The Rangers certainly have a type. With the 33rd pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, Texas selected Kevin Matthews, a high school lefty from Georgia. Matthews is ranked outside the top 100 on ESPN’s and Baseball America’s draft boards, but he fits a profile that Texas seems to have fallen in love with: the short high school lefty.
In Daniels’ first draft as GM he chose Kasey Kiker, who ranked in the 30’s on most boards, at No. 14. In 2008 he chose Robbie Ross in the second round, and in 2009 he selected Robbie Erlin in the third. Last year in the second round, they went with a small high school righty in the second round instead (Cody Buckel).
Matthews is listed by BA at 5-10, 160 and reportedly can reach the mid-90s with a sharp curveball, but he doesn’t sustain velocity or have an established changeup. He also appears to be a surprisingly difficult sign for someone picked so high and ranked so low.
Texas picks again at No. 37.