The lockout has given the Rangers time to think about what to do with some of their backlogged players. The minor’s are filled with good middle infielders that are now blocked at the major league level thanks to Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. The Rangers could trade them, they could hold them, but at the moment they can’t promote them.
Round Rock
Davis Wendzel and Ryan Dorow are infielders at the AAA level for the Rangers. Wendzel had some injury issues in 2021, and spent most of his season at AA Frisco. Wendzel is a primarily a third baseman. Wendzel is someone the Rangers really like, but I believe they will have trouble finding playing time for him going forward at the major league level.
Dorrow also played most of his games at Frisco. Now his batting average was really good at Frisco (.333/.394/.600). He saw pitching really well in 2021. Dorrow is also listed as a third baseman.
Frisco
So Frisco is where most of the major league ready prospects are currently housed. Names like Justin Foscue, Josh Smith, Blaine Crim, Diosbel Arias and Jax Biggers. Smith, who came over in the Joey Gallo trade, has made quite an impression on the brass. He hit .313/.435/.519 through all his stops in the minors in 2021. He is someone to keep an eye on for sure. Another highly touted infield prospect is Justin Foscue. Foscue was ripping the cover off the ball at Hickory before being called up to the Riders. So he was .296/.407/.736 with 14 home runs and 35 RBI for the Crawdads. The Rangers like him a lot. Let us not forget that Justin was a first round pick by the Rangers, 14th overall.
Biggers, Crim and Arias also had decent seasons, but Crim has made himself known lately in winter ball knocking the cover off the ball. He has a chance to make the club at some point in 2022 if the Rangers do not move him for pitching.
Hickory
Now there are not any infielders at Hickory on the forty man roster, but two names that stand out to me are Trever Hauver and Jonathan Ornelas. Both are guys you will hear about in the coming years, either in Texas or elsewhere.
Down East
In conclusion the big name at Down East is of course Luis Angel Acuna. Acuna is a natural shortstop, and he told us as much on the podcast when we had the chance to interview earlier this year. You can check it out here. He is of course the brother of Ronald Acuna of the Atlanta Braves. Another name to look for in the WoodDucks infield is Jayce Easley. The second baseman had a solid year for the Woodies.
Will these infielders stay or go? Only time will tell. There is an embarrassment of riches in the minors for infielders, which is not a bad problem to have at all.
