Top Prep Outfielder to Texas Rangers in Latest Mock Draft

The Texas Rangers have been connected to two of the upcoming draft's most highly-regarded prep outfielders, including Walker Jenkins.

It seems more and more likely that the Texas Rangers will end up with one of the best prep hitters in the 2023 MLB Draft, if Baseball America’s most recent mock draft is correct.

It’s a name that those that closely watch mocks are likely already familiar with — outfielder Walker Jenkins out of South Brunswick High School in Southport, N.C.

Baseball America produced its third version of the mock about a month out from the MLB Draft, which is set for July 9-11 in Seattle during All-Star Weekend.

The Rangers have the No. 4 pick overall. To many, LSU stars Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes will go in the first and second spots, and with that the top two prep hitters will fall to the Rangers.

So why Jenkins and not outfielder Max Clark of Franklin (Ind.) Community High School?

Well, Baseball America actually had Clark with the Rangers in its last mock. But in this one the two picks are flipped:

Jenkins has physicality, a beautiful lefthanded swing and a chance for plus tools in the two most important categories: hit and power. He could go off the board at any spot in front of this and it wouldn’t surprise me, but if he fell further than this … that would be a bit more surprising. At the same time, the Rangers are clearly not afraid to go off the board with an unconventional and surprising pick at the top of the draft.

The Rangers did that in the eyes of many last year, taking right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker in the first round. Rocker is out for the rest of the season after Tommy John surgery.

Mock drafts from ESPN and The Athletic recently also had the Rangers taking Jenkins.

Jenkins is committed to North Carolina, but perhaps going No. 4 and playing for an organization that has one of the best offenses in baseball could entice him otherwise? We’ll see in July. 

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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