We finally have the Texas Rangers instructional league roster. We’ll take a closer look at each player on it. Initially there were reports that Hans Crouse was not it but Evan Grant of the Dalls Morning News tweeted that Crouse is on the roster.
Remember that a player who is on the 40-man roster is not able to participate in the Instructional League without permission. It seems the Rangers were able to get permission for a few of the their players – # 2 prospect Catcher Sam Huff, John King and right-hander Kyle Cody. * will indicate they are on the 40-man roster.
This is quite an extensive list. I noticed that Cole Uvila isn’t on the list. Uvila had been working out in Arizona in previous months.
Here is the Texas Rangers Instructional League Roster along with some of their stats from last year.
Pitchers
Josh Advocate
Age: 26 | RHP | Drafted: 20th Rd 2017
AJ Alexy
Age: 22 | RHP | Drafted: 11th Rd 2016 (Dodgers)
The Rangers recieved AJ Alexy, Willie Calhoun and Brendon Davis from the Dodgers in the Yu Darvish trade. AJ saw limited action in 2019 with the Down East Wood Ducks. He pitched in 5 games and finished with an 0-3 record with a 5.12 earned run average. He was shut down due to a lat injury. Alexy did pitch in the AFL where he went 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 8 innings.
Cody Bradford
Age: 22 | LHP | Drafted: 6th Rd 2019
Bradford pitched for the Baylor Bears in 2019 before he was drafted by the Rangers. He finished with a 4.91 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched.
Tim Brennan
Age: 23 | RHP | Drafted: 7th Rd 2018
Brennan pitched in Hickory and Down East last year. Between the two levels he compiled a 11-6 record with a 3.84 ERA. What is really impressive is his stinginess with issuing walks. He issued 14 walks in 124.1 innings pitched which averages to 1 walk per 9 innings.
Sean Chandler
Age: 23 | RHP | Drafted: 6th Rd 2018
Chandler pitched 10.2 innings with the Hickory Crawdads in 2019. His 5.91 was high but it was just a few bad outings that caused it to balloon. He walked 10 batters and struck out 17 in those limited innings.
Marc Church
Age: 19 | RHP | Draft: 18th Rd 2019
No stats from 2019.
Kyle Cody*
Age: 26 | RHP | Drafted: 6th Rd 2016
Kyle Cody made his MLB Debut this year and he was pretty impressive considering he’s spent the last two years rehabbing from Tommy John. He pitched 22.2 innings and ended with a 1-1 record, 1.59 ERA and rWAR of 0.9. Cody made the most of his time but walks were a bit of an issue with 5.2 walks per 9 innings. Expect him to start in the Rangers rotation in 2021.
Gavin Collyer
Age: 19 | RHP | Drafted: 12th Rd 2019
Collyer pitched 5 innings in the Arizona Rookie League and had a 10.80 ERA. He allowed 6 runs on 5 hits, including a home run. Walks were an issue but the sample size is so small that its not fair to judge on 5 innings.I odes..
*Update 10/10/2020
Per an article from Evan Grant, Hans Crouse is not in the Instructional League as he is attending to personal matters.
Hans Crouse
Age: 22 | RHP | Drafted: 2nd Rd 2017
Most Ranger fans know who Crouse is. He is currently ranked as the Rangers # 6 prospect. This holds true for every prospect but 2020 was going to be a big year for Crouse so this Instructional League will help with the lost development time.
In 2019 Crouse spent the season with the Hickory Crawdads where he went 6-1 with a 4.41 ERA. He pitched quite a few games with a bone spur in his throwing elbow and had surgery after the season to remove it.
Aidan Curry
Age: 18 | RHP | Undrafted Free Agent signed 2020
Curry was signed as an undrafted free agent this year and has no stats.
Destin Dotson
Age: 21 in November | LHP | Drafted: 12th Rd 2018
Pitched in the Arizona Rookie League and had a 2-3 record with a 2.29 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched. He walked 13 and struckout 41 for a 3.3 walks per 9 and 10.4 strikeouts per 9.
