The Round Rock Express have really played well in 2022. They have had players go up and down to the Rangers several times so far this season.
This got me to thinking: who else will make their Major League Debut from the Express in 2022? So far we have seen Meibrys Viloria, Elier Hernandez, Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Nick Solak, Glenn Otto and Spencer Howard just to name a few.
General Manager Tim Jackson told “The Ranger Report Podcast” this is the nature of being a minor league team. You have not control over who goes up or down and when that happens.
The Express currently sit at 49-43 and are third in the PCL East. There will be promotions from Frisco (J.P. Martinez was just promoted).
With all that being said, here is my best guess at who will be promoted from the AAA level to the Major Leagues before this season comes to an end.
Pitchers Who May Make the Jump
The first and most obvious on this list is RHP Cole Winn. While Winn has not had the season he was hoping for at the AAA level, he is still 6-1 with a 5.93 ERA and a WHIP of 1.58. He is striking out an average of 7.98 batters per 9 innings pitched.
Walks have been his biggest issue, telling me he is nipping a little too much at the corners and not going right after hitters. He is walking 6.08 batters per 9 innings pitched. I still think he gets his shot in 2022.
Cole Ragans is another pitcher who I believe gets a shot in 2022. Ragans was completly dominate in Frisco and has been really good in Round Rock as well. Ragans was a guest on the Ranger Report Podcast. You can hear that interview here.
At both Frisco and Round Rock Ragans is 7-5 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He is striking out an impressive 10.92 batters per 9 innings pitched and walking 2.86 batters per 9.
Since being called up to Round Rock Ragans had started 7 games and has a AAA ERA of 3.62. He just needs to continue what he is doing and he will be in Arlington later this season.
Fielders Who May Make the Jump
Now keep in mind these are players that have yet to debut. This doesn’t include guys who have already been called up before.
I’ll start with the obvious one. Bubba Thompson should get a shot by September if not before then. Bubba is batting .299 with an OPS of .816. He has 1w home runs and 41 RBI. None of that, however, is the most impressive stat for Thompson.
Bubba has stolen an impressive 45 bases in 68 games. He has been caught stealing twice. Let me say that again. TWICE.
If for no other reason, Thompson will come up so the Rangers can see if he can use that speed at the Major League level.
The next player I can see moving up in 2022 is Davis Wendzel. While he is not having the best season and has had several injuries, the Rangers really like him.
I could see him getting the callup in September so the Rangers can see if there is anything there.
Bubba, Winn and Ragans are all currently not on the forty man roster, so it would take some work to get them up. If they do not call any of them up and do not put them on the forty man, all three of them could go in the rule 5 draft this off-season.
These are just my best educated guesses. Let me know if you agree, disagree or want to see someone else get the call.
