Rangers Top Prospect Sebastian Walcott Undergoes Internal Brace Procedure
February 24: Walcott underwent an internal brace procedure and not a full UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery), reports Kennedy Landry of MLB.com. That’s good news, given that he may be cleared to start hitting before the end of the season. He’s looking at a five- to six-month timetable, Landry added.
February 12: The Rangers are top Sebastian Walcottone of the game’s brightest prospects, could miss the entire 2026 season with an elbow injury that will require surgery, president of baseball Chris Young announced to the team this morning (link via Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports). Walcott is likely to get some at-bats late in the season, and if he’s healthy, he’ll be a prime candidate to make up for missed reps in the Arizona Fall League and/or winter ball. Young added that it was fine Nabil Crismattis in camp as an undrafted free agent, and is headed for elbow surgery (via Wilson).
Walcott appeared in the Arizona Fall League last year, but his time there was cut short by elbow inflammation. Surgery was not recommended at the time. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes that Walcott spent a rehab season and felt strong entering camp, but has recently experienced renewed discomfort when throwing.
Consultation with the famous surgeon Dr. Keith Meister reveals “structural changes.” Walcott will have surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, it seems, but it has not been decided whether he will need a full Tommy John procedure (ie ligament reconstruction) or an internal brace procedure to repair/strengthen the existing muscle. The latter comes with a shorter timetable for recovery.
The guards and their farm were brutally attacked. Walcott is only 19 years old (20 next month) but has already made an appearance in MLB prep. The Bahamian-born shortstop spent the 2025 campaign in Double-A and hit .255/.355/.386 (110 wRC+) despite being the youngest player in the league.
In 552 plate appearances, Walcott hit 13 home runs, 19 doubles and three triples. He also went 32-for-42 on steal attempts, walked at a whopping 12.7% clip and was only successful in 19.6% of his plate appearances. That would be a productive season even for a physically mature 23- or 24-year-old, but Walcott enjoyed that success despite being five years younger than the average Texas League player.
Almost every prospect list one can find will include Walcott in the top 20. He is currently No. 16 in Baseball America, No. 16 on Keith Law’s list at The Athletic, No. 7 on MLB.com, and up to No. 5 on Kiley McDaniel’s list on ESPN. Scouting reports praise him for having big, plus-plus green power with good plate behavior, hitter feel, and speed and a combined arm. There are concerns he’ll outgrow shortstop — he’s already listed at 6’4″ and 190 pounds before he turns 20 — but he has plenty of bat to stick at third base or unless such a change is eventually needed.
It’s plausible that a healthy Walcott, with a big enough start to his season, could emerge as an option in the Texas majors. He will not remove the place Corey Seager at shortstop, but third base, second base and (to a lesser extent) the outfield are all stable in Arlington. All of that will be put on hold for now, and Walcott’s debut will be pushed back to at least the 2027 season, as he will need to ease back into action as he works his way back from this health setback.
On the other hand, Walcott’s meteoric rise through the system means that the youth are very much on his side. He could miss the entire 2026 season, play well in the AFL and winter ball, open next season back in Double-A and still push to make his MLB debut in his age-21 season. Injuries are a clear factor in growth, but for a player who has accomplished so much at such a young age, the outlook is always brighter.
As for Crismatt, an upcoming elbow procedure ends any hope of breaking the big league roster. It is not yet clear what type of procedure he will need. He was expected to play for his native Colombia in the World Baseball Classic, but apparently those plans also fell through.
Crismatt, 31, spent part of the 2024 season with the Rangers’ Triple-A club and returned with a minor league contract this winter. He broke into the majors with the D-backs last year and recorded a 3.71 ERA, a 16.3% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate in 34 innings. Crismatt has suited up for four clubs in six MLB seasons and owns a lifetime 3.71 ERA, 20.6% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate in 211 innings — most of them coming in relief.
