2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 26

Earlier Winner

25. 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 staff’s aggressive push together 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 will have a 99 mph fastball with size in your supply. Considerations with that supply being repeatable appear overstated at his younger age.

Urbina ranked forward of prime prospects like Guerrero, Morgan, Seymour, and Rock on final 12 months’s checklist, however slots into the High-25 in a reasonably divided vote! Added to the voting this spherical is UNC All-American Horvath, who I voted for in Others.

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 total choose Adrian Santana, however two years older and one degree larger. You possibly can by no means have too lots of these.

Nathan Flewelling, C18 | L/R | 6’2” | 200 Drafted No. 94 total 2024

Energy hitting teenage catcher Flewelling confirmed as much as his first Spring Coaching and impressed, making his means onto the staff’s Spring Breakout roster. He’ll be given the time to develop on the place, and has the potential to be a can’t miss prospect if he continues to hit and develop bodily like he has to this point.

Mac Horvath, 3B/OF23 | R/R | 6’0” | 195A+ (BAL) | .232/.328/.417 (113 wRC+) 317 PA, 9 HR, 26 SB, 11.7% BB, 22.4% KA+ (TBR) | .221/.291/.381 (91 wRC+) 127 PA, 4 HR, 9 SB, 8.7% BB, 34.6% Okay

Drafted 53rd total by the Orioles out of UNC as an All-American in 2023, Horvath was a part of the hefty return for Zach Eflin on the 2024 commerce deadline, alongside roommate Jackson Baumeister. The even keeled proper hander has sturdy make-up and athleticism, swinging by means of the palms for exhausting contact and exhibiting high quality velocity. His bat sprays to all fields and he’s often legging singles into doubles. He’s a secure guess on the bottom paths, however hasn’t essentially discovered a house but defensively, partially attributable to his versatility. After his acquisition the Rays primarily performed him at third, however his best path to the majors will probably be in a utility function. Horvath performed a while within the AFL however suffered a concussion when an umpire did not get out of the way in which as he was monitoring a ball alongside the third final analysis.

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 latest change in beginning pitching depth, and a few persistent command points, a reduction function appears doubtless. He flashes a top quality vertical breaking ball from a excessive launch level, and may get an extended 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 damage a lefty’s profile, and that point is on his aspect.

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 shocking to place a second baseman with no pop in rivalry for a prime prospect checklist, however the Rays have been aggressive to seize the Quebecois within the second spherical of this 12 months’s draft after he proved his contact-forward hitting for Kentucky playable within the wooden bat Cape Cod League, regardless of the dearth 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 attention-grabbing to see if his arm can play at brief in a pinch.

Adrian Santana, SS19 | S/R | 5’11” | 155A | .240/.300/.305 (82 wRC+) 455 PA, 0 HR, 51 SB, 7.5% BB, 15.8% Okay

Don’t let anybody look down on the Holy Metropolis’s brief cease simply because he’s younger. He’s quick, he’s swinging exhausting from either side of the plate, and he can steal a base. Most of all, 2023’s No. 31 total choose is right here to defend, however that doesn’t imply his bat ought to be dismissed, given how low the strikeout charges are. His OBP will keep low till his physique catches as much as the expectations of professional ball, however time is on his aspect to maintain creating and including muscle.

Bob Seymour, 1B26 | L/R | 6’3” | 250AA | .290/.349/.466 (140 wRC+) 292 PA, 9 HR, 2 SB, 7.5% BB, 27.4% KAAA | .269/.353/.601 (140 wRC+) 218 PA, 19 HR, 3 SB, 11.0% BB, 34.9% Okay

Seymour hits homeruns like he’s a former collegiate baseball participant clubbing moon photographs over the fence in a bush league recreation, except course being that that is skilled baseball, and he’s knocking on the door of the majors. As soon as the 2019 ACC Participant of the 12 months, Seymour was drafted within the thirteenth spherical in 2021 and has proven that his energy performs at each degree, punishing baseballs into the 110’s in exit velo, and apparently leads the minors with a .520 xwOBA on contact (min. 100 balls in play). Mainly if he hits it, he’s getting on base. Is that sufficient to earn promotion?

Will Simpson, 1B/3B23 | R/R | 6’3” | 225A+ | .270/.373/.480 (142 wRC+) 474 PA, 16 HR, 4 SB, 14.6% BB, 24.7% KAA | .348/.408/.493 (155 wRC+) 76 PA, 2 HR, 1 SB, 9.2% BB, 23.7% Okay

A complementary piece to Joe Boyle within the commerce that despatched Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics, Simpson is a 2023 fifteenth rounder out of Univ. Washington that cruised by means of the minors as any good school bat ought to in A-ball. He initiatives with no consideration handed first baseman, which may be dime-a-dozen, so count on him to log extra time at third base within the Rays system. Regardless of energy to all fields, he has a considerably grooved swing. To advance, he’ll want to point out higher barrel management.

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 title for a pitcher that hasn’t found out his fall off the desk breaking ball simply but. The 2023 seventh-rounder out of Gonzaga remains to be throwing within the low-90s, however has a plus fading change up that might 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 just a little late. He ought to return to Excessive-A in 2024, however might see promotion shortly if his third pitch locks in.