The best thing the Texas Rangers can do for their pitching prospects

In an unwinnable season, the best thing the Texas Rangers can do is properly develop their pitching and here’s their best way to go about that…

We all have to admit the Texas Rangers don’t have very realistic chances of making the postseason next season. And if we’re being completely honest (which we usually always are), they are long shots for the 2020 season as well.

This sentiment is nothing new. Nearly every Texas Rangers article written in the past six months have featured some element of the ‘rebuilding disclaimer’.  So with the focus on the future, it all comes down to the prospects.

The Texas Rangers are noticeably thin in on-the-cusp pitching talent. The top of their farm has been depleted over the years, making the few players they have all the more valuable. That’s why it’s imperative the Rangers do everything they can to ensure their success.

Last month, the Dallas Morning News highlighted a few pitching prospects fans should be excited about. Hans Crouse (No. 85) and Cole Winn (No. 89) both fall into MLB.com’s Top 100 list and both have legitimate “ace” potential.

Developing them needs to be the primary focus of the Texas Rangers organization. The same goes for the rest of the Rangers pitching prospects. Joe Palumbo, Taylor Hearn, and Jonathan Hernandez cannot be rushed. Expectations are still high for Yohander Mendez as well, and him being so close to the MLB level, puts his future in the most immediate of jeopardy.

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Whatever happens with the starting rotation, the Rangers need to keep their prospects best interests above that of the current team. If injuries befall the pitching staff (which it will), the Texas Rangers will be tempted to go to the well and elevate a prospect. Unless that prospect is champing at the bit and ready, they should resist the urge and find a Plan B (or C, D, W, Z, whatever). The point is, they must put their player development above all else.

Forward thinking is needed to accomplish this task. It’s safe to say every major league club suffers injuries to their rotation every season. While Jon Daniels should be commended for his ability to acquire starting pitching this winter, they still need more. Especially considering the injury history of these guys.

There’s still plenty of time until the start of the regular season to add more arms to the rotation. That should remain the front office’s top objective the next few weeks. Because no matter what happens, the Texas Rangers need to stick to the timelines they’ve set for their young pitching prospects because their development is the only way this team climbs back into relevance.

• Published on 02/16/2019 at 14:01 PM
• Last updated at 02/13/2019 at 07:56 AM