acquisition when the 2020-21 international signing period opened on Jan. 15.

SCOUTING REPORT: Morrobel has a lean, athletic build and innate barrel control from the left side. He has good bat speed and makes frequent contact against live pitching, squaring up good velocity with the ability to recognize spin well for his age. It's a high-contact approach geared to put the ball in play and spread the ball around the field. His gap power has started to trend up as he's gotten stronger and he has the physical projection to hit 20-plus home runs in the future, though right now it's more of a hit-over-power offensive game. Morrobel is athletic and a slightly above-average runner who could start in center field, though his body type suggests he will end up more physical and lose a step, which would shift him to a corner. He has at least a plus arm now that would fit in right field.

THE FUTURE: Morrobel earns high marks for his bat, but he’s still a teenager who needs to be tested against better competition. He will get his first taste of pro ball in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Rangers signed Vanasco for an above-slot $200,000 as a 15th-round pick in 2017 after he created some buzz during Florida prep showcases. He quickly impressed with a 2.38 ERA through his first three professional seasons and pitched well at the Rangers alternate training site in 2020, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament and had Tommy John surgery in September.

SCOUTING REPORT: Vanasco's fastball velocity jumped to 94-98 mph in 2019 and he maintained it into 2020 after an offseason focus on adding quality weight. Once he arrived at the alternate site, he showed an 82-86 mph power curveball that remains his best offspeed pitch and a potentially average slider at 89-91 mph. He started to show the feel for an average changeup, which clocked 88-90 mph. Vanasco has the potential for four quality pitches, but he has below-average control and still needs to learn how to pitch as opposed to just throw. That comes only through reps, which he won't get until he returns from surgery.

THE FUTURE: Vanasco will miss all of 2021 recovering from surgery. He was trending toward a midrotation starter, but now must wait to see how his stuff comes back when he returns.

TRACK RECORD: The Rangers drafted White in the second round in 2018 and gave him an above-slot $1.5 million to pass up a South Carolina commitment. To date, that is the most noteworthy part of his professional career. White has not pitched in an official game in three seasons since signing. The Rangers rested him after the draft and he blew out his elbow in 2019, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery. He did return to pitch in 2020 instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite the missed time, White has starter written all over him. He features a fourpitch mix topped by a fastball that sat 93-97 mph during instructs. His best offspeed pitch is a 78-80 mph curveball with plus potential, and he throws an 83-87 mph slider and 84-87 mph changeup that flash average. Best of all, he throws a lot of strikes. He was a terrific prep athlete who is learning to repeat his delivery. He also fields his position well and keeps runners close.

THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send White to low Class A Hickory to open 2021. As he continues to develop his body and gain reps, his ceiling could be a mid-rotation starter.

TRACK RECORD: After picking up Maximo Acosta and Luisangel Acuña in their previous two classes, the Rangers on Jan. 15 signed Cueva, another promising Venezuelan shortstop.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cueva is a high-contact hitter with a compact, balanced swing from the left side. It's a smooth swing with good hand-eye coordination, producing line drives around the field with gap power. Early on, Cueva looked like a potential offensive second baseman, but he has gone from below-average speed to a plus runner now, with a marked step up in his athleticism and defensive skills, giving him a significantly higher chance to be able to stay at shortstop now.

THE FUTURE: Cueva has been trending up over the past year, though he still needs to prove it against professional arms. He will get that chance for the first time in 2021, likely in the Dominican Summer League.

TRACK RECORD: Cody was a fast riser in the Rangers' system before an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery in 2018. He returned in 2020, pitched well at the alternate training site and earned his first major league callup in late August. After beginning in the bullpen, Cody moved into the Rangers rotation and posted a 1.96 ERA in five starts, albeit with too many walks.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cody mostly relies on his 94-97 mph fastball and a plus slider that is the best in the Rangers system. His 83-86 mph slider is his primary pitch and has elite vertical movement, which major league hitters never adjusted to were nearly helpless against. Cody also has a changeup that should be an average pitch and possibly more. Like many tall pitchers, the 6-foot-7 Cody has trouble controlling his long limbs and has firmly below-average control. Though he checked all the health boxes in 2020, the Rangers are concerned about how many innings he can handle in 2021.

THE FUTURE: Cody is going to pitch in the major leagues in 2021. How much he pitches, and in what role, will be determined by his health and how much he improves his control.

TRACK RECORD: An unheralded 25th-round high school pick in 2015, Evans broke out as one of the most dominant relievers in the minors in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, capped by an ERA of 0.96 in 30 appearances at Double-A. He seemed like an easy choice to be in the Rangers' bullpen early in 2020, but instead spent most of the season at the alternate training site and made four brief appearances in September.

SCOUTING REPORT: Evans was never far away from the major leagues in 2020 but needed to refine some things. He works with a 92-96 mph fastball with an elite spin rate and 22 inches of vertical movement, making it a plus-plus pitch that plays beyond its pure velocity. It's a nasty pitch at the top of the strike zone and one he can dominate with. The Rangers asked him to focus on improving his below-average control, adding depth to his 82-86 mph curveball and bettering his mental approach while at the alternate site. Those things had been remedied by the time he debuted and helped him retire 11 of the 14 batters he faced.

