Rangers Select LHP From Florida High School With First Round Pick
By: Josh Clark
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DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - They say pitching wins championships. Well, the Rangers made it a priority again when they added two more young arms in the MLB Draft Thursday night.
With the 30th overall pick, Texas selected lefty Cole Ragans out of North Florida Christian High School.
This is the fourth straight year the Rangers have drafted a pitcher in the first round.
The previous three selections the club made were Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez (#23, 2013), Luis Ortiz (#30, 2014) and Dillon Tate (#4, 2015).
Ragans, a Florida State commit, was 9-2 with an 0.90 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 70 IP last season. The 18-year-old was named a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-American.
What exactly are the Rangers getting in Ragans? This is what Baseball America's scouting report says:
For the third straight year, North Florida Christian High, a small school in the state capital, has a top 100 prospect. In each of the last two years, it has been a Sands brother, first Carson (No. 53 in 2014) and then Cole (No. 79 in 2015). Carson signed out of high school as a fourth-round pick to the Cubs, while Cole went on to nearby Florida State. Ragans will follow in the footsteps of one of his former teammates, as he too is committed to the Seminoles. He stands out for his overall package and advanced understanding of his craft. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, reaching 93 mph at times. His curveball is his best offspeed offering and has above-average potential. He has worked to develop his changeup, which could be an average pitch in time. Listed at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Ragans is at his best when he uses his height to throw his fastball with a downhill plane and is spotting it low in the zone. He doesn't do that consistently yet, but his athleticism gives him a chance to improve his command as he matures.
In an interview with pinstriped prospects, Ragans said he feels like his game resembles Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels.
In addition to Ragans, Texas selected right-hander Alex Speas of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia.
The 18-year-old is committed to Auburn University and was also named a 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st team All-American.
He recently converted to pitching in the last year after playing outfield and first base.
According to ESPN's scouting report, Speas throws 96mph but is still very raw.
Here's what else they had to say about him:
Sushi-raw but absolutely oozing with athleticism and upside, Speas looks like he was built in a lab by scouting directors. A loose, athletic 6-foot-4 with loads of physical projection, Speas has a quick, athletic arm that fuels a mid-90s fastball. Its movement is inconsistent and not just in quality but in direction, as scouts have seen 96 with sink and also 92 with accidental natural cut.
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