Tampa Bay Rays
AL East
2024 record: 80-82 (4th)
MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Durham Bulls
Double-A: Montgomery Biscuits
High-A: Bowling Green Hot Rods
Single-A: Charleston RiverDogs
Notable prospects graduated in 2024
3B Junior Caminero
2B/3B Curtis Mead
Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Clint Fasse (@ProspectLarceny), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam), and J.W. Mulpas (@BBoxscore). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2024
Tier 1
1. Carson Williams, SS, 21, Double-A
Williams has all the tools needed to be a star. He can absolutely stay at shortstop defensively and has 25/20 upside. Well maybe not all the tools, there is one “yellow” flag in his profile. He ran a 13.5% swinging strike rate in Double-A last year. He kills fastballs but off-speed pitches can get him out right now. This will need to change in order to reach his ceiling because advanced pitchers will exploit that weakness. He is still just 21-years-old so it is correctable with some work. If he can work through those issues, he could make a certain Wander problem sting a little less. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 2
2. Xavier Isaac, 1B, 21, Double-A
One of the more interesting cases in MiLB, some view Isaac as a fringe Top 100 prospect and others are bearish on his profile. He’s a 21-year-old with massive power, but there are plenty of questions to raise regarding his whiff and strikeout rate. Still, he posted a 143 wRC+ on the season despite his struggles in Double-A. In a 15 game stint in the Arizona Fall League, he was one of the best hitters and posted a .957 OPS. His batted ball data showed promising signs in his exit velocities, so 2025 could be the year Isaac solidifies himself as a true top tier prospect. (@aj_greene1015)
3. Brayden Taylor, 3B, 22, Double-A
I was jumping at every opportunity to get Taylor after the Rays selected him in the first round of the 2023 draft. His combination of a sweet lefthanded swing with natural loft, great zone awareness, and above average exit velocities in this development system had me drooling. Chip in 10-15 stolen bases annually from a third baseman and you have something really nice. But if I dinged Carson Williams for his swing and miss at Double-A I have to be fair right? Taylor sat at 14.8% swinging strike rate last year at the same level so again some changes will need to be made to reach his full potential. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 3
4. Aidan Smith, OF, 20, Single-A
As a baseball card collector, I can tell you that Smith is one of the “best buys” in the hobby right now, especially when you’re looking at his first cards from the 2024 Bowman. Why is that? A lot of prospectors see him breaking out and becoming a legitimate top prospect, and if/when he graduates to MLB, his card prices could increase exponentially. The Mariners fourth round pick in 2023 split last year between Modesto (Seattle’s Single-A) and Charleston (Tampa Bay’s Single-A), slashing .288/.401/.473, with 11 HR, 53 RBI and 41 SB! The 20-year-old is definitely one to keep an eye on as he rockets up prospect ranks and should start 2025 in High-A Bowling Green. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
5. Tre’ Morgan, 1B, 22, Double-A
Morgan had quite a year in the minors in 2024, hitting .324 with 10 home runs and 20 stolen bases across three levels. The former LSU first baseman does a lot of things well – he sprays the ball to all fields, plays stellar defense (scouts rate his fielding among the best in the minors), and has a knack for getting on base. Power is the main question mark for Morgan. He’s more of a gap hitter than a home run threat, having hit just 20 homers in his entire college career. Still, the Rays love his potential and so should dynasty owners. With his advanced approach at the plate and Gold Glove-caliber defense, Morgan is a high-floor player who promises to be an MLB regular if he can develop more over-the-fence pop in his bat. He’s coming off an excellent Arizona Fall League campaign too. (@BBoxscore)
6. Brailer Guerrero, OF, 18, Rookie (FCL)
Although two shoulder injuries cut his 2023 and 2024 seasons short, Guerrero flashed potential to be yet another one of Tampa Bay’s highly touted international signees. He hasn’t found a consistent power stroke yet, but with 60-graded power it’s only a matter of time before it clicks and he’s one of the better power prospects around MiLB. With just 35 games under his belt between the DSL and Complex League, the 18-year-old’s development has a long way to go, but beginning affiliated play in 2025 will be the next step Guerrero takes towards climbing prospect ranks. (@aj_greene1015)
7. Chandler Simpson, OF, 24, Double-A
After stealing 94 bases in 2023, Simpson decided to go out and swipe 104 last season. Stolen bases in A-ball can be taken with a grain of salt but 73 of his last year came at the Double-A level in only 78 games. He is going to get on base at a high clip as well. He ran a microscopic 2.9% swinging strike rate and walked more than he struck out good for a .410 OBP. There is going to be no power, but I will take the OBP and SB’s and find my power elsewhere on my roster. (@JMahyfam)
8. Theo Gillen, OF, 19, Single-A
Injuries plagued Gillen in high school, but he was finally healthy his senior year and performed well enough to get selected 18th overall out of a school that is famous for football talent, but has had some solid baseball players too (Westlake HS in Texas). He has an excellent hit tool that uses the whole field and regularly rips line drives into the outfield. The raw power is good although he will likely be more of a doubles hitter than massive HR power. A HS shortstop, the Rays are moving him to the outfield given the lack of arm strength and he should be able to do well in center. (@ShaunKernahan)
