2 Rays prospects featured in MLB.com’s top 10 first basemen

This past week has been filled with rankings as teams begin to gear up for pitchers and catchers reporting and news outlets need content during this dead period of the MLB offseason. 

A recent list, posted by MLB.com, featured 2 Rays prospects, Xavier Isaac and Tre‘ Morgan, as they were ranked fourth and fifth among the top 10 first basemen prospects in baseball. 

Isaac is one of the more divisive and polarizing prospects in the Rays’ system, with some calling for the young former 1st rounder to be traded at his highest value to avoid any future problems that may arise from his concerningly low contact rates in the minors. 

However, counter-arguments would point to his ridiculous power and massive production so far in the minors as reason to believe Isaac can be a successful hitter in the major leagues.

The biggest help for Isaac would be if he could make the transition to a corner outfield spot, relieving some of the pressure playing first could add to his offense.

Morgan, on the other hand, is a far safer prospect, as his approach and ability to put the bat on the ball are both high, with FanGraphs giving his hit tool a 55 future value.

Morgan's biggest upside is his glove, as he has a 70 future value in that category, with an ability to play first base at a high level as well as playing a solid amount of innings in left field.

Without as much uncertainty surrounding his contact rates or his approach, Morgan has a very convincing case to push his ranking ahead of Isaac's, although most major prospect publications would disagree with that assertion, including this ranking by MLB.com.

It will be a fascinating storyline to monitor moving forward, as both Isaac and Morgan will likely open 2024 at the Double-A level, with one having to play a corner spot in order to allow the other to play first.

Isaac played a couple of games in right field last season with the Montgomery Biscuits, and Morgan played five of his 21 games in left field during his brief time at Double-A Montgomery in 2024.

If either of them did make a full-time transition to either of those spots, they'd be able to coexist, meaning instead of trying to decide which prospect has more upside and trade the other, the Rays can continue to happily allow both to grow in the minor leagues and ideally reach their immense potentials.

So let's set aside any comparisons of these two highly touted prospects and instead let the Rays do what they do best; develop players and put them in a position to succeed.