With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Rays¡¯ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Junior Caminero (MLB No. 4), 3B/SS -- Durham (Triple-A)/Injured (quad strain)
2. Carson Williams (MLB No. 19), SS -- Montgomery (Double-A)
3. Curtis Mead (MLB No. 52), 3B/2B -- Tampa Bay (MLB)
4. Xavier Isaac (MLB No. 55), 1B -- Bowling Green (High-A)
5. Brayden Taylor, 3B/SS -- Bowling Green (High-A)
6. Dominic Keegan, C -- Montgomery (Double-A)
7. Adrian Santana, SS -- Charleston (Single-A)
8. Austin Shenton, 3B/1B -- Tampa Bay (MLB)
9. Mason Montgomery, LHP -- Durham (Triple-A)
10. Santiago Suarez, RHP -- Charleston (Single-A)
11. Brailer Guerrero, OF -- Extended spring training
12. Chandler Simpson, OF -- Bowling Green (High-A)
13. Cole Wilcox, RHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
14. Jacob Lopez, LHP -- Durham (Triple-A)
15. Tre' Morgan, 1B -- Charleston (Single-A)
16. Colton Ledbetter, OF -- Bowling Green (High-A)
17. Willy Vasquez, INF -- Montgomery (Double-A)
18. Yoniel Curet, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
19. Joe Rock, LHP -- Durham (Triple-A)
20. Ian Seymour, LHP -- Montgomery (Double-A)
21. Trevor Martin, RHP -- Bowling Green (High-A)
22. Marcus Johnson, RHP -- Charleston (Single-A) injured list (loose body in elbow)
23. Jose Urbina, RHP -- Extended spring training
24. Cooper Kinney, 2B/1B -- Bowling Green (High-A)
25. Mason Auer, OF ¨C Injured (wrist)
26. Kameron Misner, OF -- Durham (Triple-A)
27. Ronny Simon, 2B/SS -- Durham (Triple-A)
28. Erick Lara, SS -- Extended spring training
29. Jose Monzon, INF -- Extended spring training
30. Andrew Lindsey, RHP -- Charleston (Single-A)
Team to watch
High-A Bowling Green is as well-rounded a club as can be hoped for at that level. First-rounders Isaac and Taylor bring plenty of thump to the heart of the Hot Rods lineup, and they¡¯ll combine with Kinney to make for a loaded infield group. Simpson, coming off his 94-steal first full season, will join up with Ledbetter to provide some starpower in the outfield, and 40-man member Curet and 2023 standout Martin will anchor the rotation. Filling out the rest of the roster are many members of last year¡¯s Single-A Charleston club that won a Carolina League title.
Players we could see in 2024
Caminero, who is currently out with a mild quad strain, made his MLB debut during the stretch run last fall. He¡¯s in Triple-A for the first time to focus on getting everyday at-bats and improve his work at third base, but his plus-plus power should push for a St. Petersburg return before long. Southpaws Montgomery, Lopez and Rock could play a role in Tampa Bay¡¯s starting depth. As a darkhorse, Williams has defensive actions and arm strength that could help him play shortstop in the Majors right now. He needs to keep his strikeout rate in check, but the No. 19 overall prospect could be a late-season callup if Tampa Bay still has questions at the six by then.
New faces
The Rays moved 2019 first-rounder Greg Jones to the Rockies straight-up for Rock. The move helped clear a 40-man spot and added another upper-level arm when Tampa Bay is lacking a bit in that area. Rock¡¯s low arm slot and size at 6-foot-6 helps his low-90s fastball play up, and the lefty also features an above-average slider. Even if he¡¯s a one-time-through-the-order type, he¡¯s in the right organization to figure out a role that best fits his profile and arsenal.
On the shelf
The Rays are hopeful that Caminero will only need to miss a week due to the quad strain he suffered Sunday in Norfolk. No. 22 prospect Johnson has been placed on the Charleston 60-day injured list after having a loose body removed from his elbow. No. 25 Mason Auer is expected to miss a few weeks with a wrist injury.