A 2024 draft pick for the Texas Rangers might play a key role in rejuvenating the team’s catching prospect pipeline.
July 26, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A Texas Rangers player’s hat and glove are displayed during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Julian Brock earned the Carolina League Player of the Week award for August 12-18 due to his performance with the team’s Class-A affiliate in Down East. Texas selected Brock in the eighth round of last year’s draft from Louisiana, but he began his professional career only this season.
With the Wood Ducks, the 23-year-old hit .550 (11-20) last week, including a home run, a triple, five doubles, and three RBI over five games. On Saturday against Lynchburg, he had a season-high four hits and was just a single away from a cycle, also adding two doubles.
In 81 games with Down East, he has posted a .252/.328/.386/.714 slash line, with five home runs, four triples, 17 doubles, and 32 RBI. He ranks among the team leaders in doubles (tied for second), triples (tied for second), hits (third), and RBI (tied for third).
Defensively, he has thrown out 32 of 111 base stealers, achieving a 28.8% caught stealing rate, which is the fifth-best in the Carolina League among players with at least 75 stolen base attempts.
Brock is not listed among the Rangers’ Top 30 prospects. The only catcher from the Rangers’ organization included in this list is Malcolm Moore, who was drafted in the first round last month.
In his final season at Louisiana, Brock hit .315, leading the team with 11 home runs and 65 RBI. He earned First-Team All-Louisiana and Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He played a key role in helping Louisiana reach the NCAA Tournament and the Coral Gables Regional.
Brock also topped the team in slugging percentage (.559), walks (42), and multi-RBI games (18). Additionally, he ranked among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in total chances (520), putouts (451), and runners caught stealing (17).
In 2022, he was honored as a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and a second-team All-Louisiana pick after hitting .303 with seven home runs and 35 RBI.
During his college career, Brock also played for La Crosse in the Northwoods League in 2021 and Brewster in the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2023 before being
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