Over the next six weeks, MLB-DI will take a look at each teams draft class, breaking down the best — and most questionable — over the past week.

Next up: The Texas Rangers. The Rangers had one of my least favorite drafts of 2011, reaching significantly for Kevin Mathews and Zach Cone and taking an unsignable Derek Fisher. How did the Rangers fare this year?

To the jump!

The Decision Makers

General Manager: John Daniels

Director, Scouting: Kip Fagg

College: 24

Prep: 19

Pitchers: 26

Position Players: 21

LHP: 08

RHP: 18

Catchers: o3

Corner infielders: 02

Middle infielders: 03

Outfielders: 09

 The First Ten Rounds

Value Key:

Steal: Player was selected several rounds — or in the case of the first-round, several picks — earlier than his value indicated.

Solid: Player was taken later than his value indicated.

Average: Player was selected where his value indicated.

Slight-reach: Player was taken slightly earlier than his value indicated.

Reach: Player was drafted several rounds or picks earlier than his value indicated.

Analysis

Coming into the year, Brinson wasn’t on many radars as a first-day type of guy, but a strong showing in the summer showcases along with a decent enough senior campaign elevated his stock. I thought he was more of a supplemental guy — everything is extremely raw and  I’m not sure the hit tool will ever be average — but if he maxes out, he could be great value.

Gallo put up absolutely monster numbers — and he was the only one of my top 100 that I gave an 80 grade to outside of speed — but he’s a 30 hit grade now, and he really struggled against the better talent of the NHSI. If he can stay at third, he becomes a steal, but he’s likely a third-baseman, with a basement of a relief pitcher with a mid 90′s fastball.

A few days before the draft:

Source: What do you know about Colin Wiles?

Me: Not a lot, he’s committed to Vanderbilt I think, why?

Source: No reason.

Wiles was not only not a top 200 guy for me, but at over slot? Crazy

Jarmon has tons of athleticism and a solid arm, but right now he’s an athlete and not a baseball player thanks to limited experience on the diamond. He’s shown enough for me to put him in my top 100, however, and with some solid development could become an everyday center-fielder.

Williams began the year in my top twenty, but he didn’t show great at the showcases, and the senior season was mediocre at best. There’s raw power in his bat, but he tries to pull everything, and doesn’t have a great idea at the plate right now. Again, a talented kid, but light-years away from contributing to the organization.

Cantwell can definitely stick at catcher, but I doubt he can hit enough to play everyday. Maybe a long-term backup thanks to the glove and arm, however.

I really liked the selection of Beck in the sixth round. He’s got above-average power from the left side, and he should be able to get on base enough to play everyday with an absolute gun of an arm as well. He’s not as sexy as some of these other outfielders he took, but he can play and I thought would go in the third or fourth round.

Final Thoughts

High-risk, high-reward. This is the definition of the Rangers draft. There’s a chance that none of these bats selected can play everyday, but there’s also All-Star upside in their DNA as well, particularly in Brinson and Gallo. I admire the Rangers for taking chances with their class, but I do wonder if the risk slightly outweighs the reward.