{"id":919,"date":"2025-03-03T11:39:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T17:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/?p=919"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:39:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T17:39:47","slug":"where-do-elder-prospects-fit-into-the-texas-rangers-equation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/2025\/03\/03\/where-do-elder-prospects-fit-into-the-texas-rangers-equation\/","title":{"rendered":"Where do Elder Prospects Fit into the Texas Rangers’ Equation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Uncomfortable Middle: Harris and Foscue’s Quest for a Major League Spot<\/strong><\/p>\n

SURPRISE, Ariz. \u2014 Look, it’s not necessarily this simple, but big league spring training can sometimes be boiled down to three factions: those who’ve been in the majors, those who’re expected to be this season, and those who hope to maybe get there one day. Dustin Harris and Justin Foscue exist in an uncomfortable middle ground. Both made their major league debuts last season but have far from guaranteed roles this year. Both were once top-ranked prospects in the organization but have been lapped by external acquisitions and internal growth. Both have tools that can translate to the big leagues but aren’t perfect players.<\/p>\n

Neither has a clear path to the Rangers’ roster. "It’s no secret this lineup is deep," Harris said. "It’s loaded from top to bottom. I’m just going to try to do what I can do, play my game, and show what I’m capable of so I can help out the club." Harris, whom the Rangers acquired as part of the Mike Minor-to-Oakland trade, hit for decent power and stole 25-plus bases in three different seasons but was leapfrogged by Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. He earned a promotion to Texas at the tail-end of last season. He played in two games at the end of a lost season but collected his first major league home run and double in a series against the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n

Now, he’s hungrier than ever. "Now that I got a taste, I’m for sure hungrier than ever now," Harris said. "I want to get back there and just kind of show what I’m capable of, keep working and do it up there." Harris, who was listed at 185 pounds last season, put on 20 pounds over the winter. He said that he typically arrives at spring training "a little heavier" but often drops it over the course of the season while running around under the Texas sun. This year’s goal is to maintain the spring training weight.<\/p>\n

Here’s why: He clubbed a 97 mph fastball from Milwaukee Brewers top prospect Jacob Misiorowski into the upper right-field berm at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Saturday for a two-run home run. He also hit a Joel Peguero slider 103.9 mph into center field for a double last week vs. the San Francisco Giants. "In all aspects of the game, obviously, I think having more muscle, no one would say no to it," Harris said. "I can move the bat through the zone quicker, maybe my legs have a little more burst, maybe my throws are a little more on line and a little harder." It’s drawn praise from his manager.<\/p>\n

He can play all three outfield positions \u2014 does a good job in all three \u2014 and can steal a base for you," Bruce Bochy said. "This kid’s really making a lot of progress." Translation: Harris’ speed and ability to play three positions carry some major league value. The Rangers used 11 different players in the outfield at some point or another last season and will need more than the four or five they break camp with to survive 162 games. Harris, even if he starts in the minor leagues, has a theoretical organizational depth role.<\/p>\n

It’s a bit different with Foscue. With him, it’s the bat, the bat’s got to play. Foscue knows. He reached the major league last season because of a career .887 on-base plus slugging percentage that certified the former first-round pick as an infielder with a legitimate plus-hit tool. But, when he earned a promotion after Josh Jung fractured his wrist in April, Foscue hit just 2 for 42 in 15 games. He recorded his first major league hit in his second game on April 7 vs. Houston Astros closer Josh Hader, landed on the injured list a day later with a strained oblique, missed more than two months of action, returned July 20, recorded his second hit in his third major league game, and finished the season with an 0-for-38 drought. It was tied for the longest hitless streak in the majors last season and it was the longest in franchise history since the club moved to Arlington.<\/p>\n

Struggling the way I did, I’ve really tried to put that behind me. Foscue clarified this much Sunday morning inside Texas’ spring training clubhouse: He remains incredibly confident in his abilities as a hitter but said he didn’t quite feel that strongly in the midst of his slump. Foscue, who had previously spent his winters in Arizona, worked out at his agency in Nashville this year. He’s cognizant of the fact that, at age 26, which he turned Sunday, he should already be in the major leagues, but referenced the fact that Justin Turner’s big breakout didn’t happen until his age 31 season. He’s certainly cognizant of the evergreen roadblock in front of him in the form of infielders Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Jung, and now Jake Burger.<\/p>\n

The Rangers are too. "Now, I’m not ruling him out completely, I don’t want to do that now," Bochy said. "But, I think you look at what’s in front of him, it’s going to be tough for him to get playing time." Consider the line ahead of him. Semien, an ironman who’d play all 162 regular-season games if he had his druthers, occupies Foscue’s natural position at second base. Ezequiel Duran \u2014 who’s seen more time in the majors, has a better track record of success, and is two months younger than Foscue \u2014 may have first dibs at backup. The Rangers will likely prioritize super-utility man Josh Smith at shortstop and third base when Seager and Jung need a break or are injured. Foscue has worked out at first base but so have Smith and designated hitter Joc Pederson. Top prospect Sebastian Walcott is a shortstop by trade and, even at 18 years old, isn’t all that far from the big leagues.<\/p>\n

It’s a good problem for the Rangers. It’s a bad one for Foscue. "He’s got a really good skill set that profiles to be a solid major league player," Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. "The question is, ‘How does he get that opportunity here?’ He’s gonna have to really hit to get it here… [last year’s struggles were] typical. Young players need some time. So I can’t say when or where that opportunity is going to come, but when it does come, he’s going to have to seize it, right?"<\/p>\n

Right. The same goes for Harris, too. That’s the way things go for those in the uncomfortable middle.<\/p>\n

FAQs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: What are the main challenges facing Harris and Foscue in making the Rangers’ roster?
\nA: Both players are in the "elder prospect" category, meaning they made their major league debuts last season but have yet to solidify their roles. They face stiff competition from established players and younger prospects.<\/p>\n

Q: What are their strengths?
\nA: Harris has speed and can play three outfield positions, while Foscue has a strong bat and is a former first-round pick.<\/p>\n

Q: What are their weaknesses?
\nA: Harris’ power is decent but not exceptional, while Foscue struggled in his major league debut and has a long way to go to prove himself.<\/p>\n

Q: What are their chances of making the Rangers’ roster?
\nA: Both players face an uphill battle, but Harris’ speed and versatility give him a slight edge. Foscue’s bat will need to carry him if he’s to break through.<\/p>\n

Q: What’s the Rangers’ thinking on these players?
\nA: The team values both players’ skills but acknowledges the competition they face. They’re willing to give them a chance to prove themselves, but it won’t be easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Uncomfortable Middle: Harris and Foscue’s Quest for a Major League Spot SURPRISE, Ariz. \u2014 Look, it’s not necessarily this simple, but big league spring training can sometimes be boiled down to three factions: those who’ve been in the majors, those who’re expected to be this season, and those who hope to maybe get there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-919","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/NNJPTYWOGNDKTEOFFB7INS5EGY.jpg?auth=4907f2d8772857fc6e7f10d541717f518bf62cc2672a0e28c1cd9fa96297717e&height=630&width=1200&smart=true&quality=80","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=919"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":921,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/919\/revisions\/921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/dallas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}