After the Rangers used their second pick, No. 37 overall, on Georgia outfielder Zach Cone, much of the conversation surrounded why Cone’s numbers had fallen off so badly in 2011. Cone saw his batting average drop about 70 points from his sophomore to junior season.
One theory was that Cone could have been affected by a tragic accident in March in which Cone collided with promising teammate Johnathan Taylor, leaving Taylor paralyzed in all of his extremities. Taylor continues to improve, and there is hope that he will keep improving, but doctors do not expect him to walk again.
Tuesday, the Rangers used their 33rd round pick to select Taylor, who would have been drafted before the collision. It’s a classy move by the Rangers, not because using the pick in this fashion will cost them anything, but just because they thought to make this gesture.