| PA | AB | R | H | HR | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | 45 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 1 | .244 | .320 | .311 | .631 |
| Career Minors | 93 | 83 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 2 | .301 | .355 | .446 | .801 |
| AVG | HR | SB | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | .244 | 0 | 1 | .631 |
| Career Minors | .301 | 1 | 2 | .801 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | HBP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 Teams | Minors | 21 | 93 | 83 | 12 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .301 | .355 | .446 | .801 | |
| 2025 | Hickory Crawdads | CAR | A | 10 | 43 | 38 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .368 | .395 | .605 | 1.000 |
| 2025 | Hub City Spartanburgers | SAL | A+ | 11 | 50 | 45 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .244 | .320 | .311 | .631 |
| Hub City Spartanburgers | SAL | A+ | 11 | 50 | 45 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .244 | .320 | .311 | .631 | |
| Hickory Crawdads | CAR | A | 10 | 43 | 38 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .368 | .395 | .605 | 1.000 | |
| Career Minors | 2 Teams | 21 | 93 | 83 | 12 | 25 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .301 | .355 | .446 | .801 |
Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40
Kling displayed five-tool potential as a Pennsylvania high schooler and could have gone in the first three rounds in 2022 if he hadn't withdrawn from the Draft to head to Louisiana State. He was part of a national championship team as a freshman but after struggling for two years and going unselected as a sophomore-eligible, he transferred to Penn State. He slashed .358/.470/.632 with 13 homers and 15 steals with the Nittany Lions, spurring the Rangers to sign him for an over-slot $375,000 as a seventh-rounder last July.
A right-handed hitter, Kling tried to do too much at the plate at LSU, getting pull-happy and struggling to make contact against non-fastballs. He did a better job of using the entire field at Penn State, though he still swung and missed at a 40 percent clip against non-heaters. His plus raw power and ability to drive balls in the air give him 25-homer upside, though his hitting ability remains a question.
Kling possesses plus speed but isn't especially daring on the bases. He's a versatile defender with the range to cover center field and the arm strength to handle right. He has a higher ceiling than most Rangers prospects but also a lot to prove at the plate.
Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40
Kling displayed five-tool potential as a Pennsylvania high schooler and could have gone in the first three rounds in 2022 if he hadn't withdrawn from the Draft to head to Louisiana State. He was part of a national championship team as a freshman but after struggling for two years and going unselected as a sophomore-eligible, he transferred to Penn State. He slashed .358/.470/.632 with 13 homers and 15 steals with the Nittany Lions, spurring the Rangers to sign him for an over-slot $375,000 as a seventh-rounder last July.
A right-handed hitter, Kling tried to do too much at the plate at LSU, getting pull-happy and struggling to make contact against non-fastballs. He did a better job of using the entire field at Penn State, though he still swung and missed at a 40 percent clip against non-heaters. His plus raw power and ability to drive balls in the air give him 25-homer upside, though his hitting ability remains a question.
Kling possesses plus speed but isn't especially daring on the bases. He's a versatile defender with the range to cover center field and the arm strength to handle right. He has a higher ceiling than most Rangers prospects but also a lot to prove at the plate.
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
A year ago, the Pennsylvania high school ranks outside of Harrisburg produced a toolsy outfielder who ended up being the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 Draft in Benny Montgomery. About two hours to the west, scouts are watching another prep outfielder with tools in Kling, who showed off glimpses of his skillset across summer showcase circuit events, driving the ball well at Area Codes and putting up good numbers for Team USA.
Like with Montgomery, not all scouts are true believers in Kling's hit tool. There are some moving parts to his swing, but when he's on time, he's shown the ability to really impact the ball. The right-handed hitter has legitimate raw power he tapped into over the summer and he's not afraid to work counts and draw walks.
Kling records some plus run times and his speed is an asset on both sides of the ball, giving him a good chance to stick in center field, though his above-average arm would play in a corner should a move be necessary. Teams are watching how the LSU commit swings the bat as the weather warms up in Pennsylvania to see if he can climb Draft boards, much like Montgomery did.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40
Kling was a well-regarded high school prospect with loud but raw tools coming out of central Pennsylvania in 2022, but he removed his name from consideration ahead of the Draft and headed to Louisiana State. After hitting just .250 with a 25.1 percent strikeout rate over two years, he entered the portal and came back home, transferring to Penn State, about an hour north of his hometown. He's done well in the Big Ten using those tools more consistently, though some questions still remain.
Kling, who could have been drafted as a sophomore in 2024, looks the part as a strong, athletic outfielder who can do a lot of things well on the diamond. The right-handed hitter has been making better swing decisions this year, which has helped him make better in-zone contact and tap into his plus raw power more consistently. He's always drawn walks, but while his strikeout rate is down some, there are scouts who worry about the swing-and-miss in his game.
In addition to getting to his power, Kling has been using his plus speed more consistently this year, reaching double digits in both steals and homers. There's also belief he can stick in center field with a strong arm, making the overall package more intriguing. A team that thinks he can make enough contact at the next level will consider him in the top five rounds.
| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
|
03/14/2026 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Texas Rangers. |
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03/05/2026 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Texas Rangers Prospects. |
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09/25/2025 | Hub City Spartanburgers activated OF Paxton Kling from the 7-day injured list. |
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09/06/2025 | Hub City Spartanburgers placed OF Paxton Kling on the 7-day injured list. |
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08/23/2025 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Hub City Spartanburgers from Hickory Crawdads. |
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08/23/2025 | Hub City Spartanburgers activated OF Paxton Kling. |
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08/12/2025 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Hickory Crawdads from ACL Rangers. |
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08/04/2025 | ACL Rangers activated OF Paxton Kling. |
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07/23/2025 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to ACL Rangers. |
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07/22/2025 | Texas Rangers signed OF Paxton Kling. |
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06/13/2025 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to College Workout. |
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03/15/2025 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Penn State Nittany Lions. |
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06/16/2024 | College Workout activated OF Paxton Kling. |
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02/10/2024 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to Louisiana State Tigers. |
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06/08/2023 | OF Paxton Kling assigned to College Workout. |
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08/18/2021 | OF Paxton Kling and assigned to PG East. |
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07/13/2021 | PG National 3 - Gray activated OF Paxton Kling. |
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07/08/2021 | National activated OF Paxton Kling. |
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07/08/2021 | National activated OF Paxton Kling. |
