Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in 2023.
But the outlook is bright for Texas pitching prospects these days. Jack Leiter (No. 3) and Kumar Rocker (No. 2/MLB No. 44), top-three-overall picks in the 2021 and 2022 Drafts, made their big league debuts last year. Winston Santos (No. 5) and Emiliano Teodo (No. 6), signed for $10,000 each out of the Dominican Republic in the same 2019-20 international class, successfully navigated Double-A and should arrive in Arlington in the near future, as should reliever Marc Church (No. 23), an 18th-round pick in '19.
Alejandro Rosario (No. 7), a fifth-rounder in 2023, dominated two Class A levels last year and some scouts believed he was the best mound prospect in the system before his elbow blew out last month and required Tommy John surgery. Strike throwers Mitch Bratt (No. 21) and Josh Stephan (No. 22) continued to thrive, while Paul Bonzagni (No. 24), Kolton Curtis (No. 29) and David Davalillo (No. 30) emerged at the lower levels last summer. Stephan and Curtis were non-drafted free agents, while Bonzagni was a 12th-rounder and Davalillo signed for $10,000 out of Venezeula.
"We're not all the way there yet but the narrative has been that we haven't been good at developing pitching," GM Ross Fenstermaker said. "Now we're having success and it's not just the pitchers we took up at the top of the Draft with Rocker and Leiter. It's also Rosario, [Jose] Corniell, Teodo, Santos, Church and more.
"It's scouting and player development working together, our medical and performance teams, the way we train our coaches to work with pitchers. We're doing things in a very different way than we did five or six years ago. It was very uncomfortable at first but now we're starting to see the fruits of our labor."
Rocker, who had shoulder surgery before joining the Rangers and Tommy John surgery shortly afterward, regained his wipeout mid-80s slider with two-plane depth last year while working at 96-97 mph and touching 100 with his fastball. Return to health keyed his success, while his former Vanderbilt teammate Leiter had to make adjustments after his mechanics, stuff and control all regressed during his first two years in pro ball.
Leiter won Triple-A Pacific Coast League pitcher of the year honors in 2024 after doing a better job of maintaining the timing with his delivery and providing more and higher quality strikes. He also works in the mid-90s and reaches triple digits with his fastball, while his upper-80s slider is the best of his four secondary offerings. He has added a promising kick-changeup in the low 90s that has the Rangers excited.
Leiter did get knocked around for an 8.83 ERA in five starts with Texas last year, underscoring his need to further improve his control and command.
"Jack has gone through a lot of adversity as pro and handled it well," farm director Josh Bonifay said. "He's outstanding with his fastball when he locates it at the top of the zone. He has outstanding breaking stuff, too. When he locates in the zone, he's very good."
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Santos parlayed some mechanical adjustments into improved fastball velocity, operating in the mid-90s and hitting 98 mph while tightening his mid-80s slider into a consistent plus pitch. Teodo has the best stuff in the system -- a 97-99 mph sinker that climbs to 102, an upper-80s slider that breaks straight down and a lively upper-80s changeup -- though evaluators are split on whether he'll wind up as a starter or reliever. Church is purely a bullpen option, albeit one with a mid-90s fastball, devastating mid-80s slider and a nasty 89-93 mph splitter that he unveiled in the Arizona Fall League last year.
"We're very excited about our pitching depth," Bonifay said. "But any time that you think that you have enough pitching, you don't. So we need to continue to work on developing pitchers."
Camp standout: Sebastian Walcott
Signed for $3.2 million out of the Bahamas in 2023, Walcott (No. 1/MLB No. 17) is one of the best and most exciting prospects in the Minors. The shortstop's raw power and arm strength both grade as at least plus-plus, and he batted .261/.342/.443 in High-A last year, leading the South Atlantic League in triples (nine), extra-base hits (50) and total bases (192) as its youngest regular (age 18).
Walcott won't turn 19 until Friday but impressed manager Bruce Bochy and his staff with his performance in big league camp. He went 4-for-9 with three doubles and a home run, soaked up plenty of advice from veteran Marcus Semien and looked like he belonged despite his youth.
"He acquitted himself quite well in this environment," Fenstermaker said. "Just watching him jog on the field the other day, he looked like a Major League player right now. The way he moved, his size, his physicality -- he carries himself very well.
"He's very, very mature. He's always been like that. He was raised so well. He has an element of polish you typically don't see at 18 or 19 years old."
Spring Breakout sleeper: David Davalillo
Davalillo comes from a baseball family, with a grandfather (Pompeyo) and great-uncle (Vic) who played in the Majors, a father (David) who reached Double-A and a younger brother (Gabriel) who signed with the Angels for $2 million in January. He's not very physical and he doesn't light up radar guns but he did lead the Minors with a 1.88 ERA between two Class A stops in 2024.
