ACL Rangers Primer
What you need to know about the domestic rookie league affiliate
Two days ago, the baby Rangers kicked off their short season. They are stationed at Surprise Stadium in Arizona and share facilities with the Kansas City Royals, which is the same setup as spring training.
A new feature of the Arizona Complex League (ACL) this year, starting pitchers can re-enter the game once if they are removed after throwing a minimum of 25 pitches in an inning. This rule is designed to help prevent injury from over-taxed arms, as well as to give young pitchers a second opportunity in a game when they initially were likely shelled.
There are three categories of players when it comes to constructing the ACL Rangers team:
Recent draftees out of domestic universities, colleges or high schools (ex: OF Jay McQueen).
International free agents that were previously in the Dominican Summer League and graduated up a minor league level (ex: Elorky Rodriguez).
Veteran minor leaguers that are rehabbing from injury or got a reset to work on mechanics (ex: Jose Corniell).
Pertaining to the first two categories, the goal of the players would be to earn a promotion to low-A Hickory as their next developmental stop. In the case of the third category, it’s about getting back to health with sound mechanics and regaining placement at the appropriate minor league affiliate that makes sense with their developmental path. In Corniell’s example, that would likely be Triple-A or Double-A.
Having said that, let’s look at the ACL Rangers roster:
Addressing the offense first, line-ups at the ACL level will be even more fluid than the upper minors. Think of a “bench” in very loose terms, and instead as a rotational system where players will constantly be mixed in and out from game-to-game.
CATCHER
There are a whopping seven catchers (if you include DH/C Javier Sanchez and the injured Francisco Perez) to work with twenty pitchers on the staff. It gives you an idea of the amount of fundamental coaching and game planning being implemented. Noah Franklin got the nod on opening day, but I believe the lion’s share of the playing time will likely be delegated to Carlos Torres, who was a success story in the DSL in 2025 (.280/.345/.363 in 177 PA).
FIRST BASE
If you were constructing the ACL Rangers as a single competitive entity that you wanted to win a championship with, Jack Wheeler would be the choice here. At 19 years old, he is already a massive 6’5 and 205 pounds. That being said, it’s not about crowns. It’s about development. The Rangers believe Wheeler’s biggest upside will be as a third baseman. They’re not going to permanently move him across the diamond until they have to make that decision in subsequent years as he climbs through the system.
It’s why we have ended up with a very odd pairing at first through the first two games of the season. In the opener, all 5’9 of Curley Martha held down the position. Martha has some upside (.282/.395/.427 in 2024 for DSL Rangers Red), though not anywhere close to the same category as former infield running mate Yolfran Castillo. 2025 was essentially a lost year for Martha due to injury.
In game two, reserve infielder Santiago Almao drew the start at first base. He’s … 5’7. There may be quite a lot of throws coming from across the diamond that sail, but hey, at least these Martha and Almao, experienced middle infielders, should be good at picking short hops out of the dirt.
SECOND BASE
Elorky Rodriguez, the Rangers top 2025 international signing, should be a mainstay in the line-up. The 18 year-old put up a silly slash line of .337/.473/.506, including 6 homeruns, 39 walks and 38 strikeouts in 226 plate appearances for the DSL last season. He was named a mid-season and post-season All Star for the league.
Six homeruns may not seem impressive, but that is tough output to generate as a 5’7 175 pound teenager who is still growing and filling out. MLB.com ranks E-Rod as the #16 Rangers prospect, Fangraphs ranks him as #28, Prospects1500 lists him as #13, Baseball America at #22, the Dallas Morning News are the most optimistc ranking him at #9. Don’t let the rankings misguide you. If Elorky succeeds in the ACL and ultimately a bit of Hickory this year, his status will be cemented in the top ten organizationally.
Elorky Rodriguez is capable of playing the outfield, but the Rangers believe his best position and preferred final destination is at second.
SHORTSTOP
Daniel Rodriguez will likely shift between 2B, SS and 3B this season.
