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. 14: UTIL Cam Cauley
Age: 23
Height/weight: 5-9, 170
B/T: R/R
Who he is: The Rangers drafted Cauley, a Houston-area native, in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2021 MLB draft and gave him a $1 million bonus to forgo his committment to Texas Tech. Cauley also played football at Barbers Hill High and starred at wide receiver before he focused exclusively on baseball. He was left off of the club’s 40-man roster last fall and was eligibile to be selected in the Rule 5 draft this winter. He went unpicked, though, and remained with the organization he’s already spent five years with.
Why he’s here: Cauley, out of any position player on this list, may be on the fastest track to the major leagues. His defensive abilities at shortstop and center field could play in the big leagues right now. His speed (27 stolen bases or more in each of the last four years) might be the best in the system. Last season, his second at Double-A Frisco, Cauley showcased an improved hit tool when he posted a career-best .253/.325/.448 slash line and 15 home runs for a second consecutive campaign. This winter, as a byproduct of home cooked meals and time spent Tomball-based Dynamic Sports Training, he’s added 15 pounds and believes it’ll allow him easier access to his power.
He posted an .828 OPS in 49 second-half games last year and cut his strikeout rate by nearly 5% from the previous season. His career 28.9% strikeout rate in 2,596 minor league plate appearances remains troublesome. Cauley still has “plenty of refinement to get the most out of his offensive potential,” per Baseball America, and will need to fare better against advanced fastballs if he wants to hack it at the major league level.
He’s opened eyes this spring, though, with a .344/.382/.594 slash line and a bevy of well-struck balls in Cactus League play.
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What’s his future: Cauley, barring unforseen circumstances, should debut with the Rangers at some point this season. He’s impressed manager Skip Schumker — who said earlier this spring that Cauley is “definitely making a name for himself” — in camp with those hard hits and defensive versatility.
It’s unfair to make direct comparisions, but, it’s not dissimilar to outfielder Alejandro Osuna last season. Osuna opened eyes in the spring, and when designated hitter Joc Pederson broke his hand on May 24, the young outfielder was promoted after a strong start at Triple-A Round Rock. Cauley could be on a similar track and should provide value as a utility player off of the bench. If he can round out his hit tool, and prove that his Cactus League performances isn’t just an exhibition epiphany, a larger role could one day await him.
Where he’ll start; MLB ETA; Triple-A Round Rock; 2026
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