The Texas Rangers selected TCU product and McKinney Boyd High School graduate Ben Abeldt in the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Abeldt — the Rangers’ second pick of day two of the MLB Draft after Nebraska pitcher Mason McConnaughey — missed the entire 2025 season with TCU after suffering an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. But in 2024 Abeldt went 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA and eight saves in 44.1 innings of work.
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On Tuesday, the Rangers also held an introductory press conference for first-round pick Gavin Fien, who the team selected with the 12th pick.
Fien, a Temecula native who was drafted straight out of Great Oaks High School, spoke about what it felt like to have his MLB dreams come true.
“Words can’t even describe it honestly. Just being an 18-year-old out of high school, what this means for me and my family, the hard work I put in throughout the years, just the grind and the ups and downs to be able to be a part of such a quality organization is just so incredible and something I’ll forever be grateful for,” said Fien.
Texas Rangers senior director of amateur scouting Kip Fagg explained what made Fien stand out from a talented crop of high school players.
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“First and foremost, kinda the person,” said Fagg, “Getting to know him and what kind of kid he is, we knew what kind of drive he had and determination plus the ability to have a guy we believe is a plus power, plus hit player, who’s gonna defend and play both sides of the ball and be an offensive threat and have a chance to hit in the middle of your lineup. So cant access those guys a lot and we feel like we accessed one this year.”
At Great Oaks, Fien hit .358 with five home runs, 16 RBIs with eight stolen bases in 30 games with the Wolfpack.