Taking a look at potential Texas Rangers draft pick Charles Davalan
2025 MLB Draft Preview: Charles Davalan scouting report
The 2025 MLB Draft is a little over a month away — the first round kicks off on July 13, 2025 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #12, their second round pick is at #52, and their third round pick is at #84.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at University of Arkansas outfielder Charles Davalan.
Charles Davalan is a 21 year old lefthanded hitting outfielder who is a draft-eligible sophomore at the University of Arkansas. Originally from Canada, he transferred to the TNXL Academy in Florida for his senior year in 2023, then spent 2024 at Florida Gulf Coast University. He transferred to Arkansas for the 2025 season. He is listed at 5’9”, 190 lbs.
Davalan is a hitter first and foremost. He gets great marks for his hit tool, combining very good plate discipline with an ability to make contact. The scouting reports on him describe him as having gap power, with there being some questions about how much power he will end up having as a pro, though Keith Law, for one, sees him having at least average game power.
Davalan’s long-term position is something of a question — he split his time in 2024 between right field and second base, played center field in the Cape Cod League last summer, then playing mostly left field, with a little bit of center, for Arkansas this year. His arm probably won’t play in right field or third base, so if he can’t stick up the middle he probably will end up in left field. Both BA and MLB Pipeline have a 55 run on him, with MLB Pipeline describing him as a high energy guy.
As a freshman (albeit a 20 year old freshman) at Florida Gulf Coast, Davalan slashed .288/.413/.514 in 276 plate appearances, with 35 Ks against 28 walks. Facing stiffer competition upon joining Arkansas, Davalan nonetheless improved in 2025, slashing .355/.444/.586 with 34 walks against 24 Ks and 14 homers in 298 plate appearances.
Baseball America has Davalan at #62 on their top 500 list. MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings have Davalan at #55. Keith Law’s top 100 list has Davalan checking in at #25. Kiley McDaniel’s top 150 list has Davalan at #52. Fangraphs does not have Davalan on their board.
The only mock draft with Davalan in it is Law’s early May mock, which has Davalan going to the Guardians at #27.
Davalan is an interesting case. If he were bigger he’d likely be a certain first rounder. If he were a shortstop he’d likely be a certain first rounder. If he had a longer track record he might not be a certain first rounder, but would probably go higher. The great hit tool means he will likely go in the first two-three rounds — possibly even to the Rangers at #52 — but the questions about the overall package give one pause.
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