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Rangers predicted to gamble on two-way upside with first-round pick
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- Rangers predicted to gamble on two-way upside with first-round pick
Rangers predicted to gamble on two-way upside with first-round pick originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Texas Rangers have been on a roll as of late. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, which has helped give them a 33-34 record, which puts them in second place in the American League West.
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They are just two games behind the Seattle Mariners and have a good chance to continue to put the pressure on Seattle with a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox , who have been struggling.
So, while the team is focused on closing the gap, the front office is getting prepared for the draft. The Rangers were awarded the No. 16 pick later this summer.
MORE: Rangers utility man makes unlikely All-Star case during team's sluggish year
Rangers predicted to gamble on two-way upside with first-round pick
The Rangers went on a string of taking college talent over the years until last year's draft. In it, they took high school shortstop Gavin Fien.
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So, it could be up in the air with how the front office is leaning. However, The Athletic's Keith Law took a stab at it with his recent mock, suggesting the Rangers could go after two-way high school prep player Jared Grindlinger.
"The Rangers haven't been afraid to go for high upside in the Chris Young era, and Grindlinger offers that, both as a hitter and a pitcher, probably going out as both to start his career."
Grindlinger is one of the youngest players in the class at 17. He reclassified to be a part of this year's draft class.
He still has room to grow, but he's been impressive on the mound, touching 96 mph last summer with a kick change he has grown accustomed to.
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Some scouts like him more as a pitcher rather than a two-way player, but he's got enough pop in his bat to make some evaluators question if focusing on just one side of the ball would be worth it for the youngster.
