{"id":371632,"date":"2025-12-27T15:35:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T15:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/371632\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T15:35:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T15:35:04","slug":"rangers-top-prospect-to-watch-next-season-could-boost-infield-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/371632\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Top Prospect to Watch Next Season Could Boost Infield Depth"},"content":{"rendered":"

On paper, the Texas Rangers<\/a>\u2019 infield is pretty set except for second base, where there will be a competition to replace Marcus Semien. <\/p>\n

Will that competition involve Sebastian Walcott<\/a>? The Rangers have no intention of rushing their No. 1 prospect. But that doesn\u2019t mean he can\u2019t play his way into playing time in spring training. Given his body of work, it\u2019s possible. <\/p>\n

Recently, MLB.com<\/a> released its prospect to watch for each team in 2026 and Walcott was its unsurprising choice. He is the Rangers\u2019 No. 1 prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in the game, per MLB Pipeline. How quickly he contends for playing time will be entirely up to him and how well he plays. <\/p>\n

Sebastian Walcott\u2019s Rise<\/p>\n

MLB.com selected Walcott because of the steady progress he\u2019s made since signing a $3.2 million bonus deal out of The Bahamas in January of 2023. He\u2019s been one of their top prospects since then. He played in an MLB Futures Game in 2024 and was selected to play in the 2025 Arizona Fall League, though the Rangers shut him down after one game due to arm fatigue. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s made it this far and he hasn\u2019t yet turned 20 years old. He\u2019ll hit that benchmark on March 14, when he\u2019ll probably be in Surprise, Ariz., as a non-roster invite to Rangers Major League spring training. The expectation within the organization is that he won\u2019t be pushed into the role of being the starting second baseman, even though he\u2019s a natural middle infielder. Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran and Cody Freeman are the likely contenders to play second base.<\/p>\n

But there could be room for Walcott at some point in 2026, even though he has yet to play above Double-A Frisco. Last season he slashed .255\/.355\/.386 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI. He got in playing time at multiple positions, but he\u2019s listed as a shortstop. Because of his age and the veteran players the Rangers have in the middle infield, they\u2019ve had the luxury of not only allowing Walcott\u2019s development to be organic but to allow him a full season at Double-A. <\/p>\n

His 6-foot-4 frame screams potential power hitter at the Major League level. He\u2019s grown into it, having gone from seven home runs in 2023 to 11 home runs in 2024 to 13 last season. The RBI totals have gone up, too. He now has a better eye at the plate, as he walked 70 times while striking out 108 times, the narrowest spread of his career. <\/p>\n

Unless something drastic changes, the Rangers will start Walcott at Triple-A Round Rock. If he follows his 2025 path, he\u2019ll likely struggle to start the season and then pick up steam. Whether he gets to the Majors this coming season will come down to his consistency and whether the options at second base give the Rangers what they need. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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