The pitching has also looked solid and several young players have turned heads. Here are a few players who have stood out this spring:
Carter Baumler –
Carter Baumler has looked very good so far this spring. If he continues to throw like he has, a spot on the Opening Day roster seems all but assured. Baumler has received praise from team personnel, including manager Skip Schumaker. Although he hasn’t pitched above Double-A, Baumler clearly has the stuff to compete at the big league level. His throws score well and show strong movement across the board. His fastball is rated 104 Stuff+, with an induced vertical break of 18 inches and a horizontal break of about 8 inches. The pitch also handles well and sits around 96 MPH, making it a legitimate swing-and-miss offering at the top of the zone. Baumler’s curveball is just as impressive. Skip Schumaker describes the pitch as a 12-6 curveball, meaning it gets good depth. The curveball scores 110 Stuff+ and has a vertical break of approximately 14 inches and a horizontal break of 8 inches. The field also rotates at 2500 RPM. Of all the pitchers this spring, Baumler impressed me the most. It seems like Chris Young and the front office found another quality department for next to nothing.
Gavin Collyer –
Gavin Collyer has gained a lot of attention among coaches and team personnel since the early days of pitchers and catchers reporting, and for good reason. Collyer excelled at putting out hitters during his minor league career, thanks to his legitimate performances. However, there is one area that needs improvement: his command. He throws the ball from a unique arm angle at 11 degrees and pumps in a solid sinker of 96-99 MPH. From that angle, it can easily be misleading for hitters. Collyer led the minor leagues in Stuff+ in 2025, ahead of Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski and top pitcher Carlos Lagrange of the Yankees. He has a repertoire that includes a cutter, sinker, four-seam fastball and a sweeper. If Collyer can improve his command, he will find some innings in the MLB as his stuff will undoubtedly be playing at the big league level.
Cam Cauley –
While I’m not sure if Cam Cauley has received much praise from coaches, his performance thus far suggests he should receive recognition. He’s already received praise from Cody Freeman, who gave Cauley a shoutout in an interview with Austin Beckman from Right on Rangers. Cody encouraged fans watching the interview to keep an eye on Cauley. I believe Cauley is one of the most underrated prospects in the Rangers farm system. He plays the game hard, is defensively versatile and is among the fastest players in the organization. Cauley isn’t a huge power bat, but he certainly has 15 home run potential. However, he does have swing-and-miss in his game, which I think hurts him a bit. If he can tone down that aspect of his game, he could easily find himself in the major leagues and be one of the better prospects in the Rangers system. Despite a strong spring performance, I still think it’s a long shot for Cauley to make the Opening Day roster. So far he is hitting .316 with an .816 OPS and a 124 wRC+. That said, I think we’ll see him in the Majors at some point this season.
Robby Ahlstrom –
Robby Ahlstrom made waves last spring among team staff and former pitching coach Mike Maddux. Skip Schumaker has also indicated that Ahlstrom is expected to help the Rangers this season. Ahlstrom’s fastball-slider combo plays very well against left-handed hitters. The pitch repertoire consists of a slider, four-seam fastball, sinker, curveball and change-up. The four-strainer has a vertical break of 16 inches and a good ride. Ahlstrom has shown the ability to generate strikeouts during his career in the minors. The key for him, like Gavin Collyer, is to stay in the offensive zone. He has a legitimate chance to crack the Opening Day bullpen, depending on whether Jacob Latz starts the season in the rotation or in relief. If Latz ends up in the rotation, Ahlstrom could emerge as the Rangers’ third left-handed option out of the bullpen.
Ryan Lobus –
Ryan Lobus also received rave reviews from team staff this spring. Skip Schumaker even said, “We think he’s going to help us at some point this season,” which is encouraging to hear. I have believed in Lobus for the past two years. In December 2024, when I was evaluating the numbers and video of several Rangers minor league pitchers, he immediately stood out. Throughout his minor league career, Lobus has consistently posted strong strikeout numbers and has yet to post a season with a K/9 under 10. Lobus has a unique 1 degree arm angle, so he is a true sidearm guy. The slider is his best offering and the pitch that gets and misses the swing. His slider gets a vertical break of 18 to 20 inches, which can be misleading because of his unique arm angle. Lobus’ arsenal also includes a sinker, a curveball and a 4-seam. With his unique arm angle and putaway slider, Ryan Lobus can certainly find some innings in the MLB.
(All stats from tjstats.ca and Fangraphs)
#Players #received #Buzz #spring