Picks during MLB draft's second day bring Rangers' Moneyball-like strategy into focus

ARLINGTON - The Rangers swing towards performance over projection in the higher rounds of the draft swung even more into focus on Tuesday.

Through the first 10 rounds of the draft, the Rangers have selected nine players from four-year colleges. It matches the highest total since 2003 when the only high school player they picked in the first 10 rounds was John Danks. They used 14 of their first 15 picks on college players in that draft led by Grady Fuson, an Oakland-import who brought with him the A's "Moneyball" strategy that went hard for college players.

"This draft's strength was college players and pitchers," scouting director Kip Fagg. "That's where it led us."

College players,…