THE FUTURE: With the Rangers in rebuild mode, Evans is a strong candidate to make the team out of spring training. If his command remains dialed in, he could work in high-leverage situations for years to come.

TRACK RECORD: After making his major league debut in 2019, Palumbo made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career in 2020, though as a reliever. As has been the case in his past chances in the majors, it didn't last long because of a health issue.

SCOUTING REPORT: For every step forward Palumbo takes, he seems to take two back with health issues. He arrived for spring training in 2020 having gained weight and strength and was healthy for summer camp. However, a significant bout with ulcerative colitis ended his season after only two appearances. Palumbo has a 92-94 mph fastball and a 77-80 mph curveball that makes life hard on lefthanded hitters. His third pitch is an average changeup. But he hasn't put it all together in the majors, in part because of below-average control and largely due to injury and a lack of reps since having Tommy John surgery in 2017. Durability is a major concern as he enters his age-26 season.

THE FUTURE: If Palumbo can manage his ulcerative colitis and find a way to maintain his weight and strength, he will contribute in 2021. The stuff is there to be a quality pitcher, but health remains an issue.

TRACK RECORD: The 29th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Seise has played just 72 career games in three seasons due to an assortment shoulder injuries. He missed all of 2018 after having rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder and suffered a season-ending torn labrum in his left shoulder just 21 games into 2019. Seise returned healthy in 2020, and was one of the Rangers' best players in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Seise is a physical specimen with a major league body. It's that way because he has worked relentlessly to make sure his injury woes are a thing of the past. Physically, Seise can do everything on the field. He stings the ball hard and posted a top exit velocity of 111.1 mph at instructs, along with a .944 OPS. After three seasons with limited game action he does have holes pitchers can exploit, but he has the athleticism and intelligence to close them as he gets more reps. The Rangers see Seise as a shortstop with his plus speed, above-average hands and average arm. He ranges well to both sides and gets good reads off the bat.

THE FUTURE: The Rangers system is loaded with shortstops. If Seise can stay healthy, he could be the best of the bunch.

TRACK RECORD: One of three players acquired from the Dodgers in the Yu Darvish trade, Alexy made only five starts for low Class A Hickory in 2019 before he suffered a season-ending strained lat and received a platelet-rich plasma injection. He was not invited to the alternate training site in 2020, but showed enough during instructional league that the Rangers added him to the 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alexy's bread and butter is his 94-98 mph fastball with big vertical movement. When his curveball is right, it's a nasty pitch with big 12-to-6 break. The pitch doesn't always hold its shape, but it's his best secondary offering. Alexy also has a feel for a fringy but usable changeup. Whether he can improve his below-average control will make or break Alexy's bid to be a starter. He impressed the Rangers with the dedication he showed during the shutdown, staying in Arizona to work on the mechanical side of things and also gain a better understanding of how to pitch.

THE FUTURE: Alexy will continue starting for now. His future is likely as a reliever, where his power fastball-curveball combination could be devastating in short bursts.

TRACK RECORD: After starting his career at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, Weems transferred to Arizona and spent two seasons shuffling between the rotation and bullpen. The White Sox signed him for $10,000 as a senior sign and watched dominate out of the rotation at the Rookie levels. The Rangers acquired Weems with Dane Dunning for Lance Lynn after the 2020 season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Weems has taken a jump in pro ball and impressed evaluators with his performance at instructional league prior to the trade. His four-seam fastball sits 90-94 mph and has touched as high as 96. He pairs his heater with a potentially plus, low-80s curveball with 1-to-7 break as well as a mid-80s slider with slurvy shape. He also has a changeup and two-seamer. Weems' holds his velocity late into his outings and has improved his command after struggling with it in college.

THE FUTURE: Weems could be a quick mover through the lower levels of the system. He'll start for now, but questions about his command and consistency have most projecting him as a reliever long-term.

TRACK RECORD: The 26th overall pick in 2017, Thompson endured a 2019 to forget at high Class A Down East. A broken hamate bone knocked him out for two months, then he missed another month after running into an outfield wall and hit .178 in 57 games. He bounced back somewhat in the Arizona Fall League after the season and spent the final month of 2020 at the Rangers alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: A football standout in high school, Thompson is the best pure athlete in the Rangers system. He has big power, plus-plus speed and is a plus defender in center field. The question is if Thompson can hit. He is a well below-average hitter with way too many swings and misses and little consistency from at-bat to at-bat. He needs to clean up his swing path and is trying to do that by staying connected. The Rangers want Thompson's swing on a better plane and for it to stay in the zone longer to create more margin for error. The good news is that he wants to be great and is willing to work for it.

THE FUTURE: Thompson has ability, but he needs to make significant improvements as a hitter to project as even a major league reserve. He'll try to do that in 2021.