The Texas Rangers have added another name to their list of top prospects, giving them two players in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings. While much of the attention has been focused on shortstop Sebastian Walcott, a second rising talent has quietly made his way into the spotlight.
Pitching prospect Caden Scarborough has now entered the Top 100 rankings. His inclusion came after Baltimore Orioles prospect Samuel Basallo graduated from prospect status. This shift created an opening, allowing Scarborough—who was previously just outside the Top 100—to move up into the list.
Prospects typically graduate when they exceed rookie eligibility limits. This includes surpassing 130 at-bats, pitching more than 50 innings, or spending over 45 days on a Major League roster. Since the regular season began, Basallo has been one of at least three players to graduate, making room for others like Scarborough to rise.
Currently, Scarborough has not yet been assigned to a minor league affiliate for the 2026 season. He was not included in the Rangers’ initial roster announcements and remains in Arizona participating in extended spring training. His delayed arrival to camp was due to a medical issue—he underwent surgery in February to remove melanoma that was discovered during a routine check-up.
Once he is fully ready, Scarborough is expected to either return to High-A Hub City, where he finished the 2025 season, or receive a promotion to Double-A Frisco. A move to Frisco would mark a significant step forward in his development, as it is one of the Rangers’ higher-level minor league teams.
At just 20 years old, Scarborough has already shown impressive potential. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Harmony High School in Florida. Despite a modest win-loss record of 2-5 last season, his overall performance was outstanding. He recorded a 2.45 ERA across 21 appearances and struck out 114 batters in just 88 innings. He also demonstrated strong control, issuing only 21 walks. This resulted in an impressive 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio—an indicator of elite pitching ability. Opponents struggled against him, managing only a .181 batting average, while his WHIP stood at an excellent 0.88.
Scarborough currently relies on two main pitches: a fastball that can reach speeds of up to 97 mph and a slider in the low 80s with sharp, sweeping movement. However, scouts believe that adding a reliable change-up will be crucial for his continued growth and long-term success.
His progress is particularly important for the Rangers, especially after the team traded away several promising left-handed pitchers last year in an attempt to strengthen their playoff chances. Among those traded were Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman—three of the organization’s top 15 left-handed pitching prospects—in exchange for veteran Merrill Kelly.
As a result, Scarborough’s development could play a key role in rebuilding the team’s pitching depth and shaping the Rangers’ future success.
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