Mason Englert
Age: 21 in November| RHP | Drafted: 4th Rd 2018
Englert is another Ranger prospect that had Tommy John. His surgery was in April 2019.
Orceli Gomez
Age: 20 in November | RHP | Signed as Free Agent out of Venezuela
In 2019 he pitched in the Dominican Summer League and had a 5-3 record with a 2.50 esrned run average. In 50.1 innings he walked 11 batters and struck out 36.
Kelvin Gonzalez
Age: 22 | RHP | Recieved by trade from the Royals
Gonzalez spent 2019 in Hickory and compiled a 6-2 with a 1.99 earned run average in 45.1 innings. He issued 15 walks and struck out 58. He also pitched in the Dominican Winter League where he had a 4.32 ERA in 8.1 inningd.
Ronny Henriquez
Age: 20 | RHP | Signed in 2018 for $10,000 out of Bonao, Dominican Republic.
Henriquez spent 2019 in Hickory where he pitched 82 innings. He had a 4.50 earned run average, issued 27 walks and struckout 99. He had a 3.0 BB9 and a 10.9 SO9.
Leon Hunter
Age: 23 | RHP | Drafted: 35th Rd 2019
Hunter pitched 24.1 in the Arizona Rookie League and had a 2-1 record with a 1.48 ERA. He struck out 27 batters and only issued 3 walks. Hunter also pitched in Spokane where he pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 3.
Zak Kent
Age: 22 | RHP | Drafted: 9th Rd 2019
When Kent was drafted by the Rangers he had a 5-5 record pitching with the Virginia Military Institute. He had a 4.64 ERA, issued 30 walks and struckout 134 in 97 innings.
He pitched 1 inning with 2 strikeouts in the Arizona Rookie League and was then sent to Spokane where he pitched 18.1 innings and ended with a 5.40 ERA. He walked 7 and struck out 16.
John King*
Age: 26 | LHP | Drafted: 10th Rd 2017
King made his Major-League Debut this year. He had previously never played above the High-A level. With the Rangers he pitched 10.1 innings and had a 1-0 with a 6.10 ERA. He allowed 7 earned runs on 13 hits, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Nick Krauth
Age: 21 | RHP | Undrafted free agent signed 2020
Krauth signed as a free agent this year. He had a 4-0 record with a 0.36 ERA in 24.2 innings. He walked 9 and struck out 24 and had beaten Michigan two times in his four games.
Nick Lockhart
Age: 19 | RHP | Drafted: 11th Rd 2019
Lockhart pitched 6 innings in the Arizona Rookie League. He had a 4.50 ERA, issued 4 walks and struckout 9.
Dylan MacLean
Age: 18 | LHP | Drafted: 4th Rd 2020
MacLean was drafted this year from Central Catholic High School and signed for $1.2 million.
Seth Nordlin
Age: 23 | RHP | Drafted: 13th Rd 2017
Nordlin last saw game action in 2018 with Spokane where he had a 4-1 record with a 3.82 ERA. He had Tommy John Surgery in 2018 as well
Cole Ragans
Age: 22 | RHP | Drafted: 1st Rd 2016
In 2017, Ragans pitched in Spokane where he had a 3-2 record and a 3.61 ERA in 57.1 innings. He’s had two Tommy John surgeries and has had to rehab his way back.
Tekoah Roby
Age: 19 | RHP | Drafted: 3rd Rd 2020
Roby was ranked # 144 by MLB when the Rangers selected him at 86 in the 3rd round. Perfectgame.com has his fastball topping out at around 94.
Adrian Rodriguez
Age: 19 | RHP | Drafted: 39th Rd 2019
No stats from 2019. Perfectgame.com has his fastball topping out between 85-87 and the Curveball at 74 but this was in 2018.
