Texas Rangers Take High School SS with Second Pick in First Round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

By virtue of losing Josh Hamilton to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in free agency, the Texas Rangers had two picks in the First Round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The Rangers first pick came at No. 23 and they went with pitching. RHP Alex Gonzales from Oral Roberts was selected by the Rangers. Gonzales is a junior who went 9-5 with a 1.83 ERA this season. According to MLB.com, Gonzales throws a cut fastball that can reach 94 mph along with a slider, curve and changeup.

For their second pick in the First Round, the Rangers went down to the high school ranks. At No. 30 the Rangers drafted SS Travis Demeritte from Winder Barrow HS in Georgia. The 6'1" Demeritte also pitched during his high school career. If Demeritte doesn't sign with the Rangers, he would play collegiately for the South Carolina Gamecocks.