The Rays have the deepest minor league system, and I’m not sure it’s close. The top of the system takes a hit with Junior Caminero’s promotion, but Carson Williams is no slouch. I worry about how much he’ll hit, but he has fantasy-friendly tools and can pick it at shortstop. I loved the Rays’ selection of Brayden Taylor in the 2023 Draft, but his 37% strikeout rate in High-A is ugly.
Speaking of strikeout rates, that’s one of the things I find interesting about the Rays system. There is a lot of swing-and-miss with players in their system. More so than I can ever remember. Xavier Isaac is another player who struck out a lot last season. I wonder if this is a direction change for the team – worry less about contact and care more about OBP.
There’s a lot to build from here, and that is the Rays’ way. However, they can’t possibly keep all of these players, as the 40-man limitation will become a significant problem in a couple of years.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Carson Williams
- Biggest Mover: Gary Gill Hill and Dylan Lasko
- Biggest Disappointment: Cole Wilcox and Mason Montgomery
- Emerging Prospect: Leonardo Pineda
