ST. PETERSBURG -- For the past three years, the Rays have used their top MLB Draft pick to add potential impact bats to their farm system.

They may have done it again on Sunday night.

The Rays selected Theo Gillen, a shortstop from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The club took Gillen as an outfielder with the expectation that he will begin his professional career in center field, and Gillen said he was ¡°all for it.¡±

¡°It¡¯s been crazy,¡± Gillen said during a conference call with reporters, thanking all the family, coaches and teammates who joined him for a Draft party. ¡°It feels like a surreal moment. It doesn¡¯t feel to me, to be completely honest. It still is crazy to me. I¡¯m just so grateful and so blessed right now.¡±

The Rays picked up two more hitters on Day 1, selecting Kentucky second baseman ?milien Pitre in Round 2 (58th overall) and Illinois high school shortstop Tyler Bell in Competitive Balance Round B (66th overall).

¡°The best athletes play in the middle of the field, and I think we were very fortunate to take three,¡± Rays amateur scouting director Chuck Ricci said. ¡°Ultimately, where they end up, who knows? We¡¯re going to give them every chance to stay in the middle of the field.¡±

Perhaps the best prep hitter in the 2024 Draft, Gillen was slowed by injuries during his high school career, but he had a strong senior campaign and is ranked No. 28 in MLB Pipeline¡¯s Draft prospect rankings.

¡°I think the No. 1 thing we like is his makeup, his maturity -- and his bat-to-ball skills,¡± Ricci said.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Gillen hit .415 with a .579 on-base percentage, seven homers, 30 RBIs and 29 steals during his senior season despite ¡°rarely being pitched to.¡±

Gillen has a smooth left-handed swing with good bat speed that produces line drives to all fields, and he hasn¡¯t yet tapped into his full power potential at the plate. He said his approach at the plate is to ¡°just simplify, simplify, simplify,¡± trusting his work and his body rather than overthinking his mechanics.

As he fills out his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, the middle infielder could have a 20-homer floor at the professional level, according to MLB Pipeline.

The Rays certainly agree with that assessment.

¡°I just think his approach is extremely simple, and I think it¡¯s very conducive to adding to it down the road,¡± Ricci said. ¡°He¡¯s got a very good foundation to hit. He doesn¡¯t swing and miss, he recognizes spin and he can impact the ball.

¡°A lot of the guys that have these kinds of bat-to-ball skills, you¡¯re giving up power when you take them. I think Theo, in the end, is going to have above-average power and an above-average bat tool.¡±

The Rays have taken position players with each of their last four top picks. They selected shortstop Carson Williams with the 28th pick in 2021, first baseman Xavier Isaac 29th overall in '22 and infielder Brayden Taylor 19th overall last year. All three are now Top 100 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline: Williams at No. 9, Isaac at No. 31 and Taylor at No. 59.

Now, they¡¯re hoping to add Gillen to that list.

Ricci credited area scout Chris Hom, the Rays¡¯ Texas area supervisor, for getting to know the 18-year-old Gillen and his family. Club officials met with Gillen throughout the scouting process, including an extended sit-down at the MLB Draft Combine, and came away so impressed that Ricci noted it felt like they were talking to a college player.

¡°When you take this on as a high school player, there¡¯s a lot more than just ability that goes into being successful,¡± Ricci said. ¡°And we feel like Theo -- just where he is in his maturity -- is beyond his years.¡±

The 18th pick came with an assigned slot value of $4,372,900, part of the Rays¡¯ $10,093,100 bonus pool. Tampa Bay has two more picks on Day 1: 58th (Round 2) and 66th (Competitive Balance Round B).

There are a few questions facing Gillen, however.

He had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum as a sophomore, and his arm hasn¡¯t been the same since. That led some evaluators to think Gillen might profile better as a second baseman. He also dealt with a knee injury during his junior season, but he still has the speed and quickness to handle the outfield.

That¡¯s what the Rays are betting on. Ricci said the club is comfortable with Gillen¡¯s medical report after a ¡°thorough¡± review, and Gillen said he ¡°couldn¡¯t be in a better place¡± physically.

The Rays were ¡°very happy¡± with Gillen¡¯s throwing ability from the outfield during a workout last month, Ricci said. Assuming the Texas commit signs with the Rays, they intend to have him move to center field.

¡°I¡¯m comfortable with the spot,¡± Gillen said, noting that he played outfield when he was younger. ¡°It¡¯s like riding a bike when you get back out there. I love it. It¡¯s always fun tracking down fly balls.¡±

The Rays expect Pitre, MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 173 Draft prospect, to stick at second base, although he could move around the infield. The left-handed hitter, who wound up at Kentucky after growing up in Quebec, has a mature, all-fields approach and improving power. Both showed as he batted .301/.420/.519, and he went from hitting one home run in 2023 to 10 this spring.

¡°He¡¯s another guy with really good contact skills, and his power kind of emerged this year,¡± Ricci said. ¡°I think he kind of fits the mold of the complete player we¡¯ve talked about in the past. He runs, he defends, he¡¯s always put the ball in play, and the power¡¯s coming.¡±

Bell, MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 81 Draft prospect, was selected out of Lincoln-Way East High in Frankfort, Ill. Ricci described the switch-hitting shortstop as ¡°very projectable ¡­ with every chance to stay in the middle of the field¡± due to the excellent defensive ability that made him one of the top shortstops in this year¡¯s high school class.

Bell is committed to Kentucky, but Ricci said the Rays believe the 19-year-old is physically and mentally mature enough to begin his professional career.

¡°Kind of everything you¡¯re looking for in an infielder. He¡¯s very athletic and (has) a really good body that is only going to continue to get stronger,¡± Ricci said. ¡°He throws well. He defends well. We were just really impressed with him at the Combine.¡±