Who is Gavin Fien? 5 things to know about the Texas Rangers’ 2025 first-round pick

After years of taking college talent in the first round, the Texas Rangers have gone a different direction in 2025.

The Rangers selected prep infielder Gavin Fien from Great Oak HS in California with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft.

Here are five things to know about Texas’ newest first-round prospect:

1. The basics

Rangers

Name: Gavin Fien (pronounced ‘FEEN’)

Birthdate: March 8, 2007 (18 years old)

School: Great Oak High School in Temecula, Calif.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-3

Weight: 200 lbs.

2. He represents a change in Rangers’ draft history

Fien joins the Rangers organization after Texas selected him No. 12 overall in the 2025 MLB draft. He joins a talented crop of Rangers first-round selections in recent years. That group includes several major contributors on this year’s big league roster including Wyatt Langford (2023), Kumar Rocker (2022) and Jack Leiter (2021).

The Rangers’ latest selection also marks the first time they have used their first-round pick on a high school talent in six years. The last time they did so was in 2018 when they selected pitcher Cole Winn out of Orange Lutheran HS in California. Winn is currently at Triple-A Round Rock, but has pitched in the big leagues the last two seasons. He has a 1.59 ERA across 17 MLB innings this season.

3. Future third baseman?

The biggest question surrounding Fien is whether he will stick at shortstop. Listed at 6-3, there’s a chance he slides over to third base after playing short in high school. In fact, MLB Pipeline lists him at the hot corner already.

Prior to the draft, MLB Pipeline ranked him the No. 22 prospect in the class while Baseball America had him at No. 31.

Pipeline’s evaluation touted him as an early-round selection “especially after a summer showcase circuit where many evaluators thought he was the best prep hitter in the class.”

4. Sorry, Longhorns

Fien was committed to the Texas Longhorns for a potential college baseball career, but indicated he would forgo that opportunity after being selected near the top of the first round.

Not terribly surprising, but Gavin Fien indicated he was foregoing his commitment to Texas to sign with Rangers, so it appears a deal is already in place.

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 14, 2025

5. He’s played for Team USA

Fien played on Team USA’s U18 team that won the gold medal at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier last summer. He impressed across eight games at first base. He hit .400 with a 1.109 OPS, 11 RBI and seven runs scored.

🚨 Gavin Fien Appreciation Post 🚨

Fien led the tournament with 17 total bases and ranked in the top three in RBIs (11), hits (10), doubles (3), and triples (2).

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/LQadHfUtSz

— USA Baseball 18U (@USABaseball18U) August 14, 2024

Texas Rangers 2025 MLB draft central: Full list of picks, analysis, more