Yerry Rodriguez
Age: soon to be 23 | RHP | Signed out of the Dominican Republic
Rodriguez spent 2019 with Hickory where he went 7-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 73.2 innings. He’s got good command of his pitches and will likley get moved up a level or two in 2021.
Luke Schiltz
Age: 20 | RHP | Drafted: 24th Rd 2019
Schiltz pitched in the Arizona Rookie League in 2019. He finished with a 1-0 record, 4.30 ERA, 6 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Connor Sechler
Age: 21 | RHP | Undrafted free agent
Sechler wss suspended by Missouri State for violating team rules. The Rangers were aware of the situation at the time of his signing. He pitched two years at Missouri State and also pitched in the Cape Cod Summer League. With Missouri State last year, he went 2-6 with a 4.76 ERA.
In the Cape Cod Summer league he went 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA, issued 9 walks and struck out 29 in 26 innings.
Florencio Serrano Jr
Age: 20 | RHP | Signed as a Free Agent in 2019 out of Mexico
Signed with the Rangers for a $850,000 signing bonus. He pitched in the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane last year and between the two pitched 34.2 innings and had a 3-3 record with a 6.49 ERA, 19 walks and struckout 33.
Justin Slaten
Age: 23 | RHP | Drafted: 3rd Rd 2019
Slaten pitched one inning in the Arizona Rookie League where he struck out one batter. Then he pitched 15.1 innings in Spokane. He had a 0-2 record with a 6.46 ERA, 7 walks and 21 strikeouts.
Wyatt Sparks
Age: 21 | RHP | Drafted: 23rd Rd 2018
Sparks pitched 3.1 innings and had a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Owen White
Age: 21 | RHP | Drafted: 2nd Rd 2018
White was another Rangers prospect that had Tommy John.
Cole Winn
Age: 21 in November | RHP | Drafted: 1st Rd 2018
Winn is the Rangers top-ranked pitcher at # 4. He pitched for the Hickory Crawdads last year and had a 4-4 record with a 4.46 ERA in 68.2 innings. Batters worked 39 walks against him and struck out 65 times.
His last few starts in August, he was able to string together some strong outings and batters hit .198/.292/.319.
Grant Wolfram
Age: 23 | LHP | Drafted: 18th Rd 2018
Had a 5-3 record with a 4.28 ERA in 69.1 innings in Hickory. He walked 30 and struckout 73.
Catchers
Randy Florentino
Age: 20 | Signed as international free agent July 3, 2017 | Bats: L | Throws: R
Played in the Arizona Rookie League and one game in Spokane. Between the two he slashed .243/.351/.326/.677 at the plated with 2 home runs and 21 RBI.
David Garcia
Age: 20 | Signed at the age of 16 out of Venezuela |Bats: S | Throws: R
Garcia spent 2019 with the Spokane Indians where he slashed a line of .277/.351/.435/.786 at the plate. All 5 of his home runs came from the left side of the plate.
Sam Huff *
Age: 22 | Drafted: 7th Rd 2016 | Bats: R Throws: R
Ranked as the Rangers # 2 prospect, Huff saw his Major-League Debut this year. He didn’t disappoint and seemed more relaxed in his last handful of games. He had at least 1 hit in his last 6 games with 3 being multi-hit games. Huff should be back in Arlington at some point in 2021.
Scott Kapers
Age: 24 in November | Drafted: 17th Rd 2018 Bats: R | Throws: R
Kapers played for the Westside Woolly Mammoths which is an Independent team. In 10 games he slashed .324/.378/.647/1.025 at the plate with 3 home runs and 6 RBI.
Efrenyer Narvaez
Age: 18 | signed as free agent July 25, 2018 Bats: R | Throws: R
Narvaez played in the Dominican Summer League and slashed .225/.386/.284/.671 at the plate. He played 33 games and had 16 RBI, worked more walks than he struckout 25/20.
