2016 Texas Rangers draft preview: Forrest Whitley

2016 Texas Rangers draft preview:  With the MLB draft coming next week, I'm going to highlight a few of the players who I anticipate will be on the Rangers' radar at #30.  These aren't scouting reports or anything, but just capsule write-ups so you have some familiarity with guys who would appear to be in the mix for the Rangers to take with their first round pick.

This afternoon, we are looking at Forrest Whitley, a righthanded pitcher out of Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas.  Whitley, listed at 6'7", was just projected to go to the Rangers at #30 in Baseball America's most recent mock draft, so even though I expect him to be off the board by #30, it makes sense to take a look at him.  He's tall and, while he was listed at 250 lbs. last summer, he's dropped some weigh this year, according to BA.  Whitley throws in the low-90s (though can reach the mid-90s) and either a power curveball or a hard slider, depending on whose reports you read.

BA's top 500 has him at #18, though as mentioned above, their most recent mock draft has him dropping to the Rangers at #30.  Keith Law has Whitley at #15 on his draft board, though the ESPN writeup says there is "no projection" and "a fourth starter's arsenal," which doesn't generally fit what Texas looks for.  MLB Pipeline has Whitley ranked #12, saying he has "a complete three pitch arsenal."  The descriptions bring to mind Jake Thompson, the Texas high school pitcher who the Tigers drafted in the second round in 2012, and then sent to Texas in the Joakim Soria trade (before Texas sent him to Philly in the Cole Hamels trade).

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