3 Rays featured in MLB's top 100 prospects list

An organization's contribution to the top 100 prospects list can be telling for the respective big league club's future. The Seattle Mariners lead the MLB with seven prospects in this exclusive group. The AL East is pretty even in this regard with the Yankees and Red Sox leading the division with four top 100 prospects a piece. The rest of the AL East includes three prospects among the best as the Rays have a starting pitcher, shortstop, and an outfielder represented.

SS Carson Williams - No. 63 prospect

The 22-year-old Williams has actually dropped continuously on this list as he was posted as the No. 20 top prospect and No. 7 shortstop prospect in the major leagues in 2024. The 2021 first round pick dropped to No. 50 the next season and now sits as the No. 63 prospect in the league.

Regardless, after multiple injuries within the Rays' infield, Carson Williams made his long-awaited debut. In 32 games to close out the 2026 campaign, Williams hit a mediocre .172 with an egregious 42% strikeout rate. To make matters worse, Williams only walked six times leading to a .219 OBP. There were some bright spots from the San Diego native though, as he homered five times and drove in 12 runs in his short stint. It will be interesting to see how they decide to maneuver the youngster with Taylor Walls returning from injury.

OF Theo Gillen - No. 76 prospect

The Rays 2024 first round pick, Theo Gillen has impressed in his first few professional seasons. The 20-year-old outfielders was drafted out of Westlake High School in Austin, TX. The left-handed hitter struggled at first, collecting only four hits in eight games in 2024. However, he had a breakout 2025 campaign with Single-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, .267 with 18 extra-base hits in 73 games. His OBP was an absurd .433 as the youngster displayed incredible discipline.

So far in Gillen's young career, he has played each outfield position and committed only four errors. If he continues to improve with each promotion, then Theo Gillen will certainly someone to keep an eye on as the Rays future center fielder.

RHP Brody Hopkins - No. 85 prospect

Hopkins joined the Rays very recently in the prospect haul that was the return for the Randy Arozarena trade in 2024. As a member of the Mariners organization, Brody Hopkins went 5-6 with a 3.05 ERA. His 133 punchouts in only 115 innings likely stood out to Rays scouts as well. Ever since joining the Tampa Bay farm system, the 24-year-old hurler has only improved to the tune of a miniscule 2.72 ERA in 2025. Hopkins is now regarded as one of the best pure athletes in the entire organization which has shown since his arrival.

The Montgomery Biscuits ace relies heavily on his fastball and slider, but he's also added a respectable curveball to aid in his strikeout percentage. In 2025, Hopkins struck out a career-high 141 opponents. The righty may force his way into Triple-A to start this upcoming season which would line up well with his 2026 MLB ETA.