Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Acker pitched at three colleges in three years, bouncing from Rice to San Jacinto (Texas) JC to Oklahoma before joining the Athletics as a fourth-rounder in 2020. Because of the pandemic shutdown, he didn't make his pro debut until after he got traded with Jonah Heim and Khris Davis to the Rangers for Elvis Andrus and Aramis Garcia in February 2021. His four-seam fastball soared to 94-99 mph and his curveball jumped into the mid-80s that spring, but he blew out his elbow two starts into the season and hasn't shown that stuff again since having Tommy John surgery that May.

More of a low-90s two-seamer guy in college, Acker settled in at 92-94 mph and topped out at 96 with carry and run on his four-seamer last summer after missing the first six weeks of the season with shoulder issues. He has good shape on his curveball, though it's back to sitting at 78-82 mph. His fading mid-80s changeup was easily his best pitch in 2023, both in terms of landing in the zone and missing bats.

Acker continues to stand out with his intelligence and mound presence, though he hasn't fully regained the feel for pitching he had before his elbow reconstruction. He struggled to throw both his fastball and slider for consistent strikes last year, though he still managed to compile a 2.54 ERA, .182 average-against and 76 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A. He may not have the same mid-rotation ceiling he flashed in 2021, but the Rangers still like his potential as a starter and could expedite him to the Majors as a multi-inning reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Acker spent three years in college at three different schools, moving from Rice to San Jacinto (Texas) JC to Oklahoma before signing with the Athletics as a fourth-rounder in 2020. The pandemic shutdown meant that he never pitched in a game in Oakland's system before he got traded along with Khris Davis and Jonah Heim to Texas for Elvis Andrus and Aramis Garcia in February 2021. He created a lot of excitement with dramatically improved stuff that spring, but he blew his elbow out after two Single-A starts and had Tommy John surgery in May.

A sinker/slider guy who operated in the low-90s and threw four pitches for strikes at Oklahoma, Acker suddenly whipped out a 94-99 mph four-seamer and a low-80s curveball with improved power and spin in his two 2021 starts. When he returned to the mound last summer, neither pitch was nearly as overwhelming. He did show more consistency with a fading mid-80s changeup that earned plus grades and also worked in some average low-80s sliders.

Acker didn't fully regain his feel for pitching last season, typical for pitchers in the early stages of coming back from elbow reconstruction, but he has the potential for plus control with at least average command. The Rangers will have a better idea of what exactly they have in him when he pitches a full season in 2023 and are encouraged that his stuff looked stronger during offseason workouts. His intelligence and competitive drive will help him get the most out of his ability. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Acker pitched at three colleges in three years, going from Rice to San Jacinto (Texas) JC to Oklahoma and turning down the Diamondbacks as a 23rd-rounder in 2019 before signing with the Athletics as a fourth-rounder in 2020. He never played for Oakland, which traded him along with Khris Davis and Jonah Heim to acquire Elvis Andrus and Aramis Garcia in February 2021. He displayed spectacular stuff in two Low-A starts before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John surgery in May. 

In his last college season with the Sooners, Acker was a sinker/slider guy who worked in the low 90s and relied on throwing four pitches for strikes. In his two pro starts -- admittedly a small sample size -- he unveiled a four-seam fastball that ranged from 94-99 mph and a low-80s downer curveball with improved power and spin. He also flashed some plus upper-80s changeups and average mid-80s sliders. 

Acker returned to the mound this summer with a little less fastball and curveball but a more consistent changeup. He's an intelligent and competitive pitcher who repeats his delivery and throws strikes, so he doesn't need overwhelming velocity to succeed. Once considered a floor-over-ceiling guy, he now has a shot at pitching in the front half of a big league rotation if he regains the stuff he showed in his brief pro debut. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/07/2024	Texas Rangers Prospects activated RHP Dane Acker.
	07/03/2023	RHP Dane Acker assigned to Frisco RoughRiders.
	07/03/2023	Frisco RoughRiders activated RHP Dane Acker.
	07/03/2023	Frisco RoughRiders activated RHP Dane Acker.
	05/24/2023	Hickory Crawdads activated RHP Dane Acker from the 7-day injured list.
	05/24/2023	Hickory Crawdads activated RHP Dane Acker from the 7-day injured list.
	04/06/2023	Hickory Crawdads placed RHP Dane Acker on the 7-day injured list.
	08/21/2022	RHP Dane Acker assigned to Hickory Crawdads from ACL Rangers.
	08/16/2022	RHP Dane Acker assigned to ACL Rangers from Down East Wood Ducks.
	08/14/2022	Down East Wood Ducks activated RHP Dane Acker from the 60-day injured list.
	07/16/2022	Down East Wood Ducks sent RHP Dane Acker on a rehab assignment to ACL Rangers.
	06/17/2021	Down East Wood Ducks placed RHP Dane Acker on the 60-day injured list.
	05/19/2021	Down East Wood Ducks placed RHP Dane Acker on the 7-day injured list.
	05/02/2021	RHP Dane Acker assigned to Down East Wood Ducks from AZL Rangers.
	02/06/2021	RHP Dane Acker assigned to AZL Rangers.
	02/06/2021	Oakland Athletics traded LF Khris Davis, C Jonah Heim and RHP Dane Acker to Texas Rangers for SS Elvis Andrus, C Aramis Garcia and cash.
	06/23/2020	RHP Dane Acker assigned to AZL Athletics Gold.
	06/22/2020	Oakland Athletics signed RHP Dane Acker.
	02/26/2020	RHP Dane Acker assigned to Oklahoma Sooners.