2026 MLB Draft: Baseball America has released their latest mock draft — V.3.0 if you’re keeping track at home — and they have the Texas Rangers, at #16, selecting righthanded pitcher Cameron Flukey out of Coastal Carolina.
Flukey is not someone who, coming into the season, would generally have been seen up to this point as being available when the Rangers pick. BA currently has him at #7 on their draft board, while MLB Pipeline slots him at #13. However, Flukey was sidelined earlier this year with a rib issue (BA says rib strain, MLB Pipeline says rib stress fracture), and has struggled in the few outings he has had since his return.
Interestingly, Keith Law has the Rangers taking University of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron in his latest mock draft, which came out last week, but also mentions Flukey as a possibility for Texas at #16, ultimately mocking Flukey to the Astros at #17 (and marveling that Flukey might drop that far).
Jim Callis, in his mock draft that dropped on Friday, also has the Rangers taking Lebron at #16. Lebron profiles as a toolsy, true shortstop with four potential plus tools, and is currently #5 on the MLB Pipeline board. However, there are real questions about Lebron’s hit tool, and he’s slashing just .266/.386/.516 this seasonl albeit with an impressive 36 stolen bases in 37 attempts.
The Rangers have gotten away from the tool sheds with questionable hit tools in recent years, so Lebron would be a bit of a surprise. College pitchers with injury issues, though, have been the Rangers’ jam of late. Flukey is a guy with a four pitch mix and a quality fastball that he throws for strikes, and could move quickly. If he drops because of the rib injury, he would seem to be a fit with the Rangers at #16.