The Texas Rangers farm system isn’t highly regarded by prospect publications, but there is an abundance of intriguing talent that is spread throughout the minor league system. From budding arm talent to developing bats and even potential two-way players, the system has more upside than it’s given credit for.
Caden Scarborough RHP-
Caden Scarborough was drafted in the sixth round in 2023 out of high school. The Dallas Baptist University commit signed with the Rangers for an over-slot deal worth $515,000. Scarborough burst onto the scene in 2025. He logged 88 innings in 2025 posting a 2.45 ERA while striking out 114 hitters. Scarborough is a 6’5″ right-hander that gets elite extension down the mound. He features a three pitch repertoire that consists of a four-seam fastball, slider, and change-up, hitters are easily fooled by his offerings. Scarborough could be a frontline starter for the Rangers in the near future, and really be a pillar in the rotation for years to come. I believe he will catch more steam around the league this year.
AJ Russell RHP-
AJ Russell was drafted in the second round of the 2025 draft and signed an over-slot deal worth $2.6 million. He attended the University of Tennessee where, as a freshman, he pitched out of the bullpen and posted a 0.98 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings. He was then shut down because of some elbow soreness, which eventually led to him getting Tommy John surgery. Russell sports a very elite fastball that touches 98, and according to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News has received some praise from Rangers outfielder Brandon Nimmo who called it “electric”. I saw it firsthand in Arizona, and it definitely lives to the hype it has gotten. With the elite fastball, Russell also throws a slider that is a plus pitch as well as a change-up. At the very least AJ Russell could end up being a high-leverage arm, but he definitely has potential as a starter. Regardless of where he eventually ends up he is an arm that gets you very excited.
Josh Owens TWP-
Josh Owens is the most interesting player in the Rangers farm system. With the ability to both pitch and hit, there will be a lot of eyes on him this year. He was selected in the third round of the draft back in July, and signed an over-slot deal worth $1.1 million to pull him away from a commitment to Georgia Southern. Owens sits in the mid 90’s on the mound, and can run it up to 97. Owens pairs his mid-90s fastball with a sweeping slider and an upper-80s change-up. On the position player side Owens is an athletic shortstop with a strong arm, and has a good left-handed stroke that generates good exit velocity.I saw him take batting practice in Surprise, and the swing passes the eye test. With the tools that Josh Owens possesses he is a player that fans could enjoy watching if he stays on course and develops into a good major league player.
Seong-Jun Kim TWP-
The Rangers signed Seong-jun Kim out of Korea as an international signing for $1.2 million. Like Owens, Kim is also a two-way player. The Rangers liked what he could do on both sides of the ball. On the mound Kim sits around 93 MPH and has a slider, curveball, and a splitter to give him a solid arsenal. His delivery passed the eye test for me. Kim was another arm I had the chance to watch in Arizona, Chris Young was also in attendance watching him closely. On the position player side, Kim has a smooth right-handed stroke that generates some power. On a scale of 20-80, I’d grade it a 50. Although he does have a smaller frame right now I think he can definitely grow more as he develops. Right now Kim is 6’0″ 185 and he is still 18 years old. He has time to bulk up and build muscle. With that he could possibly tap into more power, and increased velocity on the mound. I think Kim overall has a solid foundation and I am excited to see him grow and develop more.
Paxton Kling OF-
Paxton Kling was a part of the 2025 draft class where he was selected in the seventh round. He was also signed on an over-slot deal. Kling played two seasons at LSU before transferring to Penn State for his junior year, where he immediately made an impact. At Penn State, he hit .358 with a .632 slugging percentage, totaling 30 extra-base hits in his junior season. In his short pro ball debut, Kling tore up Low-A. In 10 games he had a slash line of .368/.395/.605. With the potential for 20-25 home runs and the athleticism to play centerfield, Kling has the upside to become a solid major leaguer. I have also heard good things about the kind of teammate he is, which is something the Rangers value highly when scouting players. Paxton Kling is poised for a breakout year in 2026.
Sign up for more like this.