Players that have Gotten Buzz This Spring

The Rangers are eight games into spring training, and things have been encouraging. The overall team approach at the plate seems improved, and they’re scoring runs when they get runners in scoring position. They’re manufacturing runs however they can. Whether that be from sacrifice flies, groundouts, and timely hits. Last year, there were too many strikeouts and pop-ups with runners on, but that’s changed so far.

The pitching has also looked solid, and several young arms have caught attention. Here are a few players who have stood out this spring:

Carter Baumler-

Carter Baumler has looked very good so far this spring. If he continues to pitch the way he has, a spot on the Opening Day roster seems almost certain. Baumler has earned praise from team personnel, including manager Skip Schumaker. Although he hasn’t pitched above Double-A, Baumler clearly has the stuff to compete at the big league level. His pitches grade out well and show strong movement across the board. His fastball carries a 104 Stuff+ rating, with 19 inches of induced vertical break and roughly 8 inches of horizontal break. The pitch also has good ride and sits around 96 MPH, making it a legitimate swing-and-miss offering at the top of the zone. Baumler’s curveball is just as impressive. Skip Schumaker describes the pitch as a 12-6 curveball, which means it gets good depth. The curveball grades out at 110 Stuff+ and has about 14 inches of vertical break and 8 inches of horizontal break. The pitch also spins at 2500 RPMs. Of all the pitchers this spring, Baumler has impressed me the most. It appears Chris Young and the front office may have found another quality arm for next to nothing.

Gavin Collyer-

Gavin Collyer has garnered early buzz among coaches and team personnel since the first days of pitchers and catchers reporting, and for good reason. Collyer has excelled at striking out hitters throughout his minor league career, thanks to his legitimate stuff. However, he does have one area that needs improvement, his command. He throws the ball from a unique arm angle at 11 degrees, and pumps in a firm 96-99 MPH sinker. From that angle, it can easily be deceptive to hitters. Collyer led the minor leagues in Stuff+ in 2025, ahead of Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski and top Yankees pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange. He features a repertoire consisting of a cutter, sinker, four-seam fastball, and a sweeper. If Collyer can improve his command, he will find some innings in the MLB, because his stuff will undoubtedly play at the big league level.

Cam Cauley-

While I’m not sure if Cam Cauley has received widespread praise from coaches, his performance so far suggests he should be getting recognition. He has already earned praise from Cody Freeman, who gave Cauley a shoutout in an interview with Austin Beckman of Right On Rangers. Cody encouraged fans watching the interview to keep an eye on Cauley. I believe Cauley is one of the more underrated prospects in the Rangers’ farm system. He plays the game hard, is versatile defensively, and is one of the fastest players in the organization. Cauley isn't a huge power bat, but he definitely has 15 homer potential. However, he does have swing-and-miss in his game which I think hurts him a little. If he can reduce that aspect of his game he could easily find himself in the big leagues, and one of the better prospects in the Rangers system. Despite a strong spring performance, I still think it’s a long shot for Cauley to make the Opening Day roster. So far, he’s batting .316 with an .816 OPS and a 124 wRC+. That said, I believe we’ll see him in the majors at some point this season.

Robby Ahlstrom-

Robby Ahlstrom generated significant buzz last spring from team personnel and former pitching coach Mike Maddux. Skip Schumaker has also indicated that Ahlstrom is expected to help the Rangers at some point this season. The fastball-slider combo Ahlstrom features plays very well against left-handed hitters. The pitch repertoire consists of a slider, four-seam fastball, sinker, curveball, and change-up. The four-seamer has 16 inches of vertical break and good ride. Ahlstrom has shown the ability to generate strikeouts throughout his career in the minors. The key for him, like Gavin Collyer, is staying in the strike zone. He has a legitimate shot to crack the Opening Day bullpen, depending on whether Jacob Latz begins the season in the rotation or in relief. If Latz lands in the rotation, Ahlstrom could emerge as the Rangers’ third left-handed option out of the bullpen.

Ryan Lobus-

Ryan Lobus has also received praise from team personnel this spring. Skip Schumaker even said, “He is going to, in our opinion, help us out at some point this season,” which is encouraging to hear. I’ve believed in Lobus for the past two years. Back in December 2024, when I was evaluating several Rangers minor league pitchers' numbers and video, he immediately stood out. Throughout his minor league career, Lobus has consistently posted strong strikeout numbers and has yet to record a season with a K/9 below 10. Lobus has a unique arm angle that sits at 1 degree, so he's a true side arm guy. The slider is his best offering and the pitch that gets the swing and miss. His slider gets 18-20 inches of vertical break, which can be deceptive from his unique arm angle. Lobus's arsenal also includes a sinker, curveball, and a 4-seam. With his unique arm angle and the put away slider, Ryan Lobus can definitely find some innings in the MLB.

(All Stats from tjstats.ca and Fangraphs)