Two-way players Seong-Jun Kim and Josh Owens will be handled delicately. It doesn’t appear that Kim and Owens will DH on the same day they pitch. A normal week for those two may look like rotating between P-DH-SS with rest days built in.
THIRD BASE
As mentioned above, Jack Wheeler, the Rangers sixth-round draft pick last year, looks to be the primary 3B. This will be his first full professional season.
OUTFIELD
Left-handed hitting Rashawn Pinder (speedster), Jamaurion “Jay” McQueen and Marco Argudin (my pet cat) should be the regulars with righty Andry Batista rotating in the mix.
Outfield seems to be the biggest advancement pathway in the Rangers minor league system. Players who can push for a mid-season promotion include: OF Dylan Dreiling (AA), LF Keith Jones II (AA), CF Paxton Kling (A+), RF Maxton Martin (A+), LF/CF Paulino Santana (A) and CF Marcos Torres (A). Santana seems like a slam dunk for a promotion to Hub City in the near future. Argudin could jump into one of those vacated spots in Hickory, as a result, when the time comes.
STARTING PITCHERS
Speculating a rotation (at this point) is a crapshoot beyond Jacob Johnson, who started the season opener. Johnson has some of the highest octane stuff in the system. Radar gun readings aren’t available at the ACL, which is unfortunate. Our data appears to be limited to box score viewing of number of pitches and strikes thrown. Specific pitch types and velocity aren’t displayed on Gameday.
Ben Abeldt, who did not pitch last year after being drafted, started in game two. However, during draft day coverage, most of the pundits were saying he profiled as a lefty reliever. I’ll be interested to see if he touches around 50 pitches in future outings or the Rangers view those days as “bullpen days”, due to having the luxury of a lot of arms at their disposal.
It would seem logical that old friend Jose Corniell will start, assuming he is healthy. I’m still mystified as to what is happening with him as he has vanished from reporting since spring training.
Mason McConnaughey was drafted with the idea to groom him as a starting pitcher in his development. He underwent Tommy John Surgery in spring of 2025. I’m not sure if he will be pitching in games yet and in what capacity. On that note, there is not much incentive to put ACL rostered players on the injured list, because there is no maximum for the active roster size. Unless they are out for the full season and the Rangers don’t want them to count towards their domestic 165 player organizational cap, there is no advantage to putting them on a short term IL.
Gilberto Lopez, 22, started in the DSL last year and is one to keep an eye on. He pitched in 11 games (8 starts) in 2025 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.29 K/9, and a promising 2.76 BB/9.
Seong-Jun Kim might start or relieve when not playing shortstop or DH: TBA.
Miguel Neira is a Cuban lefty who is unlikely to top three innings in an outing.
BULLPEN
Anthony Astudillo, an international sign out of Venezuela in 2024, has been utilized as a starting pitcher in 14 of his 15 career games. So I was surprised to see him used as a long reliever in the season opener. With multiple off days in the first week, he still may figure into the rotation.
The rest of the staff I can confidently put in the relief corps, including rehabbing Case Matter and Adrian Rodriguez.
Of the relievers, Dominican righty Maicol Reyes, 21, and Dominican lefty Enyel Lopez, 20, carried the most buzz last year, stuff-wise. Reyes had an outstanding ACL inaugural campaign in 2025 (2.73 ERA, 29.2 IP, 1.15 WHIP) but struggled in a brief tour with Hickory. Lopez possesses a high K-rate (11.67 K/9), but a debilitating walk rate (8.67 BB/9). 26 free passes in 27 career innings will not work.
That’s a wrap for this primer. Enjoy the season. Try not to get caught up in the wins and losses, but instead hone in on the key prospects that may be donning a Texas Rangers cap one day (ex: E-Rod, Johnson, Kim, Owens), as well as the surprises that emerge (ex: Argudin).
Thanks. Appreciate the structural stuff that allows me to see how the MiLs fit together, as well as who the players are.
6'5" 205 lbs 19 year old seems like a 1 year old great dane who'd gonna end up being a monster. Hope that's 205 of thick, not 205 of belly!