Davalillo's main weapon is a low-80s splitter that generated a 58 percent swing-and-miss rate last year. It's his lone pitch that grades as better than average, though the right-hander helps his cause by throwing strikes with five offerings, commanding his two- and four-seam fastballs well and sequencing his pitches masterfully.
"David has had a fantastic camp," Bonifay said. "His work ethic is so good. He committed to staying here in the offseason, working on his body, working on his arsenal, working on his strength. That splitter is filthy and I love the way he goes about his business. He has confidence on the mound."
Breakout potential: Pablo Guerrero
The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and the younger brother of All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pablo signed for $97,500 out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. He slashed .260/.343/.417 in his first two pro seasons and struggled after he moved to Single-A the day before he turned 18 last July. He spent the offseason improving his 6-foot-2 frame, leading to increased strength, exit velocities and athleticism.
"He's very physically strong," Bonifay said. "He changed his body and is hitting the ball extremely hard. He has discipline at the plate and when he makes impact, it's loud. He's turned himself into a good defensive first baseman and he's a leader in the clubhouse despite his age. He knows what it takes."
Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him @jimcallisMLB and @jimcallis.bsky.social. Listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.
RubberDucks Broadcasters Jim Clark & Marco LaNave to call Guardians Spring Training & Spring Breakout game
(AKRON, OHIO) March 5, 2025 – Before they call their sixth season together of Akron RubberDucks baseball, broadcasters Jim Clark and Marco LaNave will call a Cleveland Guardians Major League Spring Training game and the second annual Spring Breakout game featuring Guardians and Seattle Mariners prospects in Goodyear, Arizona. Clark,
RubberDucks announce 2025 Promotional Schedule
(AKRON, OHIO) February 12, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks announce the 2025 promotional schedule presented by MCA of Akron/UA Local 219, which once again features a theme for all 69 regular season home games. The RubberDucks open the 2025 season at Canal Park on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:35 p.m.
RubberDucks 2025 Single Game tickets are on sale now
(AKRON, OHIO) December 16, 2024 – Single game tickets are now on sale for all 69 Akron RubberDucks regular season home games from April 8-Sept. 7, 2025 at Canal Park. Fans can purchase single game tickets at akronrubberducks.com/tickets or by calling 855-97-QUACK. Single game ticket prices start as low as
RubberDucks to host job fairs and non-profit information sessions
(AKRON, OHIO) February 18, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks will host job fairs and non-profit information sessions to find the best of the best to help provide affordable family fun during the 2025 season. The job fairs will be held on Thursday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 11. Both events
RubberDucks team up with Swensons Drive-In Restaurants to become the Akron Galley Boys for two games this season
(AKRON, OHIO) February 26, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks and Swensons Drive-In Restaurants announce a partnership for the Akron Galley Boys nights on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28. “Much like two great middle infielders make an amazing double play tandem, we are excited to partner with Swensons for
Wackadoo! Bluey is heading to Canal Park on May 23 for real life
PURCHASE MEET-AND-GREET EXPERIENCE (AKRON, OHIO) March 12, 2025 – Bluey, everyone’s favorite heeler from the hit show “Bluey,” will be at Canal Park for the RubberDucks’ 7:05 p.m. game on Friday, May 23. While Bluey will be available throughout the game to meet as many fans as possible, the RubberDucks
RubberDucks to become Akron Cheese Salads on July 11
PURCHASE TICKET AND HAT PACKAGE (AKRON, OHIO) February 20, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks will rebrand to the Akron Cheese Salads for one night only on Friday, July 11 as part of the RubberDucks created Only in Akron series. Unique to Akron, the cheese salad is a side dish with
Hit the ice with Matt Doherty at Canal Park August 9th for the Hum Goalie Goalie VIP Package
Purchase VIP Package (AKRON, OHIO) February 3, 2025 – Matt Doherty, the actor best known for his role of Lester Averman in The Mighty Ducks franchise, will be at Canal Park on Saturday, August 9. Tickets are available now for a special pregame VIP meet-and-greet with Doherty that includes a
Strike the Heisman pose with Troy Smith at Canal Park September 6th for the Scarlet & Gray VIP Package
PURCHASE VIP PACKAGE (AKRON, OHIO) March 3, 2025 – Ohio State legend and 2006 Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith will be at Canal Park Saturday, September 6. Tickets are available now for a special pregame VIP meet-and-greet with Smith that includes a picnic and guaranteed Troy Smith bobblehead presented by
Guardians announce Greg DiCenzo to return to lead 2025 RubberDucks Field Staff
