SURPRISE, Ariz. — In late January, after the Texas Rangers swung a deal that sent significant prospect capital east in order to improve the major league roster, general manager Ross Fenstermaker rationalized the club’s moves as “the price we pay in order to compete.”
Oh, yeah, they’ve paid a price.
The Rangers have dealt eight top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline’s evaluations, since last summer’s trade deadline. They shipped three to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly to bolster their rotation midseason and another five to the Washington Nationals for MacKenzie Gore last month to do the same thing.
That’s the cost of big league improvement. It’ll also ding the depth of a farm system. The Rangers have the No. 22 farm system per ESPN, the No. 24 farm system per Baseball America and the No. 25 farm system per USA TODAY.
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The success of the farm system, much like the major league roster, will be predicated on how a number of position player prospects respond to down seasons. Baseball America, which hasn’t ranked the club’s system this low since the 2021 season, said it “needs major rebounds from its near-proximity prospects to supplement the big league roster.”
Their collective progression will determine where the farm stands this time next year. Until then, though, it’s time to begin the daily countdown of The Dallas Morning News’ top 30 prospects.
No. 27: LHP Josh Trentadue
Age: 24
Height/weight: 6-2, 185
B/T: L/L
Who he is: The Rangers drafted Trentadue in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft out of Southern Idaho and signed him to a $125,000 bonus. Trentadue, a native of Richmond, Va., took a circuitous route to the professional ranks and started his collegiate career at Division III Southern Virginia. He was a second-team NJCAA All-American in his junior season after he led the nation with 16.01 strikeouts per nine innings.
SURPRISE, AZ – FEBRUARY 17: Josh Trentadue #90 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the Texas Rangers photo day at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Norm Hall / MLB Photos via Getty Images
Why he’s here: At 24, Trentadue is one of the oldest prospects on this list, and he’ll have to perform against more mature competition this season to remain in this conversation. Trentadue “profiles as a No. 4 starter and perhaps more than that,” according to MLB Pipeline. He had a 1.15 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 54 ⅔ innings at High-A Hub City last season before he was promoted to Double-A Frisco. Thanks in part to added weight, his fastball now runs 94-96 mph after it sat in the high 80s in college, and has proven to be a swing-and-miss pitch.
What’s his future: The Rangers will continue to develop Trentadue as a starter, though he could end up as a multi-inning reliever. His strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate rose after he was promoted to Frisco last season, resulting in a 5.34 ERA in 22 ⅓ innings. He’ll need to prove that he can handle more advanced hitters and that his stuff can still miss bats at the level this season. Further development of his slider and changeup — which MLB Pipeline classified as “improved” last season — will allow him to be less predictable.
He’s among their best left-handed prospects regardless after the club sent their two best in Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt to the Diamondbacks last summer in the Kelly deal. Drake, like Trentadue, was a mid-to-late round draft choice who came from the junior college ranks. He was the club’s fifth-best prospect, per MLB Pipeline, before the trade. Trentadue could rise as well if he leaves no doubts in his first full season at the Double-A level.
Where he will start; MLB ETA; Double-A Frisco; 2027
Rangers’ top 30 prospects
No. 30: RHP Mason McConnaughey
No. 28: RHP Frandel Pineda
No. 27: LHP Josh Trentadue
Nos. 26-1: Coming soon…
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