Rangers Ink Two Injured College Arms to Below-Slot Deals as Draft Signings Begin
The Texas Rangers have secured contracts with their first two picks from the 2025 MLB Draft, both collegiate pitchers recovering from injuries, as they work toward finalizing their entire draft class before the July 28 deadline.
Multiple outlets, including MLB.com and The Dallas Morning News, reported that TCU left-hander and fifth-round selection Ben Abeldt has signed with the team. According to The Morning News, the Rangers also signed fourth-round pick Mason McConnaughey from Nebraska.
Both players reportedly agreed to under-slot bonuses. McConnaughey, taken 115th overall, was slotted for a $661,000 bonus but signed for $495,825. Abeldt, the 146th pick, was due $489,200 and will receive $450,000. These savings could give the Rangers more flexibility when negotiating with higher-round selections, including their top two picks who are each due over $1 million.
Abeldt, who underwent elbow surgery earlier this year performed by the Rangers’ team surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, had been projected to be a mainstay in TCU’s 2025 rotation. In 2024, the McKinney native was one of the Horned Frogs’ most reliable bullpen arms, notching a 1.83 ERA across 25 appearances, collecting eight saves, and striking out 54 batters in 44.1 innings. His dominance earned him first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-America honors.
McConnaughey, meanwhile, was off to a strong start this past spring before a season-ending injury halted his campaign during the third weekend. In 2024, the southpaw posted a 9-3 record and a 3.45 ERA, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
While both pitchers were eligible to return to school as juniors, they opted to begin their professional careers with the Rangers instead.
Texas still has decisions to make on several high-profile selections, including first-rounder Gavin Fien, a high school shortstop with a $5.75 million slot value who may choose college, and second-rounder AJ Russell, a right-hander out of Tennessee, who is slotted at $1.85 million.
The Rangers’ recent draft history includes the likes of Wyatt Langford, now the team’s starting left fielder, as well as Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, who have both cracked the major league rotation. Their latest crop of draftees—headlined by Fien—could soon join them in shaping the franchise’s future.
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