Welcome back to the Rays Beat newsletter, which will land in your inbox throughout the offseason. TAMPA -- It wasn’t long ago that the big storylines for the Rays’ player development system involved an absence of pitching prospects and an abundance of highly touted hitters moving toward the Majors together. Those narratives changed quickly this season, as a handful of young arms stepped forward, while some of Tampa Bay’s top-ranked position players struggled to find their footing. Let’s look back on this season in the Rays’ Minor League system, countdown-style, in 3… 2… 1… Three players who forced their way onto the radar this year Look no further for proof of Tampa Bay’s pitching improvement than the three pitchers who finished the season in Double-A Montgomery’s Southern League Championship Series rotation. RHP Brody Hopkins (No. 3): One of the two top prospects in the Rays’ return for Randy Arozarena, Hopkins entered the season as the organization’s highest-ranked pitching prospect and backed that up on the mound. Putting a full arsenal of elite stuff on display, he posted a 2.72 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 116 innings over 25 starts, and breezed through a nine-pitch inning in the Futures Game. There’s still some refinement necessary, evidenced by his 60 walks, but he’s as athletic as anyone and still relatively new to pitching. He's forced his way into the Top 100 discussion. RHP Ty Johnson (No. 19): Recognized as the Rays’ Pitching Prospect of the Year by MLB Pipeline, Johnson statistically outperformed Hopkins in Montgomery’s rotation. The big righty posted a 2.61 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP, 149 strikeouts and 38 walks in 110 1/3 innings over 26 outings. A 15th-round pick by the Cubs in 2023, Johnson opened eyes with a dominant stretch for High-A Bowling Green last season after coming over in the Isaac Paredes trade. He made it clear this year he’s the real deal. RHP T.J. Nichols (No. 20): Not listed on the Rays’ preseason Top 30 Prospects list, Nichols was the most traditional “breakout” story in the system this season. Advancing from High-A to Double-A, Nichols put together a 2.90 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a system-leading 156 strikeouts and only 30 walks in 133 2/3 innings over 25 outings. The Rays rewarded his ascension by naming him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and he’s now established himself as an arm to watch. |
Two possible breakout prospects to watch next season OF Aidan Smith (No. 6): The other headliner in the Arozarena trade, Smith hit .288/.401/.473 in Single-A in 2024. He took a step back offensively this year, batting just .237/.331/.388 with a 31.2% strikeout rate in High-A, although he still hit 14 homers and stole 41 bases in 102 games. But the Rays remain high on his offensive upside, and he unexpectedly developed into a strong defensive center fielder this year. Being able to play center at a high level significantly raises his floor, so he could be in for a special season if he returns to his 2024 offensive form while maintaining his ’25 defense. C Nathan Flewelling (No. 27): Flewelling hit just .230 with a .341 slugging percentage in Single-A ball this year. So, why the hype? Well, he posted a .393 on-base percentage, displayed beyond-his-years feel for the zone and handled a premium defensive position. Oh, and he was 18 years old all season. It might take time for him to fully unlock his offensive potential, but if he does, the Rays will have a fascinating prospect on their hands in this left-handed-hitting Canadian catcher. |
One big question for 2026: Will last year’s top-ranked prospects take a step forward? It was an unusual season for Tampa Bay’s system in some regards. Six affiliates finished with a winning record, and the Rookie-level FCL Rays were a .500 team. They enjoyed a lot of breakthrough performances, like the ones noted above. Chandler Simpson, Jake Mangum and Ian Seymour made an immediate impact in the Majors. Lower-ranked hitters like Bob Seymour and Tristan Peters got the call, too. Theo Gillen (No. 5 preseason, now No. 2 and No. 65 overall) was their Prospect of the Year, according to MLB Pipeline, despite his season ending early due to a fractured middle finger. That all sounds good, right? With one glaring exception. It wasn’t a standout season for the players who started off atop the Rays’ system, including the top three on their preseason list: Carson Williams, Xavier Isaac and Brayden Taylor. Williams struggled at the plate in his first taste of Triple-A, bounced back in the second half then had an unexpected test in the Majors to finish the season. While it’s possible he’ll begin next year back in the big leagues, the Rays’ real hope is that he will use that experience to improve in the future. The power-hitting Isaac’s season was derailed by injuries, as he only played 41 games. There’s less of an obvious explanation for Taylor, who dropped all the way to No. 25 on MLB Pipeline’s midseason re-rank while slashing .173/.289/.286, but the Rays hope it was just a fluke for the versatile infielder. Can Williams, Isaac and Taylor return to form and solidify themselves as future big league regulars? Can their breakout prospects repeat what they did this year? Who else will step up? Those are the big questions to be answered next season. |
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• Despite being limited to 101 games, Taylor Walls is a deserving Gold Glove finalist at shortstop. Read more>> • What’s next for the Rays' outfield? Read more>> • In case you missed it: The Rays have one coaching spot to fill, as assistant hitting coach Brady North will not return to the Major League staff. Read more>> |
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