In 2021, third basemen for the Texas Rangers have not exactly brought back fond organizational memories of Buddy Bell, Toby Harrah and Alex Rodriguez. Charlie Culberson, Brock Holt, and several others have hit only a combined .211 with just four home runs and a negative WAR. As a group, they've been easily ignorable for fantasy managers.
However, do not ignore top prospect Josh Jung, for he is the future at the hot corner for Texas and he made his 2021 debut on Tuesday for Double-A Frisco, delayed by a stress fracture in his right foot. He is healthy now and showed it on Wednesday with his first home run of the season. The organization expects to move him rather quickly through the minors.
Jung, 23, entered the 2020 season coming off hitting all of two home runs in Single-A ball over 198 plate appearances, but then he was one of the organization's minor-league stars at the team's alternate site, adjusting his swing to get to more power. The Rangers seem convinced Jung will hit for power in games, and Wednesday's blast was a good sign! A top-10 amateur pick in 2019, Jung wowed scouts with his hit tool and plate approach at Texas Tech, and there are no current roadblocks at third base -- sorry, Charlie and Brock -- in Texas.
Depending whether or not Detroit Tigers prospect Spencer Torkelson can stay at third base, Jung may be the top minor-league prospect at the position. It will be interesting to see what statistics Jung provides for Frisco and eventually Triple-A Round Rock, and how eager the Rangers will be to promote him. Some may view this situation similarly to the last-place Baltimore Orioles with their top prospect, catcher Adley Rutschman. What is the rush? Well, big-league teams do enjoy selling tickets!
Other Rangers prospects to watch
Regardless, the Rangers are having a rough season and fantasy managers should not shy away from Jung just because outfield prospect Leody Taveras struggled so much this spring, ultimately ending up back at Triple-A. Taveras hit a mere .087 for the Rangers, before ceding the starting role to Adolis Garcia, who has been terrific. Every prospect is different. Jung is going to hit. Taveras was never a great minor-league hitter, as his calling card is speed and defense. We should see him again in 2021, and perhaps he can turn his season around and steal us some bases.
One Rangers pitching prospect to keep an eye on is 21-year-old right-hander Cole Winn, for he had a recent stretch for Frisco in which he allowed only one run over four starts, including six innings of no-hit ball on May 27 against Midland. Winn typically has command of four pitches, with an effective changeup, slider, and curveball. Again, when he is ready, promotion will follow. The Rangers do not have a great minor-league system, but at least there are a few names for fantasy managers to watch.
Also at third base
As for Torkelson, he had no trouble hitting at High-A West Michigan and earned a recent promotion to Double-A Erie. The No. 1 overall amateur pick in 2020 projects to hit for big power, and the Tigers are doing the right thing in seeing if he can handle third base, since he would be more valuable there than at first base. Torkelson offers more offensive upside than does Jung -- and since both are in their first week at the Double-A level, we can compare their numbers this summer.
The New York Mets selected Brett Baty in the first round in 2019, and he is hitting .327 with power for High-A Brooklyn. Expect a promotion to Double-A Binghamton in the near future. As with the Rangers and Tigers, there is nothing blocking Baty at third base for the Mets, and the left-handed slugger makes for an intriguing dynasty option.
Chicago White Sox prospect Jake Burger is slugging .520 at Triple-A Charlotte and, while the big-league club has Yoan Moncada to handle third base, Burger's bat could come in handy soon. After all, typical DH Yermin Mercedes has barely hit since the start of May. There is already a first baseman playing left field in Andrew Vaughn, so perhaps Burger moves to the outfield as well. Burger is an older prospect at 25 and he missed the entirety of the 2018 and 2019 seasons with injuries, and then, of course, 2020 happened.
The Toronto Blue Jays are deploying Vanderbilt product Austin Martin at shortstop and center field, which is quite interesting because they have All-Star caliber players there in the majors in Bo Bichette and George Springer. Of course, they could move to other spots. I expected Martin to handle some third base. Jordan Groshans has been playing shortstop and third base at Double-A New Hampshire and, while he has power, it has not shown in games yet. Someone is the future third baseman for this franchise, and I doubt it is Cavan Biggio. It could be Groshans, Orelvis Martinez (currently at Low-A Dunedin) -- or perhaps it is actually Bichette. Time will tell.