Texas Rangers select with #50 pick Ryan Garcia

2019 MLB Draft: The Texas Rangers select Ryan Garcia, UCLA righthanded pitcher, with their second round pick, #50 overall.

We did not do a write-up on him.

On the small side at 6’0”, 180 lbs., Garcia checks in at #98 on the MLB Pipeline rankings. Baseball America has him at #88 on their rankings. Fangraphs had him at #122 on their board, while Keith Law had him ranked #99.

Garcia has a starter’s pitch mix, including a quality changeup and both a curve and a slider. MLB Pipeline says his low-90s fastball has a “solid spin rate,” something we know the Rangers look for. He gets good marks for his pitchability, clean arm action and ability to throw strikes, and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter. That said, he also isn’t seen as having a plus pitch (though the changeup could become one), and his lack of size leads to questions about how well he will hold up as a starter. His repertoire doesn’t lend itself to a bullpen role, so he will have to be able to stick as a starter to have value.

With the #8 pick, the Rangers selected Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung.

With the #41 pick, the Rangers selected Baylor third baseman Davis Wendzel.