The Texas Rangers are facing a significant challenge in rebuilding their pitching depth after a series of strategic missteps during the previous season. While acquiring right-hander Merril Kelly at the trade deadline was not entirely a mistake, the long-term implications of the deal have raised concerns within the organization. At the time, the Rangers needed additional starting pitching, and Kelly provided a short-term solution by making 10 starts with a 3-3 record and a 4.23 ERA. Over 55.1 innings, he recorded 46 strikeouts and 10 walks, which showed some promise.

However, the real issue lay in what the Rangers gave up to acquire Kelly. They traded away three top 15 prospects—left-handers Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and right-hander David Hagaman. This decision was further compounded when Kelly signed a two-year free agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, effectively leaving the Rangers with nothing in return for their valuable young talent. Additionally, the team surrendered two other left-handed prospects in separate trades, compounding the loss of depth in their pitching pipeline.

Despite these setbacks, there has been a silver lining in the form of Josh Trentadue, a left-handed pitcher who has emerged as one of the most intriguing stories in the Rangers’ organization. Before being drafted by Texas, Trentadue had an unconventional path through college baseball. He began his collegiate career at Division III Southern Virginia before transferring to the Junior College of Southern Idaho. There, he developed a reputation as one of the best strikeout pitchers at any level of college baseball, leading junior colleges with 16 strikeouts per 9 innings in 2023. This impressive rate is something that even many Major League pitchers would envy.

Trentadue’s performance caught the attention of the Rangers, who selected him in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft. However, he did not see much action with the organization immediately after being drafted. He pitched just 3.1 innings for the Arizona Complex League team, striking out eight and walking two.

In the 2024 season, Trentadue joined the Down East team, the Rangers’ Class A affiliate in the Carolina League. He posted a 3-5 record with a 4.46 ERA in 24 games, including eight starts. Despite the high ERA, his strikeout rate remained strong, as he struck out 92 hitters in 70.2 innings while only walking 29 batters. Batters hit .250 against him, indicating some control issues but also a solid ability to generate outs.

Trentadue took a major step forward in the 2024 season by reaching Double-A Frisco. Although he went 1-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 22 games, including 16 starts, his performance was impressive. In 77 innings, he struck out 84 batters, walked 34, and held opponents to a .185 batting average. These numbers highlight his potential as a future starter in the organization.

It is likely that Trentadue will begin the 2026 season at Frisco, given that he only made seven appearances there last year. However, a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock at some point during the 2026 season could be a significant milestone for a player who has the potential to contribute to the Rangers’ major league roster as early as 2027.