Yohel Pozo
Age: 23 | Signed out of Venezuela | Bats: R Throws: R
His line in Down East .246/.274/.357/.631
Xavier Valentin
Age: 20 | Drafted: 19th Rd 2018 | Bats: L Throws: R
No stats from 2019 it seems due to injuries but in 2018 played in the Arizona Rookie League and slashed .149/.163/.340/.504 with 1 home run and 5 RBI.
Francisco Ventura
Age: 22 in November | signed out of Venezuela in July 2015 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Played in Spokane and hit .243/.341/.270/.611 with 2 RBI in 23 games.
Infielders
Maximo Acosta
Age: soon to be 18 | Signed out of Venezuela in 2019 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Listed as the Rangers #5 ranked prospect. He’s got multiple plus tools so there’s plenty of reason to be excited about this kid. Power hasn’t come yet but he’s got a quick and compact swing with the bat.
Luisangel Acuna
Age: 18 | International free agent signed in 2018 | Bats: R | Throws: R
The younger brother of Ronald Acuna hit an impressive .342/.438/.455/.893 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. It was his first taste of professional ball. He had more walks and strikeouts 34/26.
Sherten Apostel*
Age: 21 | Rec’d from the Kela trade | Bats: R Throws: R
Apostel is another player that made the jump to the Majors having never played above High-A ball. In his limited at bats (20) he had 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 9 times. He ended the season being placed on the 10-day IL with low back tightness.
Derwin Barreto
Age: 20 | signed as free agent July 2017 | Bats: S | Throws: R
Barreto played in the Arizona Rookie League and also with Spokane. Between the two he hit .251/.347/.374/.721 with 4 home runs and 26 RBI. He drew 27 walks and struckout 35 times.
Osleivis Basabe
Age: 20 | signed for $500,000 in 2017 out of Venezuela |Bats: R | Throws: R
In 2019, between the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane he hit .323/.352/.398/.750 with 32 RBI, 8 walks and 21 strikeouts.
Jayce Easley
Age: 21 | Drafted: 5th Rd 2018 | Bats: S | Throws: R
Easley played 4 games in Spokane and at the plate his line .000/.412/.000. He worked 7 walks which is how he’s got that high on-base and struck out 6 times.
Justin Foscue
Age: 21 | Drafted: 1st Rd 2020 | Bats: R Throws: R
In 16 games with Mississippi State Foscue hit .321/.464/.509/.973 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI. What’s impressive is the 15 walks he drew compared to his 3 strikeouts.
Cody Freeman
Age: 19 | Drafted: 4th Rd 2019 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Freeman played in the Arizona Rookie League hitting .233/.384/.283/.667 with 10 RBI. He is another player with more walks than strikeouts 26 BB/23 SO.
Josh Jung
Age: 22 | Drafted: 1st Rd 2019 | Bats: R Throws: R
The Rangers # 1 ranked prospect could realistically see time in Arlington in 2021. He really impressed at the alternate training site. Between the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane last year, he hit .316/.389/.443/.831 with 2 home runs and 28 RBI.
Keithron Moss
Age: 19 | Signed out of the Bahamas | Bats: S | Throws: R
Moss improved his batting line in 2019 over 2018. In the Arizona League he had a line of .308/.425/.442/.866 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI. He’s got some speed so there’s the potential for him to cause problems on the base paths for opposing teams.
Jonathan Ornelas
Age: 20 | Drafted: 3rd Rd 2018 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Ornelas played in Hickory in 2019 and batted .257/.333/.373/.706 with 6 home runs and 33 RBI. He drew 43 walks but struckout 103 times. He’s got some speed too though it is a tick below average according to Baseball America.
Keyber Rodriguez
Age: 20 in October | Signed out of Venezuela in 2018 | Bats: S | Throws: R
In the 2019 Arizona Rookie League he hit .262/.325/.470/.795 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI in 39 games.
Thomas Saggese
Age: 18 | Drafted: 5th Rd 2020 | Bats: R Throws: R
Saggese batted .440 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI, .500 OBP with a 1.580 OPS.
