Here are the Rays' 2025 Top 30 prospects

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- If you want to get a sense of what the Rays do well, and how they¡¯ve managed to stay competitive in the highly competitive American League East despite operating with a lower budget than the rest of the division, just look at their Minor League system.

They¡¯ve done well early in the Draft, with a group headlined by shortstop Carson Williams and first baseman Xavier Isaac but supplemented in recent years by the likes of infielder Brayden Taylor and outfielder Theo Gillen.

They¡¯ve bet on interesting hitters outside of the first round, too -- like speedster Chandler Simpson, for instance, or first baseman Tre¡¯ Morgan -- and let them thrive by being themselves. They¡¯ve continued to develop pitching, from an international signing like Yoniel Curet to a starter-turned-reliever like Mason Montgomery to high school starters like Trevor Harrison and Gary Gill Hill.

And they are arguably better than anyone at acquiring prospects in trades. Their new Top 30 Prospects list is littered with players who came from other organizations, with holdovers like Santiago Suarez and Joe Rock joined by a host of prospects they acquired by parting with big league players last summer and fall: pitchers Brody Hopkins, Jackson Baumeister, Ty Johnson and Dylan Lesko, outfielders Aidan Smith and Homer Bush Jr., first baseman Will Simpson, and the list goes on.

At their best, the Rays are renowned for their depth. Right now, thanks to their homegrown players and those they¡¯ve added to the system over the past nine months, their Minor League system is as deep with talent as any in the game.

¡°I think we felt like we were in a really good spot prior to the Deadline, just with our Draftees and most recent signings,¡± senior director of player development Blake Butera said. ¡°After the Trade Deadline, combining that with the way we felt prior to it, it¡¯s a pretty fun time to be in this organization and be involved in player development.¡±

Here¡¯s a look at the Rays¡¯ top prospects:
1. Carson Williams, SS (MLB No. 9)
2. Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF (MLB No. 51)
3. Brayden Taylor, INF (MLB No. 67)
4. Tre¡¯ Morgan, 1B/OF (MLB No. 94)
5. Theo Gillen, OF (MLB No. 99)
Complete Top 30 list ?

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2024 preseason list to the 2025 preseason list:

Jump: Trevor Harrison, RHP (2024 preseason: unranked | 2025: 11)
Harrison obviously had plenty of potential coming out of the 2023 Draft, as the Rays selected the Pinellas County native in the fifth round and signed him away from his Florida State commitment for $847,500. But what quickly shot Harrison into the midseason re-rank, and even further up this year¡¯s preseason list, was the polish he displayed last year. (The same could apply to Gill Hill, who was unranked to begin last year and slotted in one spot behind Harrison on this list). He pitched well in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League then finished even stronger during the postseason push for Single-A Charleston. Harrison fired his fastball up to 98 mph and sat at 94-96 mph in his postseason start, and he displays a fearless attitude on the mound, showing maturity beyond his years. He¡¯ll need to keep his walks under control, but he has the makings of an intriguing starting pitching prospect.

Fall: Cole Wilcox, RHP (2024 preseason: 13 | 2025: unranked)
The last man standing in the Rays organization from the package of prospects the Padres sent in return for Blake Snell, Wilcox carried a full season¡¯s workload with 143 2/3 innings over 28 starts between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham last year. His results were uneven, with a solid ERA (3.57) and walk rate (7.3%) but a big drop-off in his strikeout rate (18.3%). Now 25 years old and no longer throwing a fastball in the upper 90s as a starter, Wilcox is set for a move to the bullpen and could crack the Majors in a shortened-up role.

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools ¨C 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 70 -- Chandler Simpson
Power: 70 -- Isaac
Run: 80 -- Simpson (Homer Bush Jr.)
Arm: 70 -- Williams
Defense: 70 -- Williams (Morgan, Gregory Barrios)
Fastball: 70 -- Yoniel Curet (Mason Montgomery)
Curveball: 55 -- Santiago Suarez (Jackson Baumeister)
Slider: 60 -- Brody Hopkins (Montgomery)
Cutter: 60 -- Curet
Changeup: 70 -- Dylan Lesko
Control: 55 -- Suarez

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How they were built
Draft: 15 | International: 4 | Trade: 11

Breakdown by ETA
2025: 6 | 2026: 12 | 2027: 8 | 2028: 3 | 2029: 0 | 2030: 1

Breakdown by position
C: 1 | 1B: 3 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 1 | SS: 3 | OF: 8 | RHP: 9 | LHP: 3