Taking a look at potential Texas Rangers draft pick Gavin Fien
2025 MLB Draft Preview: Gavin Fien scouting report
The 2025 MLB Draft is exactly 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 California prep infielder Gavin Fien.
Gavin Fien is a righthanded hitting infielder out of Great Oak High School in Temecula, California. His brother, Dylan Fien, was drafted out of Great Oak by Oakland in the seventh round in 2024, and got an above-slot $550,000 bonus. He is currently committed to the University of Texas. While currently playing shortstop, he is listed as a third baseman in most pre-draft write-ups. He is listed at 6’3”, 200 lbs, and turned 18 in March.
Fien is considered one of the top prep hitters in this draft class, with a quality hit tool and power tool and good plate discipline. His hitting performance over the summer, which included playing for the United States U18 team, was extremely impressive, though he struggled more than expected in his high school season this spring. Every write-up notes that he has an “unorthodox” setup and swing, and that’s something that may have contributed to his (relatively) down spring, and may be something a team will look to work with him on as a pro.
Fien has played all over the diamond, including at first base for Team USA this past summer. He has the tools, including the arm, to play third base long-term, with a corner outfield spot or first base also potential options.
Baseball America has Fien at #31 on their top 500 list. MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings have Fien at #26. Keith Law’s top 100 list has Fien at #13. Kiley McDaniel’s top 150 list has Fien at #13. Fangraphs has Fien as part of their FV 40 group on their board.
In his mock draft from late May, Kiley McDaniel has Fien going to Boston at #15. Baseball America’s most recent mock has Fien going to the Arizona Diamondbacks at #29, with their previous mock having him going to the Phillies at #26. Keith Law’s mock draft has Fien to the Rays at #14. Jim Callis’s mock draft from the end of May has Fien going to the Rays at #14 but also mentions him as a possibility with Boston at #15 and Arizona at #18. Jonathan Mayo’s mid-May mock draft has Fien going to the Royals at #23. Jim Callis’s June 12 mock draft has Fien going to the Rangers at #12.
I opted to write up Fien today since he was who Callis has going to Texas in the mock draft he released today. Callis says that the Rangers are linked to prep infielders at #12, and Fien would fit their tendency for more hittery types than the toolsy types.
One could argue that #12 is too high for Fien, given his struggles this spring, though his track record against high level opponents is good enough that he could still end up going at that part of the draft. Keith Law noted that Fien’s timing this spring appears to have been off, and argues that that is something that is easier to address than excessively chasing of breaking balls off the plate or other problems you can see with prep bats.
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