Hearn was drafted four straight years (2012-2015) and was traded in both 2016 and 2018. His 2019 stands to be far more stable, with the biggest question being whether this will be the year that he makes his Major League debut. The Royse City product features a mid-90s fastball that has touched 100, and he’s made significant strides with his slider and changeup, giving Texas confidence that he can work as a starter in the big leagues. Standing 6’5, Hearn gets tremendous extension and is able to elevate in the zone, cut in on right-handed hitters, or bury a two-seamer to generate his fair share of ground balls. In what was his first year at the AA level, first with Altoona in the Pirates system and then with Frisco following the Keone Kela trade that brought him (and third baseman Sherten Apostel) to Texas, Hearn struck out nearly 10 batters per nine innings and held opponents to an anemic .216/.289/.335 slash line. He threw nearly 30 more innings than his previous career high and lost some effectiveness late in the year, but the Rangers, who added him to the 40-man roster in November, hope that the big southpaw is able to take the next step with a less tumultuous season ahead. Club officials rave about Hearn’s makeup and his penchant for improving aspects of his game each season. The Rangers aren’t going to rush the 24-year-old to Arlington, but this is a young man who may force the issue at some point this summer.