Summary
The Rays system remains one of the most athletic and toolsy in baseball, with a clear emphasis on speed, defensive versatility, and upside. Players like Theo Gillen, Adrian Santana, and Daniel Pierce headline a group of twitchy middle infielders and center fielders who combine elite speed with advanced zone control and defensive value. While few project for big power, many offer enough physicality to grow into modest pop, and the Rays’ developmental track record suggests they’ll get the most out of these profiles.
On the pitching side, the system is deep and varied. Santiago Suarez and Yoniel Curet offer starter upside with strong stuff and improving command, while arms like T.J. Nichols and Ty Johnson could thrive in swing roles or high-leverage relief. The Rays continue to find value in under-the-radar arms, and their ability to refine secondaries and manage workloads gives them a steady stream of contributors.
Offensively, the system is filled with intriguing bets—some safer than others. Aiden Smith and Brailer Guerrero offer power-speed potential but must improve contact rates. While Xavier Isaac played sparingly in 2025, I still think he hits for power. Brayden Taylor – Ugh!
It’s a system built on projection, athleticism, and patience—one that fantasy managers should monitor closely, especially in deeper formats.
AI-Assisted Fantasy Tiers: Methodology and Observations
AI has made significant strides in all aspects of our lives. Over the past four years, I have compiled 500,000 words of personal scouting narratives, which have formed the foundation for training my own AI assistant. This assistant now evaluates prospects and assigns fantasy tiers exclusively based on the insights and observations contained in my write-ups.
After requesting that my AI assistant generate fantasy tiers using this year’s reports, I found that the AI’s rankings generally align with my own assessments. However, there are some cases where the AI’s evaluations differ from my personal rankings. I am sharing those differences here for your consideration.
🥇 Tier 1: Fantasy Impact Targets
- Theo Gillen – Explosive athlete with 20/20 upside and OBP traits; loud tools, high ceiling.
- Xavier Isaac – Middle-of-the-order bat with plus power and high walk rates; proximity adds value.
- Carson Williams – Elite defender with 20+ HR pop; contact risk but everyday SS upside.
- Santiago Suarez – Advanced pitchability, three-pitch mix, No. 3 starter floor with Rays dev backing.
- Brendon Summerhill – Power-speed blend with plate discipline; 20/10 upside and athletic frame.
🥈 Tier 2: Everyday-Upside Targets
- Aiden Smith – Twitchy athlete with bat speed; raw but ceiling is real.
- Adrian Santana – Elite contact, 40+ steal speed, high-floor SS with sneaky fantasy upside.
- Brailer Guerrero – 70-grade raw power, bat speed intact; needs reps but 30-HR ceiling.
- Daniel Pierce – Big tools, raw approach; needs reps and polish to unlock upside
- Yoniel Curet – Electric stuff, 70-grade slider; starter traits with high-leverage fallback.
- Jadher Areinamo – Bat-to-ball standout with growing power and defensive versatility; quietly impactful.
- Tre’ Morgan – High-contact, plus defender, some speed; needs power bump to stick at 1B.
- T.J. Nichols – Mid-rotation upside if changeup clicks; strong control and slider foundation.
- Brody Hopkins – Deceptive arm slot, swing-and-miss stuff; starter traits with bullpen fallback.
To see the list, click here.
