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2015 MLB Mock Draft: Kyle Funkhouser to Texas Rangers in McDaniel mock

Kiley McDaniel has a mock draft up that has the Rangers taking Kyle Funkhouser at #4

By Adam J. Morris
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

2015 MLB Mock Draft: Kyle Funkhouser, Texas Ranger. Kiley McDaniel's "far too early 2015 MLB Mock Draft" has the Rangers taking Louisville right-handed pitcher Kyle Funkhouser with their first round pick, #4 overall, in this June's draft.

Earlier in the day, McDaniel had the Rangers selecting UC Santa Barbara right-hander Dillon Tate but he has updated his post to reflect a change at the top of the draft and now has the Rangers picking Funkhouser. It just goes to show you that even in the "too early" mock draft, the top of the 2015 draft is up in the air.

McDaniel noted this morning that the Diamondbacks appeared likely to go off-the-board to select a prep player who will take well below slot at #1, but changed that to reflect new info on what Arizona is thinking.

Tate, Florida high school shortstop Brendan Rodgers, and Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson are considered the consensus top three players available in this year's draft so the Rangers will need some help to land one of them. I suspect Texas would be happy to take any of those three players at that spot. So, should the Diamondbacks do something nutty at the top, Tate or one of the other consensus top three players could be in play for the Rangers at #4.

Tate is generally considered to be one of the top two or three prospects in the draft -- he was looked at as a borderline first rounder coming into the season due to being used as a closer, but he's now a starter who can throw in the mid-90s while also utilizing a slider that's seen as a potential out pitch at the major league level.  With the injuries to guys like Brady Aiken and Mike Matuella, Tate has emerged as the top pitching prospect in the draft.

As for the Kyle Funkhouser consolation prize, the right-hander from Louisville is considered one of the top college arms in the draft after Matuella's injury. McDaniel also says the Rangers have their eye on prep catcher Tyler Stephenson, OF Chad Smith, and, as always, OF Daz Cameron.