The Rangers pick at Nos. 33 and 37 in MLB's First Year Player Draft first and sandwich rounds Monday, so identifying correct draft candidates is a tough task. The process of elimination helps us at least narrow the list of obvious candidates. Here are the most commonly linked names with the Rangers:
Travis Harrison, 3B, California high school player - Harrison has been associated with the Rangers in both of Keith Law's most recent mock drafts. Jim Callis has also mentioned him in recent mocks. Harrison is ranked just 78th on Baseball America's top 100 prospects list, but the Rangers have not been shy about picking players not highly ranked on other boards early in the draft. Harrison is a power bat with questionably pure hitting skills and not a lot of athleticism.
Blake Swihart, C, New Mexico high school player - Swihart is on the other end of the apparent value spectrum, ranked by most in the teens and by BA at No. 17 overall. Callis picked him for Texas in his Friday mock draft, and others have linked him with Texas as well. Keith Law's mock draft Monday has him slipping out of the first round, so he could be a consideration for the Rangers. Swihart is a switch-hitting athlete who is considered more of an offensive player than a pure catcher. He is committed to the University of Texas.
Brandon Nimmo, OF, Wyoming high school player - Nimmo is the third name that seems to be consistently associated with the Rangers in rumors and mock drafts. Law projects him at No. 31 as of draft day, so it is possible that he won't be available for the Rangers. If Nimmo's home state of Wyoming jumped out at you, it should. That state does not have high school baseball, so teams have to evaluate him primarily through his American Legion team, which plays through the summer. He's a good athlete and, though raw, has good hitting skills.