RHP Josh Stephan has been the star of the show so far in the AFL this year. Stephan is on the road to recovery and wants to show the Rangers or any team willing to take him in the Rule Five Draft. He’s tossed a league-best 12 and 2/3 frames while having a microscopic 0.71 ERA in those innings of work. He’s not gonna light up the radar gun with his 92-94 heater and sinker, but makes up for it with his command of the plate starting with his windup that allows him to have the focus and command needed. His best pitch is his slider which tops out at 85 and has been showcasing it this fall while making up for lost time and innings while getting ready and healthy for 2025 and beyond.
1B Max Acosta has been another Ranger impressing at the AFL with a .290 average and an OPS of .872. Acosta has 6 XBH and 10 RBI in the 11 games played picking up right where he left off in Frisco to end the season. The Shifty 21-year-old has really opened some eyes by mixing his contact ability with impressive speed for a first baseman swiping at least 26 bags each of the last 3 seasons. Acosta is looking to further his progression in hopes of making it to Round Rock and eventually Arlington.
Texas Rangers Milb Player of the Year Alejandro Osuna has seamlessly picked up right where he left off the 2024 season. Osuna has once again showcased his full-range hitting .318 with a 1.000 OPS, and just like his Frisco teammate Acosta, he has 6 XBH and 10 RBI in his 13 games played. Osuna is slated to have another great year after his breakout year in 2024 where he added some pop to his swing hitting 9 more homers than he did in the previous year. The 22-year-old has become a quick riser and aims to be a name we hear frequently and often in the forthcoming years going through the system and hopefully have his name announced by Chuck Morgan in Arlington.
Other Rangers on the AFL Roster include 3B Cody Freeman who’s hitting .265 with 4 RBI in his 42 plate appearances. Spring standout RHP Marc Church has thrown one scoreless frame in the one game he’s worked. LHP Avery Weems has pitched in 4 games and has allowed 1 run over the 4 and a third frame he’s pitched this fall. Along with RHP Skylar Hayes and Leandro Lopez have given up a combined 12 runs in their combined 13 innings pitched so far and will surely look to get better as the league carries on through November 14th and the Championship the 2 folllowing nights.
You can check out the AFL on MLB.com and live stream the games along with scheduling information about watching the Suprise Saguaros this fall.
