SURPRISE, Ariz. — In late January, after the Texas Rangers swung a deal that sent significant prospect capital east 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. 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.
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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, we continue our daily countdown of The Dallas Morning News’ top 30 prospects.
No. 16: 3B Jack Wheeler
Texas Rangers minor league infielder Jack Wheeler participates in a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Surprise, Ariz.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
Age: 19
Height/weight: 6-5, 205 pounds
B/T: R/R
Who he is: The Rangers drafted Wheeler in the sixth round (175th overall) of last year’s draft. He was a three-sport athlete at Morris Community High (Ill.) but had signed to play baseball at Illinois before the Rangers selected him. He was a two-way player in high school, and reached 93-94 mph on the mound, but the Rangers chose to develop him exclusively as an infielder. He played summer ball for the Cangelosi Sparks, an Illinois-based program that also produced Rangers left-hander Jacob Latz.
Why he’s here: Here’s how Rangers amateur scouting director Kip Fagg described Wheeler after last year’s draft: “He’s a large man, there’s huge power, it’s some kind of makeup, some kind of kid.”
That should just about cover it.
Wheeler has real raw power with high school exit velocities to back it up. He’ll need to retain and refine what MLB Pipeline classifies as “good swing decisions” while he adds muscle to his frame to get the most out of it. He’s athletic enough to play third base at his size and has a strong arm to make plays across the diamond. That could translate well to a corner outfield spot if he’s forced off the position at any point.
What’s his future: Wheeler won’t turn 20 years old until this summer, has yet to play in a professional game and wasn’t exposed to incredibly advanced pitchers on the Illinois prep scene. Or, in other words, it may take time for Wheeler to adjust and put his tools to work. The Rangers believe his makeup and athletcism should allow him to adapt.
Where he’ll start; MLB ETA: Arizona Complex League; 2029
Rangers’ top 30 prospects
No. 30: RHP Mason McConnaughey
No. 29: OF Braylin Morel
No. 28: RHP Frandel Pineda
No. 27: LHP Josh Trentadue
No. 26: RHP Paul Bonzagni
No. 25: OF Maxton Martin
No. 24: LHP Ben Abeldt
No. 23: OF Paulino Santana
No. 22: LHP Dalton Pence
No. 21: RHP Izack Tiger
No. 20: OF Anthony Gutierrez
No. 19: RHP Jacob Johnson
No. 18: OF Paxton Kling
No. 17: RHP Emiliano Teodo
No. 16: 3B Jack Wheeler
Nos. 15-1: Coming soon…
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Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.