2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 5

Earlier Winner

Tre’ Morgan, 1B22 | L/L | 6’0” | 215 A | .320/.398/.440 (149 wRC+) 115 PA, 2 HR, 9 SB, 8.7% BB, 11.3% KA+ | .371/.447/.558 (184 wRC+) 231 PA, 6 HR, 10 SB, 11.3% BB, 7.8% KAA | .211/.322/.342 (102 wRC+) 91 PA, 2 HR, 1 SB, 13.2% BB, 18.7% Okay

The inverse of Xavier Isaac, and a 12 months forward developmentally, Morgan is an LSU Nationwide Champ and a excessive contact first baseman with a plus-plus glove on the place. The Rays began enjoying together with his swing at Double-A amidst the troublesome bounce, and despatched him to the 2024 AFL, the place his hitting acquired again on observe with a .338/.391/.500 batting line over 88 PA as he examined out a nook outfield glove that I anticipate him to depart in Arizona.

Morgan made an enormous leap up the DRaysBay record this 12 months, going from 20 — a standing reflective of a fringe contributor — wanting like he can be a sure-fire starter; 80-grade protection will try this for you, significantly on this group. Additionally receiving votes had been Simpson (5), Curet (4!), Hopkins (2), Harrison and Smith.

This ballot we are going to add potential beginning catcher for the Rays in 2026 Dom Keegan.

Candidates

Yoniel Curet, RHP22 | 6’2” | 190 A+ | 3.28 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 93.1 IP (21 GS) 30.3% Okay, 12.2% BBAA | 1.75 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 25.2 IP (5 GS) 35.9% Okay, 10.7% BB

Worldwide signing guidelines compelled the Rays so as to add Curet to the 40-man roster in 2024, which was an enormous vote of confidence from the group for the Dominican signee from 2019. He has a very good physique and doesn’t want max effort for his 98 mph fastball and arduous slider to shine. Curet will return to Double-A to see if his ERA holds, and he’ll proceed testing out a fading change as much as show he can keep on observe growing as a starter — but when he can’t, it’s the ground of a high flight nearer, quickly.

Gary Gill Hill, RHP20 | 6’2” | 160A | 3.15 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 108.2 IP (22 G, 21 GS) 24.2% Okay, 6.2% BB

The wheels fell off towards the tip of his first full skilled season, however earlier than these final 4 begins Gill Hill had a 2.40 ERA over his first 18 appearances for Charleston, and it’s only one unhealthy begin that pushes that over 2 runs on common. His physique has developed nicely as a starter regardless of a low arm slot, certainly one of solely three youngsters in 2024 to amass greater than 100 IP (one of many others is fellow org pitcher Santiago Suarez). His fastball is as much as 96 mph, and he’s examined a curve, slider, change, and cutter to date, inducing weak contact throughout.

Theo Gillen, OF19 | L/R | 6’2” | 195A | .154/.353/.192 (86 wRC+) 34 PA, 0 HR, 1 SB, 23.5% BB, 41.2% Okay

The Rays high draft decide from 2024, the highschool outfielder had a number of severe accidents to beat to grow to be the No. 18 total decide, together with labrum, wrist, and knee. His line drive swing is anticipated so as to add energy as he develops, however given his harm historical past that could be a query not a given. For now the Rays will deal with him like a top-tier middle subject prospect, however he ought to have plenty of time to develop.

Brailer Guerrero, OF19 | L/R | 6’1” | 215CPX | .330/.452/.466 (155 wRC+) 126 wRC+, 2 HR, 13 SB, 17.5% BB, 25.4% Okay

Guerrero’s first 12 months state facet went nicely sufficient, which was not a assure after requiring labrum surgical procedure simply 7 video games into his profession with the Rays after signing for $3.7 million in 2023. He acquired paid due to exit velo’s within the 110’s. This 12 months he made it 28 video games earlier than succumbing to a shoulder harm once more. It’s a particular bat, however he has to remain wholesome to be a viable high prospect.

