Mitch Bratt and Sebastian Walcott starred at High A Hickory, and Blaine Crim shined at Triple A Round Rock.
ARLINGTON — The Rangers’ full-season affiliates find themselves in the dog days of their seasons, when temperatures heat up and players really start to feel the grind of a full campaign.
However, some players thrive in the heat and the grind, warming up at the plate or on the mound. Some of that coincides with finally getting comfortable or working out some mechanical flaws, but some players are just built that way.
Some of them are among the 10 best players in the Rangers system for July. However, a few of the July stars have been hot all season and are appearing in the monthly superlatives for a second time.
Check them out below:
Blaine Crim, 1B
Affiliate: Triple A Round Rock
Key stats: .453 average, 1.217 OPS, 17 walks
The only hitter in baseball hotter than Crim is Bobby Witt Jr. Crim tore up the Pacific Coast League, walked more times than he struck out, and dragged the rest of the Round Rock offense with him. The Rangers have shown a willingness this season to promote hot hitters in the minors to the majors. Crim, a first baseman, is sizzling.
Dustin Harris, OF
Affiliate: Triple A Round Rock
Key stats: .367 average, .939 OPS, seven steals
Harris is one of several Round Rock players who aren’t hitting home runs this (he has seven), but he collected eight doubles in July and posted a .509 slugging percentage. He has also made 36 starts this season in center field, where the Rangers haven’t received much production. Harris is on the 40-man roster and moves up the pecking order with Even Carter (back) likely out for the season.
Ryan Garcia, RHP
Affiliate: Double A Frisco
Key stats: 3-0, 2.82 ERA, .188 opponents average 0.99 WHIP
Garcia’s first go-round at Double A in 2023 was bumpy, and he didn’t start well this season. Things started to turn around for him in May, and he has dropped his ERA to 3.95 thanks to a solid July. The Rangers’ second-rounder in 2019 (UCLA), Garcia overcame medical issues early in his career. He’s trending the right way again on the field.
Alejandro Osuna, OF
Affiliate: Double A Frisco
Key stats: .304 average, .955 OPS, 11 extra-base hits
Osuna is making a case to be the Rangers Minor League Player of the Year. After graduating from High A Hickory in late June, Osuna has been a key cog as Frisco remains atop its Texas League division after winning it in the first half. Osuna has some pop, is a solid defender and runs the bases well.
Mitch Bratt, LHP
Affiliate: High A Hickory
Key stats: 0.49 ERA, 18 1/3 innings, 26 Ks, 3 BBs, .175 opponents average
Bratt was promoted this week to Frisco, where he allowed only one hit over five innings in his Double A debut. It was an extension of his July, which was an extension of June. Bratt is a premium strike-thrower, and his velocity has ticked up from early in the season. He just turned 21, too, so he’s tracking just fine.
Sebastian Walcott, SS
Affiliate: High A Hickory
Key stats: .320/.393/.533 slash line, 10 extra-base hits, six steals
Walcott’s July included an appearance in the Futures Game, and that alone might have made it the best month of his career. But he also produced in July, clubbing seven doubles and three homers en route to a .926 OPS. He had a solid June and built upon it. Keep in mind: He’s only 18.
Jose Gonzalez, RHP
Affiliate: Low A Down East
Key stats: 1.35 ERA, .155 opponents average, 25 Ks, 6 BBs
Gonzalez returns to the monthly superlatives and should soon be moving up to Hickory. There’s not much more for him to do at Hickory after posting a 2.08 ERA, 100 strikeouts and only 15 walks over his first 73 2/3 innings. The Rangers need to create a spot for him at Hickory, which seems manageable. He certainly deserves it.
Izack Tiger, RHP
Affiliate: Low A Down East
Key stats: 1.20 ERA, .160 opponents average, 18 strikeouts, 15 innings
Included in the 2023 seventh-rounder’s month were five no-hit innings July 13. He was promoted earlier this week to Hickory, where he debuted with five two-hit innings Thursday. Each of his seven strikeouts came on sliders after he forced hitters to sit on his upper-90s fastball velocity. After missing the first few months because of an elbow injury, Tiger is pitching as the Rangers envisioned.
Jose de Jesus, OF
Affiliate: Arizona Complex League/Low A Down East
Key stats: .400 average, 1.001 OPS, nine extra-base hits
The Rangers’ team in Arizona reached the postseason thanks, in part, to de Jesus, signed to a seven-figure bonus in 2022. He is still growing into his power, as he hasn’t homered this season, but his season isn’t over. He was bumped to Down East, where he went 4 for 10 in his first two games.
Braylin Morel, OF
Affiliate: Arizona Complex League
Key stats: .407 average, 1.566 OPS, eight extra-base hits, 27 at-bats
Morel was enjoying a massive July, going 11 for 27, and was a sure-fire promotion to Down East once the complex season ended. However, he suffered a broken hamate bone that required surgery and could keep him out the rest of the season. The 18-year-old, though, is rocketing up various prospect rankings and is a player to watch in 2025.
Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com
