The Smartest Pick Rangers Made in 2020 MLB Draft

The 2020 MLB Draft is behind us, and we've already covered the biggest winners and losers of the event. If there was one team that didn't exactly endear themselves to draft experts and baseball media pundits, it was the Texas Rangers. A majority of their picks were off-the-wall selections, with the most confusing of them all being high school outfielder and Duke commit Evan Carter in the second round.

But the Rangers made one very smart move in their five-round draft, and that was selecting high school pitcher Dylan MacLean in the fourth round.

The left-handed pitcher out of Central Catholic High School in Oregon was touted by Baseball America as a sleeper prospect, thanks in part to his workout with fellow top pitching prospect and Philadelphia Phillies first-round pick Mick Abel back in February.

MacLean doesn't have overpowering stuff, but has shown a propensity to strikeout batters with his fastball, changeup and curveball. In workouts prior to the coronavirus pandemic, MacLean actually increased his fastball velocity from the mid-80's to 92 MPH in workouts after adding more muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame.

Out of all Texas' picks, MacLean has the highest ceiling. While he's committed to Washington with the hope of becoming a top pick a few years down the line, the Rangers can sign him to above slot value and convince him to join their farm system and kick off his pro career right now. That's thanks to Texas' earlier selections of Carter, Justin Foscue and Tekoah Roby.

Granted, MacLean has plenty of time to go before he can make it to the majors, but the wait could really be worthwhile for the Rangers.