Texas Rangers Prospect Brock Porter Sharp in Down East Start

Brock Porter was the Texas Rangers' fourth-round pick last year and he's playing his first season of professional baseball.
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Texas Rangers prospect Brock Porter made his longest appearance of the season thus far, going four innings in his third start for the Low Class-A Down East Wood Ducks on Friday against the Carolina Mudcats.

Porter’s four-inning start reflected a trend so far this season — he hasn’t given up many hits. He gave up two hits to the Mudcats, tying the most he’s given up in a start so far this season. He also gave up just a run while walking three.

He also set a career high in strikeouts with seven as he lowered his ERA to 3.38.

Down East went on to beat Carolina, 4-3.

Porter’s first start lasted just 2/3 innings, as he gave up one hit, one run and struck out one. He walked four.

Porter’s second start, which was last week, went much better, as he threw 3 1/3 innings and he gave up two hits, a run and a walk while striking out four.

Porter has already earned Top 100 prospect status at MLB.com, one of six current Rangers prospects in the Top 100.

The Rangers drafted Porter in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Some scouts projected Porter as the top high school pitcher in the draft and the Rangers selected him from St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, MI) even though they didn’t have a second- or third-round pick.

Porter was already committed to Clemson to play baseball. But the Rangers made it a priority to get Porter in the system, paying him a fourth-round bonus record of $3.7 million.

He’s a two-time Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and the 2022 national Gatorade Player of the Year (he went 9-0 with a 0.41 ERA, 115 strikeouts in 58 innings and three no-hitters in 2022).

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.