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. 18: OF Paxton Kling
Texas Rangers minor league outfielder Paxton Kling runs between drills during a spring training workout at the team’s training facility on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Surprise, Ariz.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
Age: 22
Height/weight: 6-0, 210
B/T: R/R
Who he is: The Rangers drafted Kling in the seventh round (205th overall) of last year’s draft and gave him a $375,000 bonus. He was a highly-touted high school prospect and the state Gatorade Player of the Year out of Roaring Spring, Pa. He played two seasons at LSU before he transferred to Penn State for his junior season. He slashed .358/.632/.468 in his lone season with the Nittany Lions, clubbed 30 extra-base hits and stole 15 bases.
Why he’s here: Kling has been one of the buzzier hitters in camp this spring and may have some of the best power in the system. He tore up Low-A Hickory last season after he signed, with a .368/.395/.605 slash line in 10 games, before he was promoted to High-A Hub City. A nasty outfield collision with Dylan Dreiling on Sept. 4 ended his season early and limited him to only 11 games with the Spartanburgers.
He has a short, compact swing, a real ability to drive the ball and “25-homer upside” per MLB Pipeline, though he’ll need to prove that his hit tool is more than average. He lowered his strikeout percentage each year in college but will be tested against advanced professional arms that can spin the ball. The Rangers liked what they saw from Kling in center field last season and his above-average athleticism and speed should allow him to stick there.
Additionally, like many amateurs the Rangers now pursue, his makeup and “clubhouse vibes,” for lack of a better term, were a plus last year.
What’s his future: Kling has the potential to be a breakout bat in a system that’s relatively thin on them. His power is a real tool, and if he can develop into a more well-rounded hitter, he’ll be able to get the most out of it.
Where he’ll start/MLB ETA: High-A Hub City; 2028
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
Nos. 17-1: Coming soon …
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