Winston Santos is nearing a return for the Texas Rangers after a back stress reaction kept him sidelined since April. A live bullpen session in Surprise set him up for an Arizona Complex League appearance this Friday, with a Double-A Frisco assignment looming once cleared. Santos is part of a trio of Rangers right-handed prospects—Jose Corniell and Caden Scarborough—ranked No. 3 and No. 8 by MLB Pipeline, respectively, illustrating a deep, talented depth chart in the Texas system. Santos, 23, previously posted a 3.18 ERA across two Frisco starts this season before the injury, and logged 3.67 ERA in 110 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A last year. He even flashed in Spring Breakout action versus a Giants prospect group, throwing three scoreless frames. The club signed him out of the Dominican Republic for a modest $10,000 six years ago, underscoring a payoff prospecting often yields when health returns.

Corniell and Scarborough form the other two arms in the Rangers’ top prospects cadre, each carrying a high ceiling in a system known for its pitching depth. The mention of a pending ACL-related hurdle for Santos’ full return underscores the caution in projecting a rapid, gate-crashing arrival, but the pathway is clear: efficient rehab, a measured ramp, and continued performance in the minors could push both Corniell and Scarborough into real MLB consideration as the season progresses. The Giants’ spring showcase of top prospects provided a benchmark backdrop for this Texas group, highlighting the level of competition Santos and his fellow Rays could soon face on the big stage.