The Texas Rangers are poised to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft on Sunday night. While the specific player remains uncertain depending on who is available, the team is widely expected to focus on securing a power-hitting catcher. Analysts suggest that Texas may target a college catcher who can swiftly advance through their system, similar to last year’s pick, Wyatt Langford.
According to The Athletic’s Keith Law, Texas is eyeing Stanford’s Malcolm Moore with the 30th overall pick. Despite a somewhat disappointing final season at Stanford, Moore boasts solid offensive numbers, slashing .255/.414/.553 with 16 home runs and 36 RBI in 54 games. His performance has shown improvement in both walk rate and strikeout rate.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel also views Moore as a good fit for Texas, highlighting his power from the left side of the plate.
On the other hand, MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis predict the Rangers will select a catcher, though another top option, Sam Houston’s Walker Janek, has also been mentioned as a potential target before compensation picks begin. Janek, who won the Buster Posey Award and was named first-team All-American by Baseball America, offers impressive offensive and defensive skills.
Despite some uncertainty due to mock drafts, the consensus points towards Texas addressing their catching needs, potentially with Malcolm Moore or Walker Janek, depending on how the draft unfolds.
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