After being at Rangers camp for four days and taking in all of the baseball, I got a good look at several of the Rangers minor leaguers. After making this trip I am now intrigued about the talent our minor league system has. The farm system may not be flashy and oozing with talent, but there are a lot of guys that have some intriguing tools. If they can take the next step the Rangers could have a very fun farm system. Here are four Rangers prospects that caught my eye during my time in Surprise:
AJ Russell RHP-
AJ Russell was selected in the second round of the 2025 Draft by the Rangers. Watching him throw a bullpen and to hitters on Saturday got me excited about him. I definitely see why Kip Fagg was excited when they picked him in the draft. AJ’s fastball clearly earns the 70 grade it’s received in scouting reports. He completely overpowered Rangers #16 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline) Elorky Rodriguez in an at-bat in a backfield game. Pairing that fastball with his slider could be very fun to watch this season and in the future. It wouldn’t shock me if AJ Russell rises through the minor leagues quickly. The arm talent is clearly there and there is no question about it.
Seong-Jun Kim TWP-
Seong-Jun Kim was signed by the Rangers in March 2025 as a two-way player, after they missed out on Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. I happened to see him both hit and pitch. Chris Young also made an appearance to camp watching Kim throw to hitters on Saturday. He threw to a couple hitters, Andrew McCutchen being one of them. Kim did give up a hit to McCutchen, but overall I liked what I saw. Fastball looks firm and should grade around 55 out of 80. I also liked how he swung the bat in the cage, and in batting practice. Kim has a smooth swing that appears to generate solid exit velocity without selling out for power. Seong-Jun Kim will definitely need some time to develop, but I think he looks very solid for his age. I’m excited to see him grow and develop.
Jack Wheeler 3B-
Jack Wheeler was another 2025 draftee by the Rangers, he was selected in the 6th on an over-slot deal to shy him away from a commitment to Illinois. Wheeler has a big frame that generates some good power with a smooth right-handed swing. Seeing him take some cuts in the cages and in live at-bats, he definitely could produce 20-25 HRs at the big league level. I like the offensive upside that Wheeler has. Wheeler also possesses good athleticism. He played wide receiver and defensive back in football, and was a good basketball player in high school. In addition, scouting reports say Jack has a good arm that got to 92 MPH on the mound. That should do well over at Third base for him. Jack Wheeler is a guy I am intrigued to see grow over the next couple years.
Josh Owens TWP-
Josh Owens was also selected by the Rangers in the 2025 draft. He caught some eyes being drafted in the third round as a two-way player. I did not get a chance to see Owens on the mound, but the results in this first stint in pro ball on the mound were intriguing. Though Owens is listed at 6’3″ and 185 pounds, he has some muscle on him. Seeing him take some cuts he generates good exit velocity that I believe could grant him 50-55 grade power. On top of the solid power he has and the ability to pitch, Owens is also a fast runner. Scouting grades pre draft granted him a 70 grade run tool, so he’s a good athlete as well. Josh Owens is another guy that could be interesting to watch in the next couple years with the tools he possesses.