Texas Rangers select Bubba Thompson #26, Chris Seise #29, Hans Crouse #66

Texas Rangers draft: With the 26th pick of the MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers selected Bubba Thompson, a high school outfielder (and quarterback) from Alabama.

Thompson seemed like too obvious of a pick for the Rangers...toolsy, projectable, athletic, questions about the bat, but if he hits, he could be a stud. Similar to Lewis Brinson, the Rangers’ first round pick in 2012.

We wrote up Thompson here.

With the #29 pick, the Rangers selected Florida high school shortstop Chris Seise, who I did not write up. He’s a 6’3”, 170 lb. switch hitting shortstop, ranked #46 on the BA top 500 list. Seise is seen as a true shortstop, someone who will stick at the position, but whose bat needs work. Keith Law had Seise at #72 on his list, and questioned whether he’d hit for enough power to be a regular.

With their second round pick, #66 overall, the Rangers took Dana Hills, California, righthanded high school pitcher Hans Crouse. Crouse is described as a “character,” so expect wacky stories about his antics. He throws in the mid-90s and has a solid slider, but he lacks a third pitch and there’s some concern his mechanics make him destined for the bullpen. BA had Crouse ranked #37, and says he could end up developing to where he throws 100 mph. Keith Law had Crouse at #35. I suspect that Seise could be someone who goes a little below slot, with the savings allocated towards Crouse.