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Beginning in 2011, I started doing capsule reports on possible Texas Ranger draft picks. No one I profiled in 2011 was actually taken by the Rangers that year, but I each of the last two years one of the players I profiled actually was picked (Nick Williams and Travis Demeritte).
This year, the Rangers don't have their own first round pick, having lost that for signing Shin-Soo Choo, but they have a supplemental first rounder (#30 overall) for losing Nelson Cruz. While just one high pick makes the draft a little less exciting, I think its still worth taking a look at some guys who may be options for Texas at #30. So in the next few weeks, I'll do little write-ups on some players who could end up being drafted by the Rangers.
This morning, I'm profiling Missouri high school outfielder, Monte Harrison.
Monte Harrison is a 6'2", 200 lb. righthanded hitting high school outfielder out of Missouri. I wasn't going to profile Harrison, because I think he'll be gone when the Rangers draft, but Baseball America said in their latest mock draft that "the Rangers' fondest hope is that Monte Harrison falls" to #30, so I figured I'd go ahead and write him up. Baseball America has him ranked #20 on their pre-draft rankings, and ESPN has him ranked at #18.
Harrison is described as the best athlete in the draft, and if he doesn't go the pro baseball route, he has a football scholarship to Nebraska. However, reports indicate he's thought to be signable if he goes in the first round. Harrison is the type of athlete the Rangers love, big, fast, with power and a big arm, and BA raves about his makeup, praising his charisma and leadership. The reason Harrison wouldn't go in the top half of the first round is that he's still pretty raw, and his hit tool still needs a lot of work, though ESPN praises his bat speed.
Monte Harrison video: