2019 MLB Mock Draft from Baseball America has Rangers going prep bat

2019 MLB Mock Draft: Rumors of the Texas Rangers going below slot at #8 in the MLB Draft on Monday continue to swirl, and in their latest mock draft, Baseball America projects the Rangers to take Lake Travis High School third baseman Brett Baty at #8.

We did a write-up on Baty a couple of weeks ago, and he is someone who has been linked to the Rangers as a potential guy at #8 who would do an underslot deal, allowing them to spend more money later on guys who drop due to bonus demands. BA also says the Rangers are linked to West Virginia pitcher Alek Manoah, San Jacinto Junior College pitcher Jackson Rutledge, and Arizona State outfielder Hunter Bishop, all of whom would likely command something close to slot money. BA suggests the Rangers would also have interest in TCU pitcher Nick Lodolo, widely expected to go the the Cincinnati Reds at #7, if he were to drop.

The latest mock draft from Jim Callis had the Rangers going with Bishop at #8, while the guys at Fangraphs currently have Baty mocked to Texas. Keith Law’s latest mock draft has the Rangers taking Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung.

Taking Baty or Jung would signal the Rangers are confident that there will be guys who will drop for signability concerns that will be available at #41 or #50, while Bishop, Manoah or Rutledge would indicate the Rangers are playing it more straight.