Texas Rangers select San Jose State outfielder Kellen Strahm in 5th round

2019 MLB Draft: The Texas Rangers select Kellen Strahm, San Jose State center fielder, with their fifth round pick, #145 overall.

Back to college we go as the Rangers have taken senior outfielder Strahm who has no ties to Texas as far as I’m aware so therefore maybe isn’t even real.

This now makes five college players from the Rangers in their first six picks which I’m sure they will say is just how things played out, but it sure seems like a shift in philosophy, at least for this year.

Stated another way, it feels like the Rangers haven’t taken five college players this whole decade, much less five of their first six picks of any one draft.

As for Strahm, well, he’s not ranked on any board that I’ve looked at but he’s a 6’ 1, 215 lbs. right-handed batting center fielder who hit .382 with six dingers and a .487 OBP in the Mountain West Conference.

Pick #1, (8th overall): Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung

Pick #2, (41st overall): Baylor third baseman Davis Wendzel

Pick #3, (50th overall): UCLA RHP Ryan Garcia

Pick #4, (86th overall): New Mexico RHP Justin Slaten

Pick #5, (115th overall): Etiwanda HS infielder Cody Freeman