:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55023731/682765022.0.jpg)
Texas Rangers draft preview: Sam Carlson.
The 2017 MLB draft is on June 12, 2017. The Texas Rangers have two first round picks this year — their own selection, and a compensatory pick for losing Ian Desmond -- and both are late in the first round, at #26 and #29.
In advance of the draft, I am going to offer capsule reports on some of the guys who the Rangers could take with their picks.
Today we are looking at Minnesota prep righthanded pitcher Sam Carlson.
Sam Carlson is a 6’4”, 205 lb. righthanded pitcher from Burnsville High School in Minnesota. Carlson is a guy who has moved up the draft boards quite a bit this season, due to his fastball moving up from the high-80s a year ago to the mid-90s now. Carlson also has a quality changeup, although his slider needs work. He’s currently listed at #15 on the BA top 200 draft prospect list and on Keith Law’s list.
Baseball America’s latest mock draft has Carlson going to the Cubs at #30, although they’ve previously mocked him to Texas. Keith Law’s latest mock has Carlson not going in the first 27 picks. Jonathan Mayo’s latest mock draft has Carlson going to Texas at #26.
Carlson has the build to be a starting pitcher, and the fastball/changeup combo gives him a solid pair of pitches to build on. Video of Carlson is below: