2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 18

Earlier Winner

17. Ian Seymour, LHP26 | 6’0” | 210AA | 2.36 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 91.1 IP (17 GS) 28.3% Okay, 6.3% BBAAA | 2.33 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 54.0 IP (10 GS) 27.9% Okay, 8.4% BB

The Rays group’s different Virginia Tech man with a giant smile (I’m taking a look at you Erik) has a cool supply, with a excessive excessive motion that requires atypical hip motion and a robust head jerk; it’s not one you’d educate your youngsters, however his constant success speaks for itself. After a robust return from Tommy John surgical procedure in 2023, Seymour ranked among the many high ten pitchers in all of minor league baseball with 162 strikeouts throughout Double- and Triple-A, absolutely regaining his pre-surgery type and 92 mph fastball. His change up is the star of the present, tunneling exceptionally nicely along with his fastball, but when he sticks to pitching a number of TTO he has a wide range of breaking balls to work with.

A convincing win for Seymour this spherical elevated him into the High-20. For the subsequent spherical, there have been no seconds within the Testers so I’ll use my judgement and add Ben Peoples to the dialog.

Candidates

Gregory Barrios, SS21 | R/R | 6’0” | 180A+ (MIL) | .325/.367/.429 (128 wRC+) 256 PA, 1 HR, 18 SB, 5.1% BB, 9.4% KA+ (TBR) | .240/.310/.286 (77 wRC+) 198 PA, 0 HR, 18 SB, 8.6% BB, 14.6% Okay

This slick fielding Venezuelan prospect was picked up from the Brewers within the Civale commerce in early July, and with a glove that ought to carry him to the Majors in some capability, the Rays locked him into a brief cease function. His outcomes present eager strikezone consciousness for his degree, and an aggressive however profitable method on the bottom paths. He’s principally 2023 thirty first general choose Adrian Santana, however two years older and one degree larger. You may by no means have too lots of these.

Homer Bush Jr., OF23 | R/R | 6’2” | 200A+ (SDP) | .272/.362/.347 (111 wRC+) 341 PA, 4 HR, 43 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.3% KA+ (TBR) | .272/.367/.498 (124 wRC+) 121 PA, 2 HR, 14 SB, 10.7% BB, 23.1% Okay

Son of a former Blue Jays and Yankees outfielder, Bush Jr. was acquired alongside RHP Dylan Lesko and C J.D. Gonzalez within the Jason Adam commerce on the 2024 deadline and has the best path to the majors among the many three. He is likely to be the toolsiest participant within the system, relying in your opinion of Smith’s bat. Bush Jr. is an elite runner and the talents to stay in middle at each degree. Fangraphs says, “Bush is poetry in movement on the basepaths, operating with grace and pace in contrast to all however a handful of professional baseball gamers,” and Baseball America flagged him as their sleeper within the Rays system.

Cooper Kinney, 2B/3B22 | L/R | 6’1” | 200A+ | .289/.352/.494 (137 wRC+) 361 PA, 10 HR, 6 SB, 8.9% BB, 22.2% Okay

2024 lastly introduced the efficiency that was anticipated from the 2021 thirty fourth general choose’s pedigree. Promoted regardless of a gentle yr at Low-A in 2023 (after lacking all of 2022 to a labrum harm), Kinney was all in regards to the infield (53 G at 2B, 17 at 3B, 9 at 1B, and 24 at DH) however notably no appearances at quick cease. He re-injured his shoulder, ending his season early. Cooper’s calling card is difficult contact, however he has the barrel management and thoughts to work his counts at a significant league degree. Right here’s to hoping he can keep wholesome.

Colton Ledbetter, OF23 | L/R | 6’1” | 205A+ | .273/.339/.484 (130 wRC+) 446 PA, 16 HR, 34 SB, 8.1% BB, 28.3% Okay

Ledbetter is one in every of my favourite bats within the system, with a capability to get a leap on pitches and alter to satisfy something bending; though, the leap to Double-A subsequent season would be the actual check. Within the meantime, it’s plus exit velos to all fields. He was held in Excessive-A to get the lion’s share of middle discipline reps however initiatives as a nook, and has 50’s throughout the board, giving main league projection with energy and pace on the bases. In a worse system he’s a top-ten prospect.

Dylan Lesko, RHP21 | 6’2” | 195A+ | 6.96 ERA, 6.27 FIP, 84.0 IP (22 G, 19 GS) 25.6% Okay, 19.2% BB

The important thing return for RP Jason Adam, Lesko was the Padres fifteenth general choice within the 2022 draft regardless of him needing Tommy John surgical procedure that Spring; his outcomes haven’t but materialized. I mixed his outcomes for each organizations in a single stat line above because the Rays solely gave him 6 appearances (3 begins) earlier than the season ended. He has a fastball as much as 98 mph and a plus-plus change.

Mason Montgomery, LHP25 | 6’2” | 195AAA | 6.26 ERA, 5.29 FIP, 87.2 IP (31 G, 14 GS) 26.1% Okay, 8.9% BBMLB | 1.86 ERA, 1.20 FIP, 9.2 IP (9 G, 0 GS) 45.9% Okay, 13.5% BB

Montgomery is all fastball, as evidenced by his horrid ends in Durham as a starter. He transitioned to aid in August the place he centered on simply throwing his plus-plus fastball and arduous breaking ball, and that earned him a promotion to the Rays shortly thereafter, the place he was in a position to max-effort his method into being an efficient bullpen piece, with 93rd percentile fastball velocity and actually good extension. The 2-pitch combo is legit sufficient that he could possibly be trusted with excessive leverage in 2025, offered batters aren’t barreling him up.

Ben Peoples, RHP24 | 6’1” | 175AA | 3.42 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 55.1 IP (12 GS) 24.9% Okay, 10.0% BB

It’s a small miracle the Rays didn’t lose Ben Peoples within the Rule 5 draft this low season, as pitchers with 97 mph cutters don’t develop on timber. Given the current change in beginning pitching depth, and a few persistent command points, a aid function appears doubtless. He flashes a high quality vertical breaking ball from a excessive launch level, and may get a protracted look in Spring Coaching as a possible excessive leverage arm for 2025.

Jeremy Pilon, LHP19 | 6’0” | 200CPX | 3.28 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 46.2 IP (12 G, 9 GS) 30.7% Okay, 16.1% BBA | 3.21 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 14.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS) 35.5% Okay, 22.6% BB

Tampa Bay drafted Pilon late in 2023 after he pitched at a showcase on the Trop, the place they beloved his excessive spin charges. The younger Pilon out-performed his age in 2024, due to that 12-6 curveball, however he’ll want a 3rd plus pitch to have main league projection. Developmentally, he’s fortunate that low velo tends to not harm a lefty’s profile, and that point is on his facet.

Emilien Pitre, 2B22 | L/R | 5’11” | 185A | .299/.402/.403 (141 wRC+) 92 PA, 0 HR, 7 SB, 13.0% BB, 12.0% Okay

It’s mildly stunning to place a second baseman with no pop in rivalry for a high prospect record, however the Rays have been aggressive to seize the Quebecois within the second spherical of this yr’s draft after he proved his contact-forward hitting for Kentucky playable within the wooden bat Cape Cod League, regardless of the shortage of energy. He’s a plus runner and rangy, giving ample protection up the center. In 21 video games performed after the draft the Rays by no means tried him elsewhere than second, however it’d be fascinating to see if his arm can play at quick in a pinch.

Jose Urbina, RHP19 | 6’3” | 180CPX | 4.50 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 48.0 IP (13 G, 8 GS) 21.7% Okay, 12.1% BBA | 5.29 ERA, 6.11 FIP, 17.0 IP (4 GS) 18.2% Okay, 6.1% BB

The Venezuelan was elevated to the Holy Metropolis on the finish of 2024, persevering with the workforce’s aggressive push along with his growth. He traded his curveball for a better to find slider mid-season, however to this point lacks a plus third pitch. That’s okay when you’ve got a 99 mph fastball with size in your supply. Considerations with that supply being repeatable appear overstated at his younger age.

Owen Wild, RHP23 | 6’2” | 230A | 3.06 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 35.1 IP (7 GS) 26.6% Okay, 6.3% BBA+ | 2.72 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 86.0 IP (17 G, 15 GS) 31.9% Okay, 6.2% BB

Wild has an 80-grade baseball identify for a pitcher that hasn’t found out his fall off the desk breaking ball simply but. The 2023 seventh-rounder out of Gonzaga continues to be throwing within the low-90s, however has a plus fading change up that could possibly be his ticket to the majors. He shouldered 121 innings in his first skilled season, with a dip and drive, over-the-top supply that appears clear, though repeatability is a priority with a truncated arm stroke that may be a little bit late. He ought to return to Excessive-A in 2024, however may see promotion rapidly if his third pitch locks in.