Trevor Harrison, RHP19 | 6’4” | 225CPX | 3.58 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 32.2 IP (8 G, 7 GS) 29.5% Okay, 6.1% BBA | 3.15 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 40.0 IP (9 GS) 29.3% Okay, 11.0% BB

After the Rays satisfied Harrison to forego an schooling at Florida State in 2023, the group waited till 2024 for his debut. The sluggish play has confirmed a promising path. His fastball sits at 95 mph (as much as 99), and his change up is efficient towards reverse handed hitters. Baseball America views him because the group’s high pitching prospect.

Brody Hopkins, RHP23 | 6’4” | 200A (SEA) | 2.90 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 83.2 IP (18 GS) 26.5% Okay, 11.2% BBA+ (TBR) | 3.45 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 31.1 IP (7 GS) 29.0% Okay, 9.9% BB

Arguably Seattle’s high pitching prospect — and based on Baseball Prospectus, now the Rays — Hopkins was acquired within the Arozarena commerce. He’s a tough throwing side-armer with a plus-plus slider that has extra reliever threat than your common starter, however fashionable pitching minds appear to suppose he’ll be capable of stick in a rotation. His capability to maintain his lengthy arm path throwing strikes ought to make or break that risk.

Dom Keegan, C24 | R/R | 6’0” | 210AA | .285/.371/.435 (138 wRC+) 442 PA, 9 HR, 0 SB, 11.3% BB, 20.4% Okay

Keegan continued his run as one of many system’s high hitters final season, spending all 12 months at Double-A and blossoming from a bat with main league projection however restricted time behind the plate right into a high-potential mainstay for the longer term Rays. Boasting one of many highest common exit velo’s within the group, he’s slotted for Triple-A subsequent 12 months and appears to be on a transparent and regular climb to the majors due to a capability to hit the ball arduous sufficient to make up for any errors made by his flat-plane swing, and his constant growth of the intangibles wanted to be a starter behind the plate.

Chandler Simpson, OF24 | L/R | 5’11” | 170A+ | .364/.431/.372 (138 wRC+) 147 PA, 0 HR, 31 SB, 10.2% BB, 10.9% KAA | .351/.401/.407 (141 wRC+) 358 PA, 1 HR, 73 SB, 8.1% BB, 7.5% Okay

Simpson graduated to Double-A pitching with out lacking a beat and eclipsed 100 SB with solely 17 caught steals throughout each ranges. That is the stuff of legends within the making. Drafted seventieth total in 2022, Simpson has been using a rocket ship powered by his personal two ft, however 2024 was the 12 months he proved he can hit in addition to he runs. If he can show he’s discovered outfield protection nicely sufficient for the majors (he was a second baseman in school) we’ll see him on the main league degree in 2025.

Aidan Smith, OF20 | R/R | 6’2” | 190A (SEA) | .284/.402/.470 (135 wRC+) 358 PA, 9 HR, 28 SB, 14.5% BB, 24.3% KA (TBR) | .306/.395/.486 (155 wRC+) 86 PA, 2 HR, 13 SB, 14.0% BB, 18.6% Okay

Smith has the nice face. An over-slot fourth rounder the Mariners satisfied to signal out of highschool, he grew to become a part of the return for Randy Arozarena and proved his candy swinging begin to the season wasn’t a fluke. He’s anticipated to develop into his energy, in addition to his swing, which featured extra swing-and-miss than scouts needed to see. This was probably a product of Smith dialing in his barrel manipulation greater than the results of unhealthy choices. His run and subject instruments have main league projection in middle, and he’s had pull facet pop in Low-A that exceeds expectations for a teen. If he hits in Bowling Inexperienced like he did in Charleston final season, he’s a High-100 prospect.

Santiago Suarez, RHP20 | 6’2” | 175A | 4.11 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 111.2 IP (23 GS) 25.7% Okay, 4.7% BB

Suarez is every thing you need in a beginning pitching prospect, with projectable command and plus-plus management exhibited by his constant, low stroll charges. It’s a very good physique and supply, a serious league fastball and curve, and he’s already mixing in a cutter maturity past his place in Charleston. He’s slated for a flip in Excessive-A subsequent season, however one has to marvel how aggressive the Rays might get together with his journey up the ladder.