After securing a World Series victory, the Texas Rangers find themselves in a distinctly different draft position for the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft. General Manager Chris Young, expressing optimism in July, had hoped that their 2023 selection of outfielder Wyatt Langford at No. 4 overall would be the last time they would pick so high. His wish materialized as the Rangers are now slated to choose at the end of the first round, holding the No. 30 overall pick, a significant shift from their previous high draft position.
The last instance the Rangers found themselves picking at No. 30 was in 2017, when they selected shortstop Chris Seise from West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla. Seise, however, has yet to make an appearance in the Majors and is currently a free agent. The Rangers are undoubtedly hoping for better fortunes with their selection at No. 30 in the upcoming draft.
With the draft order solidified, Baseball America has already produced a mock draft for the first round, linking the Rangers to a promising college pitcher, Matt Ager, from UC Santa Barbara.
Ager, a right-hander, made a notable transition from the bullpen to the rotation last spring, showcasing his potential as a starter. In the previous season, he demonstrated his effectiveness with a 3.12 ERA over 15 starts and 92 1/3 innings. Notably, his 3.50 FIP ranked as the fifth-best in the country among qualified pitchers. Ager’s impressive stats are attributed to a remarkable 30.3% strikeout rate and a 6.8% walk rate.
Ager’s pitching repertoire includes a low-90s fastball and a low-80s slider, and his performance has earned him recognition, being selected as a National College Baseball Writers Association All-America Third Team member, an American Baseball Coaches Association All-West Region Second Team member, an All-Big West First Team member, and a USA Baseball Collegiate National Team participant. His track record, which includes a 5-4 record and starting every weekend series for the Gauchos, builds anticipation around the Rangers’ potential selection of a promising pitcher with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
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