Chris Seise
Age: 21 | Drafted: 1st Rd 2017 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Chris Seise has been hampered with injuries to each of his shoulders. He missed all of 2018 due to a shoulder injury. He played 21 games for Hickory until early May this year, when he had another shoulder injury. In those 21 games he hit .241/.272/.356/.628 with 6 RBI.
Curtis Terry
Age: 24 | Drafted: 13th Rd 2015 Bats: R Throws: R
Terry was named the Texas Rangers Minor-league playerof the year in 2019 and it was well deserved. He spent time in Hickory and Down East with a line .293/.362/.537/.899 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI. It’s clear that Curtis Terry has power.
Davis Wendzel
Age: 23 | Drafted: 1st Rd 2019 | Bats: R | Throws: R
Between the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane Wendzel hit .316/.458/.526/985 with 1 home run and 2 RBI. The Rangers had him playing some at the shortstop position in the Rangers futures camp.
Outfielders
Miguel Aparicio
Age: 21 | Signed out of Venezuela July 2, 2015 Bats: L | Throws: L
Aparicio played the whole season in Hickory hitting .251/.297/.431/.728 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI. He’s got all the tools.
Zion Bannister
Age: 19 | Signed out of the Bahamas | Bats: S | Throws: R
Bannister played in both the Arizona Rookie League and .273/.333/.318/.652 with one RBI over 6 games.
Evan Carter
Age: 18 | Drafted: 2nd Rd 2020 | Bats: L | Throws: R
Drafted this year so there are no stats.
Heriberto Hernandez
Age: 20 | signed out of the Dominican Republic | Bats: R | Throws: R
Hernandez has not been kind to pitchers in his first couple of years as a professional and as a Rangers fan, I’m on board. Between the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane last season he hit .345/.436/.635/1.071 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI.
Bayron Lora
Age: 18 | signed out of the Dominican Republic August 25, 2019 | Bats: R | Throws: R
There is buzz around Lora, not just from Rangers fans but for any baseball card collectors, Lora has a auto card (2020 Bowman Chrome) out right now but it’ll set you back quite a bit. Be on the lookout as he’s got plenty of potential to hit baseballs a far distance.
Julio Pablo Martinez
Age: 24 | Signed for $2.8 million as a Free Agent after defecting from Cuba | Bats: L | Throws: L
Martinez spent time in Hickory and Down East in 2019. Between the two he hit .248/.317/.421/.737 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI. The Rangers want and need to push him to reach his potential.
Alexander Ovalles
Age: 20 | Signed out of the Dominican Republic | Bats: L | Throws: L
Between the Arizona Rookie League and Spokane he hit .293/.354/.488/.842 with 4 home runs and 33 RBI.
Marcus Smith
Age: 20 | Drafted: 3rd Rd 2019 by the Athletics Bats: L | Throws: L
Received from the Oakland Athletics as part of the Mike Minor trade. In the Arizona League he hit .361/.466/.443/.909 with 14 RBI, 20 walks and 29 strikeouts.
Bubba Thompson
Age: 22 | Drafted: 1st Rd 2017 | Bats: R Throws: R
Thompson is listed as the # 15 ranked prospect in the Rangers system. In 2019 he was listed as the # 5 ranked prospect. Performance and injuries have caused the drop. He had surgery to remove the hamate none last year so missed some of the season.
He played 57 games in Down East and hit .178/.261/.312/.573 with 5 home runs and 21 RBI along with 12 stolen bases. He also played in the Arizona Fall League and hit a much better line of .254/.337/.394/.732
Steele Walker
Age: 24 | Position: CF | Bats: L | Throws: L Rangers traded Nomar Mazara
Steele Walker, is from Prosper Texas and was recieved by the White Sox in the Nomar Mazara trade.
Games are scheduled to start October 5th and go through November 14th for the Rangers. Who are you most excited to see on the Texas Rangers Instructional League Roster 2020?
