3 potential x-factors that could play important roles for the Rays in 2025

As the calendar rolls into March, the Rays are trying to fill out their roster for Opening Day. March 28th will be an exciting day, as the Rays take on the NL West Rockies. However, an MLB season is a marathon of 162 exhibitions, so some players that don't make an appearance on the 28th will still be major contributors to the season as a whole. In fact, a season ago, Edwin Uceta joined the Rays roster a month into the season and wound up being the best reliever on the team. There are three players that we believe are on track to help this club significantly down the stretch.

Curtis Mead

The Rays former top infield prospect is certainly having a spring training to remember as he's hitting over .800 after 12 at-bats. This is clearly a very small sample size, but it's still really impressive. Mead will need to continue to improve himself, especially against major league pitching. If the Australian-born athlete continues to wield an imposing bat, then he could be a difference maker on a club that needs the offensive boost.

Chandler Simpson

Quite possibly the fastest player at camp this year, Simpson brings some tools that most players can't claim. Moreover, his bat-to-ball skills are just as incredible, as he has produced a .326 AVG and he's struck out less than 100 times in three minor league campaigns. To put that stat into perspective, Jose Siri struck out a total of 170 times in the 2024 season. Needless to say, the contact-hitting Chandler Simpson will be a breath of fresh air for Rays fans when he gets his major league call-up. The outfielder's ability to cause chaos on the bases will definitely benefit the Tampa offense.

Joe Rock

A left-handed pitcher who has spent his entire career in the minors for the Rockies and the Rays is proving himself so far this spring. Rock was added to the 40-man roster along with fellow minor leaguer Ian Seymour this offseason, practically giving him the go-ahead to win a spot in this loaded Rays bullpen. It's hard to tell if the crafty lefty has won that role just yet, but his spring numbers haven't disappointed.

Rock has given up only two hits and zero runs in his four innings of work. Two of those innings came against the Braves starting lineup that included prolific power-hitters Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna. It will be interesting to see how Joe Rock can impact this deep staff in 2025.