Texas Rangers 2014 Draft Picks: Scouting Profiles and Analysis

The Texas Rangers fell short of the playoffs in 2013 and said goodbye to some of their top minor league talent in the process.

Acquiring Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs came at a hefty price, as general manager Jon Daniels sent off four prospects in the deal. The club will be looking to restock its farm system in the 2014 MLB first-year player draft—a system that was once one of the best in the majors.

Texas forfeited its first-round pick after signing Shin-Soo Choo. However, the Rangers received the No. 30 overall pick after Nelson Cruz signed with the Baltimore Orioles. The team will also have the No. 59 overall pick on Day 1 of the draft.

You can keep track of the Rangers and their draft picks here. This slideshow will be updated periodically during the draft after the club's selections.

Round 1, Pick 30: RHP Luis Ortiz, Sanger HS, CA

The Rangers selected RHP Luis Ortiz with their first pick of this year's draft.

Standing at 6'3", Ortiz has a strong arm with an arsenal of pitches. MLB.com's draft profile says he throws 92-95 mph effortlessly and possesses a low-80s slider that misses bats. The 18-year-old also has a good changeup and is currently working on a curveball. 

ESPN's Keith Law had Ortiz rated No. 10 in his top 100 Prospects list at the start of the draft. He becomes the fourth pitcher the Rangers have taken in the first round since 2010. 

He did have an issue with his pitching forearm that shut him down for a few weeks this season. 

Committed to Fresno State, Ortiz was the MVP of the 18-and-Under World Cup last September, posting a win and three saves in Team USA's gold-medal performance. 

Round 2, Pick 59: SS Ti'quan Forbes, Columbia HS, MS

The Rangers selected Ti’quan Forbes with their second-round pick, a shortstop out of Columbia High School in Mississippi.

Just 17 years old, Forbes is 6'4” and weighs 175 pounds. He has years to grow into his large frame and good bat speed that could combine into some serious power over the course of his career.

MLB.com says he could outgrow shortstop and has plenty of power in his arm to convert to third base. Forbes has good speed for his size and can steal plenty of bags. He was a three-sport athlete at Columbia and could be a potential All-Star with all his focus on the diamond.

Forbes is committed to Ole Miss but has a huge ceiling and should be ready to begin his professional baseball career.

Round 3, Pick 95: SS Joshua Morgan, Orange Lutheran HS, CA

Texas grabbed another shortstop with its third-round pick, selecting Joshua Morgan from Orange Lutheran High School in California.

He didn’t play at shortstop until his junior season and holds some experience after a year catching and a year playing third base. Morgan isn’t very big at 5'11” and 185 pounds, but he holds some power, which MLB.com says would allow him to move to third if short doesn’t work out.

Morgan has a very strong arm from both left infield positions.

Committed to UCLA, the 18-year-old looks to be solid both at the plate and with the glove. And although he can move around the bases, Morgan lacks game-changing speed.

Round 4, Pick 126: LHP Brett Martin, Walters State CC, TN

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The Rangers grabbed their second pitcher of the draft, this time a southpaw named Brett Martin from Walters State CC in Tennessee.

Martin stands at 6'4” and 190 pounds and was dominating during his first season in junior college. He finished 9-2 with one save in 16 appearances this season. And although he had good season, there isn’t much out there about him.

Martin does not rank in Baseball America's top 500, but two of his teammates, Brent Honeywell and Brett Martin, do.

While unknown, his statistics and size give an idea of his abilities as a pitcher. The fact that Texas drafted somebody who is unrated by baseball’s is a little questionable.

Round 5, Pick 156: LHP Wes Benjamin, Kansas

Wes Benjamin becomes the Rangers' second left-handed pitcher of this year’s draft.

The Kansas Jayhawks southpaw is one of a group of pitchers who are currently recovering from Tommy John surgery. Benjamin was the ace of the staff and rated No. 371 by Baseball America.

He was originally drafted in the 48th round of the 2011 draft by the New York Yankees.  Even with the surgery, which has become the norm this year, his stock increased a ton.

Benjamin has a good fastball that ranges from 88-92 and touches 94 mph. His outpitch is his changeup and at the moment lacks another out pitch. Perfect Game’s scouting report claims his breaking ball will need tightening up at the next level.

This is a good pick for the Rangers. Benjamin is also expected to miss the 2015 college season, so the club could reallocate savings to its other top-round picks.

Rounds 6-10

Round 6, Pick 186: 3B Jose Trevino, Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma

Round 7, Pick 216: RHP Nick Green, Indian Hills CC, Iowa

Round 8, Pick 246: RHP Erik Swanson, Iowa Wester CC, Iowa

Round 9, Pick 276: CF Doug Votoloto, University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas

Round 10, Pick 306: C Seth Spivey, Abilene Christian University, Texas

Rounds 11-40

Round 11, Pick 336: RHP Scott Williams, State College of Florida Manatee, Florida

Round 12, Pick 366: RHP Joe Watson, Catawba College, North Carolina

Round 13, Pick 396: RHP Gabe Gonzalez, Arbor View HS, Nevada

Round 14, Pick 426: RHP Gio Abreu, St. Raymonds HS, New York

Round 15, Pick 456: LHP Joe Filomeno, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Round 16, Pick 486: RHP Reed Garrett, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia

Round 17, Pick 516: RHP Dave Berg, UC Los Angeles, California

Round 18, Pick 546: RHP J.T. Phillips, Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia

Round 19, Pick 576: 2B Tramayne Holmes, Rickards HS, Florida

Round 20, Pick 606: C Isaias Quiroz, St. Joseph Regional School, New Jersey

Round 21, Pick 636: LHP Sterling Wynn, McLennan CC, Texas

Round 22, Pick 666: 3B Tripp Martin, Samford University, Alabama

Round 23, Pick 696: LF Darius Day, Simeon Career Academy, Illinois

Round 24, Pick 726: RHP Austin Pettibone, UC Santa Barbara, California

Round 25, Pick 756: CF Daniel Sweet, Polk State College, Florida

Round 26, Pick 786: RHP Jayce Vancena, Lake HS, Ohio

Round 27, Pick 816: RHP Jason Hoppe, Minnesota State-Mankato, Minnesota

Round 28, Pick 846: RHP Chris Mathewson, Kaiser HS, California

Round 29, Pick 876: CF Luke Tendler, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina

Round 30, Pick 906: RHP Cody Palmquist, Palm Beach State College, Florida

Round 31, Pick 936: RHP John Fasola, Kent State University, Ohio

Round 32, Pick 966: RHP Andre Jackson, Cienega HS, Arizona

Round 33, Pick 996: RHP Adam Parks, Liberty University, Virginia

Round 34, Pick 1026: RHP Storm Rynard, Cowley County CC, Kansas

Round 35, Pick 1056: RHP Will Carter, Walters State CC, Tennessee

Round 36, Pick 1086: RHP Cody Chartand, Lewis-Clark State, Idaho

Round 37, Pick 1116: SS Andrew Bechtold, Garnett Valley HS, Pennsylvania

Round 38, Pick 1146: LHP Tyree Johnson, New Hanover HS, North Carolina

Round 39, Pick 1176: OF Travis Jones, Atoscocita HS, Texas

Round 40, Pick 1206: LHP Nick Dignacco, United State Military Academy, New York