(AKRON, OHIO) January 30, 2025 – The Cleveland Guardians announced their 2025 Player Development staff assignments, returning seven members of the 2024 coaching staff to Akron. Greg DiCenzo returns for his second season as RubberDucks manager. Returning to the staff alongside DiCenzo from 2024 will be Jordan Becker as a
Quack Open a Book and Read presented by FirstEnergy to start on February 17
(AKRON, OHIO) February 10, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks will kick off their 2025 reading program: Quack Open a Book and Read presented by FirstEnergy on Feb. 17. Quack Open a Book and Read presented by FirstEnergy rewards students with a free ticket to a RubberDucks game for reading four
RubberDucks Announce Home Game Times for 2025 Season
View the schedule (AKRON, OHIO) October 14, 2024 – The Akron RubberDucks announce game times for all 69 home games of their 2025 Early Edition Schedule presented by Blind & Sons. The home opener will be on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:35 p.m. against the Altoona Curve. All weekday evening
RubberDucks to host Auditions for Public Address Announcers
SUBMIT AUDITIONS HERE (AKRON, OHIO) February 24, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks are launching a search for a new Public Address Announcer for the 2025 season. All interested announcers must send a digital submission via video of sample announcements no later than Monday, March 3rd. Virtual submissions are the ONLY
RubberDucks to host Auditions for National Anthem Performers
(AKRON, OHIO) January 27, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks are launching a search for National Anthem performers for the 2025 season. All interested singers, vocal groups (five singers or fewer), and musicians must send a digital submission via video of their acapella or unaccompanied performance of the National Anthem no
RubberDucks to become Akron Galley Boys on June 27 and 28
(AKRON, OHIO) January 21, 2025 – The Akron RubberDucks will rebrand to the Akron Galley Boys for two-nights only on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 as part of the RubberDucks created Only in Akron series. The term Galley Boys refers to the iconic hamburger cooks who worked in
RubberDucks Colt Boxler named SportsField Management magazine Rising Star award winner
(AKRON, OHIO) October 21, 2024 – The Akron RubberDucks assistant groundskeeper Colt Boxler was named a 2024 Rising Star Award winner by SportsField Management magazine. The SportsField Management magazine Rising Star Award highlights the best up-and-coming leaders in the sports field management industry. Rising Star Award winners were nominated by
RubberDucks to partner with Broadway in Akron presented by Playhouse Square
(AKRON, OHIO) November 8, 2024 – The Akron RubberDucks and Playhouse Square announce the beginning of a partnership to highlight Broadway in Akron’s amazing shows and Akron’s theater history. The Broadway in Akron Series is a collaboration between Playhouse Square and The University of Akron which brings touring Broadway shows
RubberDucks Parker Messick, Andrew Walters, Derrik Diaz and Mo Cuevas earn Eastern League Honors
(AKRON, OHIO) September 24, 2024 – Minor League Baseball announced Akron RubberDucks pitchers Parker Messick and Andrew Walters were named to the 2024 Eastern League All-Star team. Votes for the postseason All-Star team were cast by league managers.
RubberDucks Annual six-hour Suite Heart Special Returns Thursday Feb. 13
(AKRON, OHIO) February 6, 2025 – It is February in Akron, love is in the air and the fan-favorite Akron RubberDucks “Six-hour Suite Heart Special” returns Thursday, Feb. 13, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.! During the “Suite Heart Special,” individuals and groups qualify for a complimentary suite – based
Cade Smith to Headline January 24 Hot Stove Banquet benefiting West Akron Baseball League
Purchase tickets here (AKRON, OHIO) December 18, 2024 – The Akron RubberDucks announce Cade Smith will headline the 2025 RubberDucks Hot Stove Banquet on Friday, January 24, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Akron. This event will benefit the West Akron Baseball League. Cade Smith made his MLB debut for
RubberDucks announce the Return of 20 Days of Giving
20 Days of Giving Flyer (AKRON, OHIO) November 12, 2024 – The Akron RubberDucks announce the return of the annual 20 Days of Giving starting Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. The 20 Days of Giving are packed with unique, experience-based prizes only available during this once-a-year promotion. Some of this year’s
Habitat For Humanity 50/50 Raffle Winning Numbers
Past Winning Numbers for the Habitat For Humanity of Summit County Raffle at Canal Park: - September 17: A-8362958 - September 15: A-5218293 - September 14: A-1676991 - September 13: A-9939799 - September 12: A-8585551 - September 11: A-2288757 - September 10: A-2124200 - September 1: A-7740066 - August 31:
Sept. 20: Akron's playoff run ends with 2-1 loss in Erie
RubberDucks Game Recap | Box Score Erie SeaWolves (2-1) 2, Akron RubberDucks (1-2) 1 WP: Joel Peguero (1-0) LP: Trenton Denholm (0-1) Save: Tyler Owens (2) Summary The Akron RubberDucks 2024 season ends with a 2-1 loss to the Erie SeaWolves in a winner take all game three of the