The Texas Rangers organization recently announced the players selected to represent them in the Arizona Fall League, where they’ll be joining the Surprise Saguaros. The roster includes:
- C Julian Brock
- RHP Alejandro Chiquillo
- IF Casey Cook
- RHP J’Briell Easley
- RHP Jesus Gamez
- RHP Jacob Johnson
- OF Paxton Kling
- RHP Mason McConnaughey
This group mainly consists of players who missed significant parts of the season rather than top-tier prospects.
Jacob Johnson, the team’s 11th round draft pick in 2025 out of Pearl River Community College, competed between the complex league and Low-A Hickory during 2026. Despite a month-long pause in June and July, the 20-year-old posted a 2.51 ERA over 43 innings, struck out 48 batters, and walked 12. He currently ranks 22nd on Baseball America’s top 30 Rangers prospects list.
Center fielder Paxton Kling, chosen in the 7th round in 2025 after transferring to Penn State from LSU, is a speedy right-handed hitter. Before a broken wrist sidelined him for over six weeks, Kling was batting .261/.400/.404 at High-A Hub City. After a slow start following his return, he caught fire with a .412/.574/.441 slash in his final 10 games and earned a promotion to Frisco, where he’s now playing in the playoffs. For the year, he slashed .243/.383/.361 with 57 walks and 102 strikeouts in 401 plate appearances, ranking 19th on Baseball America’s Rangers list.
Mason McConnaughey, 22, a fourth-round pick from the University of Nebraska in 2025, returned late to action post-Tommy John surgery, debuting at the end of June. He recorded a 3.48 ERA over 20.2 innings across eight appearances between the complex league and Low-A.
Casey Cook, a third-round pick from the University of North Carolina in 2024, missed much of the 2026 campaign due to shoulder surgery. He appeared in 47 games split between the complex league and Hub City, posting a .181/.310/.349 slash line.
J’Briell Easley, 24, was signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent from the University of Kansas in March 2025. He primarily pitched at Hub City but moved up to Frisco for the season’s final week and playoffs. Used as a reliever in the second half, Easley finished the year with a 5.43 ERA over 58 innings in 32 appearances.
Julian Brock, 25, was drafted in the 8th round in 2023 out of Louisiana-Lafayette. He split his time between Frisco and Round Rock, hitting .197/.312/.332 over 68 games.
Alejandro Chiquillo, 23, spent the season between the complex league and Hickory, compiling a 4.79 ERA in 56.1 innings across 17 appearances.
Jesus Gamez, 23, pitched in 42 games for Hub City, notching a 3.74 ERA in 43.1 innings, striking out 69 while walking 47.
Fan Take: This announcement offers an intriguing glimpse into the Rangers’ roster depth, showcasing players who could steadily develop into future contributors despite injuries and setbacks. For baseball fans, following these stories highlights the unpredictable path of player growth and the importance of resilience in shaping the sport’s rising talent.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
