Tuesday, June 02

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ST. PETERSBURG -- Two months into the Minor League season, there are a lot of success stories to be found throughout the Rays’ Top 30 Prospects list.

Catcher Caden Bodine (No. 12) raked his way from Single-A Charleston to High-A Bowling Green, and outfielder Austin Overn (No. 25) -- also acquired in the Shane Baz trade -- has made a similarly strong first impression. First baseman Xavier Isaac (No. 13) is mashing once again in his return from “life-saving” brain surgery.

Right-hander Ty Johnson (No. 17) looks like he could help the big league team this year, and 2025 Draft picks Cooper Flemming (No. 27) and Taitn Gray (No. 29) have been as good as just about anyone in the system.

But these lists are ranked for a reason, so let’s check in on the Rays’ Top 10 prospects.

No. 1: Theo Gillen, OF, High-A Bowling Green
The Rays couldn’t ask for more from Gillen, now No. 42 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. He has tapped into more power at the plate, and he’s a quality defensive center fielder, though he’ll still get some work in the corners. His complete offensive profile is reflected in his numbers: a .313/.413/.593 slash line, nine homers, 31 RBIs and 18 steals in 40 games. Not bad for a 20-year-old. 

No. 2: Brody Hopkins, RHP, Triple-A Durham
Hopkins possesses one of the nastiest arsenals in the Minors, which is evident in how many strikeouts he has (55) and how few hits he’s allowed (31) in his first 48 innings. The next step is consistently getting it in the strike zone, as he’s walked 43 of the 213 batters he’s faced. 

The 24-year-old -- ranked No. 83 overall -- put it all together in a scheduled “piggyback” outing on Friday, striking out nine while walking just one over five hitless innings. Maybe that will unlock another level for Hopkins, because he’s got rare stuff and athleticism.

No. 3: Nathan Flewelling, C, Bowling Green
The 19-year-old Canadian made a huge leap, from under-the-radar organizational favorite to baseball’s No. 88 prospect. For good reason. All the stuff the Rays saw in his pro debut last season is now showing up in his surface-level production, as he’s hitting .281/.386/.531 with 10 homers in 43 games. Flewelling is splitting time behind the plate with Bodine, a more polished defender, but he’s a legitimate catching prospect to dream on. 

No. 4: Jacob Melton, OF, Durham
After a shaky start in Triple-A, Melton had made some encouraging adjustments at the plate when he sustained a Grade 2 left ankle sprain while running the bases. If not for that, there’s a pretty good chance he’d be in the big leagues right now, given the Rays’ recent injuries. Instead, Melton is tracking toward a rehab assignment next week and a mid-June return to Durham. 

No. 5: Daniel Pierce, SS, Single-A Charleston
Pierce is headed to the injured list after jamming his left shoulder while sliding on Saturday, but the Rays are hoping it’s a short stint on the shelf for last year’s first-round pick.

Pierce has shown flashes of being an impactful defender at shortstop, but his offensive profile has been the opposite of what was expected. He’s making less contact but hitting the ball harder, as the 19-year-old’s .252/.336/.390 slash line, nine extra-base hits and 40 strikeouts in 34 games would indicate. 

No. 6: Anderson Brito, RHP, Bowling Green
Brito is on the seven-day injured list due to a right flexor strain, with no firm timeline for his return, but he’s still with the team. The 21-year-old trade acquisition was as advertised before the injury, featuring premium velocity and secondary stuff with some occasional lapses in command. There’s still reliever risk, but he’s got the stuff to start. In eight outings, he has a 3.34 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 21 walks over 32 1/3 innings. 

No. 7: TJ Nichols, RHP, Double-A Montgomery
Sidelined to start the season, Nichols is back in Montgomery’s rotation and looking like the Rays’ 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He remains one of their more complete starting pitching prospects, with a nice combination of swing-and-miss stuff and command of a deeper arsenal. 

No. 8: Michael Forret, RHP, Montgomery
Another part of that Baz trade, Forret is 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA, 54 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 49 1/3 innings over nine outings. He’s got a deceptive delivery with impressive command of his fastball and changeup, and he’s improved his ability to land his slider in the zone. 

No. 9: Santiago Suarez, RHP, Montgomery
As usual, Suarez is attacking hitters with strikes, allowing him to rack up 39 strikeouts compared to six walks in 36 1/3 innings over nine outings (eight starts). His fearlessness in challenging hitters with heaters usually works to his benefit, but it’s also led to him already allowing eight homers, inflating his ERA to 5.45. As he continues to progress, Suarez will work on his changeup to disrupt hitters’ timing and get them off his fastball and slider. 

No. 10: Slater de Brun, OF, Charleston
The Rays knew de Brun would be sidelined following wrist surgery when they acquired him from the Orioles, and they weren’t surprised when he had to undergo a follow-up procedure during Spring Training. Even with a projected return in August, it will be a mostly lost developmental season for de Brun, which the team will try to offset with some offseason game action. 

• Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls both left Monday's series-opening loss to Detroit with injuries. Read more >> 

• Shane McClanahan and Jonathan Aranda capped excellent months by playing key roles in the Rays’ series-clinching win on Sunday. Read more >>

• Craig Kimbrel went on the injured list after just one appearance with the Rays. Read more >>

• Saturday’s lopsided loss got off to a strange start, as three players were ejected following a national anthem standoff. Read more >>

Tuesday is Lou Gehrig Day in Major League Baseball, marking the day Gehrig began his incredible streak of 2,130 consecutive games played as well as the day he passed from complications caused by ALS. In partnership with the ALS Foundation, Rays broadcaster Andy Freed will recite Gehrig’s famous retirement speech in a pregame presentation Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. 

Military members, first responders and teachers are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets to Tuesday’s game as part of the Rays’ “Salute to Service.” For more information, or to sign up to receive notification of offers like this, visit RaysBaseball.com/Salute.

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