9. Gary Gill Hill, RHP, 20, Single-A
I believe Gill Hill is the definition of what a pop-up prospect is. There didn’t seem to be a huge amount of fanfare when he was selected in the sixth round of 2022’s MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers, NY. When he debuted in 2023 across Rookie and A-ball, results were mixed. That all changed in 2024 when, as a 19-year-old, he excelled back in Single-A Charleston where in 22 games (21 GS), he posted a 3.15 ERA in 108.2 innings with a solid 1.11 WHIP. In deep dynasty leagues that allow for in-season claims or pick-ups, he might already be owned. If not, get him on your Watch List now! (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 4
10. Santiago Suarez, RHP, 20, Single-A
11. Dylan Lesko, RHP, 21, High-A
12. Brody Hopkins, RHP, 23, High-A
13. Yoniel Curet, RHP, 22, Double-A
14. Trevor Harrison, RHP, 19, Single-A
15. Mac Horvath, 3B, 23, High-A
16. Colton Ledbetter, OF, 23, High-A
17. Jackson Baumeister, RHP, 22, High-A
18. Dominic Keegan, C, 24, Double-A
19. Will Simpson, 1B, 23, Double-A
20. Ian Seymour, LHP, 26, Triple-A
21. Adrian Santana, SS, 19, Single-A
22. Jose Urbina, RHP, 19, Rookie (FCL)
Hopkins can be a good starter if he improves his command. Curet has great velocity but needs to improve his control or he may end up in the bullpen where he could be a dominant late-inning arm. Harrison is young but has the stuff to develop into a mid-rotation starter. He’s climbed the Tampa Bay pipeline ranks pretty quickly. Horvath, over from Baltimore, needs to develop his hit-tool to take advantage of his good speed and power combination. Ledbetter has a nice blend of speed and power but needs to get his strikeouts under control to make an impact. Baumeister has the tools to be a good mid-rotation starter. Keegan has the skills to be a solid catcher in the majors as soon as later this season. Santana may be more valuable in real life with his speed but has an underwhelming hit-tool. (@tonybps1)
Tier 5
23. Trevor Martin, RHP, 24, Double-A
24. Homer Bush Jr., OF, 23, High-A
25. Matthew Etzel, OF, 22, Double-A
26. Mike Vasil, RHP, 24, Triple-A
27. Ty Johnson, RHP, 23, High-A
28. Gregory Barrios, SS, 20, High-A
29. Owen Wild, RHP, 22, High-A
30. Cole Wilcox, RHP, 25, Triple-A
31. Mason Montgomery, LHP, 24, MLB
32. Cooper Kinney, 2B, 22, High-A
33. Joe Rock, LHP, 24, Triple-A
34. Leonardo Pineda, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)
35. Willy Vasquez, 3B, 23, Double-A
36. Ben Peoples, RHP, 23, Double-A
37. Dru Baker, OF, 24, Double-A
38. Hunter Bigge, RHP, 26, MLB
39. Émilien Pitre, 2B, 22, Single-A
40. J.D. Gonzalez, C, 19, Single-A
41. Drew Dowd, LHP, 23, Single-A
42. Nick Bitsko, RHP, 22, Rookie (FCL)
43. Enderson Delgado, C, 20, Single-A
44. Mason Auer, OF, 23, Double-A
45. Logan Workman, RHP, 26, Triple-A
46. TJ Nichols, RHP, 22, Single-A
47. Nathan Flewelling, C, 18, High school
48. Enzo Paulino, 1B, 20, High-A
49. Marcus Johnson, RHP, 24, High-A
50. Brock Jones, OF, 23, High-A
Vasil was selected by the Phillies in the Rule 5 Draft from the Mets, and then traded to the Rays. He could develop into a solid starter perhaps as soon as this season. Wild has solid control and has above-average grade on three pitches. Kinney has an average hit tool with developing power. Rock is almost 24 but could still contribute as a back-end starter as soon as this season. Peoples could be a solid reliever if he doesn’t develop as a starter. Bigge saw some time in the Majors last season, tossing 17.1 between Chicago (Cubs) and Tampa Bay, mostly as a reliever, while posting a very nice 2.60 ERA and 12.5 K/9. (@tonybps1)
Adam Greene is a student UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He currently writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League and UMass Athletics. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life and he's spent the last few years covering their farm system. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra
Greg covers the Toronto Blue Jays organization for Prospects1500. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, a long-suffering fan of both the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. For more than 15 years now a participant/commish in many dynasty baseball leagues, all with extremely deep minor league rosters. Follow on X @gregbracken07.
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
J.W. resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. He has been a contributor to Prospects1500 since January 2025. You can follow J.W. on X at @BBoxscore.
Ty Johnson tier 5? Did you review his stats with the Cubs and Rays this past season? His grade fastball and slider are MLB 60 (yes, 60!)! He was one pitch from immaculate inning in August. He is 15th Rays prospect on Germain’s list and 30th Rays prospect on MLB. I wish the Cubs didn’t trade him.
Hi Ted. Thanks for checking out the column. We like Johnson but have a process for the rankings. Several writers rank players in the organization and we use the average rank to determine our overall order. Johnson came in at 27.3 average, with ranks from different writers at 33, 25, 24, 29 and 28. This slotted him 27th on our Rays list, with Tier 5 starting at #23 Martin. It’s certainly expected that if he continue his success in High-A/Double-A, he should make his way up into Tier 4 this season. It’s very uncommon to see relief pitchers in Tier 3 or higher, and Johnson is not a full-time starter.