2016 Draft Report Card: Texas Rangers

BEST PURE HITTER: After a slow start in the Rookie-level Arizona League, 3B Kole Enright (3) showed why the Rangers believed in him more than much of the industry. He’s a switch-hitter with a short-swing from both sides who already has showed he can make adjustments.

BEST POWER HITTER: C Sam Huff (7) showed pop to the gaps in his debut in Arizona, and the Phoenix native has power-hitter size at 6-foot-4 and close to 230 pounds.

FASTEST RUNNER: Texas signed OF Kobie Taylor (15) away from Vanderbilt for $350,000. He’s at least a plus runner with instincts and athleticism who has a chance to fit the center field profile.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS/3B Charles LeBlanc (4) and Huff are both tall for their positions but have requisite arm strength for their jobs. The Canadian LeBlanc probably fits better at third base long-term at 6-foot-4.

BEST FASTBALL: Athletic and wiry, RHP Alex Speas (2) had one of the liveliest arms in the 2016 draft class, sitting 95-96 mph with his fastball and touching 99. LHP Kyle Roberts (5), as raw as Speas if not moreso as a junior college draftee, also has hit 99.

BEST SECONDARY: LHP Cole Ragans has a firm fastball at 92-93 mph, but his feel for his curveball and changeup, as well as pitchability, made him Texas’ top pick. His changeup is more advanced and close to consistently above-average now, but both have plus potential.

BEST PRO DEBUT: Enright wound up hitting .313/.378/.420, ranking sixth in the AZL in batting. Huff lacked the plate appearances to qualify but batting .330/.436/.485 in 97 at-bats.

BEST ATHLETE: Speas’ athleticism has allowed him to address some flaws in his amateur delivery in short order. RHP Tyree Thompson (26) may top him with a similarly loose, lean, athletic frame at a listed 6-foot-4, 165 pounds. The Louisiana prep product was committed to play basketball and baseball at Northwestern State.

MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Thompson rivals fellow RHP Tai Tiedemann, who was the quarterback at famed Long Beach Poly High before switching more to baseball after he was beaten out for the signal-caller job. The 6-foot-6 Roberts didn’t pitch as a high school senior and never had a pitching coach as an amateur.

CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: RHP Kyle Cody (6), an unsigned second-round pick in 2015 (Twins), has added maturity and has a big arm, capable of pitching at 93-95 mph with sink. The Rangers hope to keep his front shoulder closed more and to lengthen his stride in his delivery to help the enigmatic righty find his footing.

BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: Taylor and Thompson both have the athleticism and twitchy bodies the Rangers covet and have had success at developing.

THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: The Rangers weren’t able to corral RHP Herbie Good (36), who spent the spring working out at Driveline Baseball in Puyallup, Wash., where he’s trained for at least four years. The 6-foot-8 righty can sit 92-94 mph with his fastball and headed to JC of Southern Nevada.