5 Rays featured in MLB Network's top 100 prospects

It's not quite the 9 they had in the Baseball Prospectus list, but it's a solid number, and Carson Williams is of course the headliner.

Surprise surprise, Carson Williams earns the top ranking amongst Rays prospects on MLB Network's Top 100 Prospects list.
Surprise surprise, Carson Williams earns the top ranking amongst Rays prospects on MLB Network's Top 100 Prospects list. | Brace Hemmelgarn/GettyImages

Man, only 5? Yeah, the Rays got a bit of the short end of the stick when it came to the MLB Network Top 100 Prospects list announcement, but a quintet is still nothing to sleep on, especially with Carson Williams coming in at No. 9.

The list includes some of the usual suspects, but no pitchers, which is a bit of a surprise as most other major prospect rankings at least had one or two of the top Rays pitching prospects ranked in their top 100.

Ah, well, MLB will regret their exclusion, and the Rays surely prefer to stay under the national radar anyways. Although, there's no doubt the rest of baseball knows just as well as Tampa Bay does, how valuable the pitchers they have in their system are. We're hopeful that a few of those names will eventually make it onto one of these lists with further seasoning.

So, here are the names that were announced from MLB Network.

99. Theo Gillen (OF)

Gillen is the Rays' former first-round pick in 2024 and makes his debut on MLB's Top 100 list in his first year in organized baseball.

He's an impressive athlete whose position wasn't fully solidified when he was drafted, but the Rays quickly established the left-handed hitter in center field, a position they're hopeful he can stick to ease some of the pressure of needing to be such an elite hitter.

94. Tre' Morgan (1B/OF)

Quickly transforming from an underrated prospect, Morgan also makes his debut on the Top 100 list, as the former LSU Tiger has been absolutely mashing his way through the minors.

His status as a first baseman or corner outfielder is something to monitor moving forward, but if he continues to hit the way he has, it really won't matter.

Luckily, his defense is solid at first and he's shown enough athletic ability to at least be a serviceable corner outfielder.

67. Brayden Taylor (INF)

Taylor has been the subject of potential position changes as well, similar to Morgan, except Taylor's status is possibly even more fluid, as his status as simply an "infielder" is appropriate due to the Rays' solid options at third and short, his more natural positions and where he played in college.

Second base might be his future, but it's a situation to monitor moving forward for the former first-round pick out of TCU.

51. Xavier Isaac (1B)

Ah, Xavier Isaac. Many might question if his struggles with the big swing-and-miss problems he has would lead to the Rays dealing the former first-rounder, or if it would lead many prospect experts to sour on the hulking lefty, but so far neither has been the case.

Isaac is still producing, even at AA, but caution should be taken, especially if he has to stick at first, which seems likely, putting immense pressure on his ability to hit.

9. Carson Williams (SS)

Elite defense? Check. High upside with his bat? Also check. Really electrifying base runner? You bet. Carson Williams truly has it all, and it'll be exciting to see where he can take his immense talent once he reaches the big leagues, which should be expected within the next couple of seasons.

If he continues to produce at the level he has though, it could be even sooner than expected, but the Rays are known to be patient with their prospects, so it'd be better not to jump the gun.

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