2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 7

Earlier Winner

6. 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% Ok

Smith has the nice face. An over-slot fourth rounder the Mariners satisfied to signal out of highschool, he turned 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 wished to see. This was seemingly a product of Smith dialing in his barrel manipulation greater than the results of unhealthy selections. His run and subject instruments have main league projection in heart, and he’s had pull aspect pop in Low-A that exceeds expectations for an adolescent. If he hits in Bowling Inexperienced like he did in Charleston final season, he’s a Prime-100 prospect.

Aidan Smith prevailed a good vote towards Yoneil Curet. Smith was acquired within the Randy Arozarena commerce with the Mariners, which can be a transformational one for the group by way of Smith and Hopkins, the third place vote getter in spherical six. Additionally receiving votes had been Keegan, Gill Hill, and Baumeister. There was just one tester and no second, so no candidates are added at this second. Let’s maintain {that a} dialog.

Candidates

Jackson Baumeister, RHP22 | 6’4” | 224A+ (BAL) | 3.06 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 70.2 IP (18 GS) 29.5% Ok, 14% BBA+ (TBR) | 1.24 ERA, 1.59 FIP, 29.0 IP( 7 G, 5 GS) 41.9% Ok 4.8% BB

Getting into the season, the 63rd total choose from the 2023 draft was a two-way prospect (catcher) out of Florida State who was nonetheless studying to pitch, however the lack of mileage solely enticed the Rays to nab him within the Eflin commerce on the deadline. His 95 mph fastball has professional carry, and in early showings he’s flashed a number of main league breaking balls. What he’s throwing is a shifting goal, however that’s as a result of he’s teachable and that provides projection. His supply has reduction threat in its excessive elbow and torque, however not as a lot as Curet. He dialed in his command in his seven video games with the Rays. If he can common 50 grade command he’s a No. 3 starter.

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

Worldwide signing guidelines pressured 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 an excellent physique and doesn’t want max effort for his 98 mph fastball and onerous slider to shine, though his supply has pink flags from begin to end. 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 monitor 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% Ok, 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 effectively 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% Ok

The Rays high draft choose from 2024, the highschool outfielder had a number of critical accidents to beat to change into the No. 18 total choose, together with labrum, wrist, and knee. His line drive swing is predicted so as to add energy as he develops, however given his damage historical past that may be a query not a given. For now the Rays will deal with him like a blue chip heart subject prospect, however he ought to have numerous 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% Ok

Guerrero’s first 12 months state aspect went effectively 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 received 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 damage 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% Ok, 6.1% BBA | 3.15 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 40.0 IP (9 GS) 29.3% Ok, 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 supply is cleaner, 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, however with “premium stuff” he’s additionally the large fish in just a little pond.

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

Arguably Seattle’s high pitching prospect — and, in keeping with Baseball Prospectus, now the Rays high arm — 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 trendy pitching minds appear to assume he’ll be capable of stick in a rotation. His skill to maintain his lengthy arm path throwing strikes ought to make or break that chance. BPro’s most up-to-date write up calls him “Kirkland-brand Kumar Rocker” with a mid-rotation projection.

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

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 onerous 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.

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

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