Rangers protect trio of prospects ahead of Rule 5 Draft

Rangers protect trio of prospects ahead of Rule 5 Draft

12:21 AM UTC

ARLINGTON -- On Tuesday, the Rangers added a trio of prospects to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft: right-hander (Texas' No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline), right-hander (No. 8) and shortstop Max Acosta (NR).

This year’s Rule 5 Draft will take place on Dec. 11 during the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

Additionally, the Rangers returned right-hander Carson Coleman to the New York Yankees, opening an extra 40-man roster spot. Coleman was selected by the Rangers in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, but didn't pitch this season as he recovered from Tommy John and other arm-related injuries.

The three players that have been added to the 40-man roster can all make an impact on the big league club in the near future, especially Teodo and Santos. Both were representatives at the All-Star Futures Game this past summer after breakout seasons for each of them.

Teodo impressed the Rangers’ big league staff back in Spring Training with his electric fastball, which sits in the upper-90s and touches well over 100 mph. In 2024, he posted a 1.98 ERA across 20 games at Double-A Frisco collecting 110 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings. He averaged 11.47 strikeouts per nine innings last season, ranking second in the Texas League.

Santos struggled to a 6.29 ERA in 98 2/3 innings with High-A Hickory in 2023 despite the high hopes of the Rangers’ player development staff. In ‘24, he finally reached that potential. The right-hander posted a 3.67 ERA in 22 starts between Hickory and Double-A Frisco, ranking among Rangers farmhands in wins (1st), strikeouts (2nd, 138), starts (3rd), innings (T3rd), ERA (5th), opponents' average (5th, .221), and WHIP (6th, 1.14).

Acosta slashed .288/.353/.425 with a .778 OPS with eight home runs, three triples, 23 doubles and 58 RBIs over 104 games for Double-A Frisco in 2024. His .288 average ranked third among qualified Texas League hitters. He played in 20 games for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League this year, hitting .338 and earning a 2024 AFL Fall Stars Game nod.

The Rangers still have a long list of Minor Leaguers at risk of being picked in the Rule 5 Draft, including: right-hander (No. 19), first baseman , infielder , infielder Cody Freeman and right-hander Josh Stephan.