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MLB.com projects bold power numbers for the Rays in 2025

ByMason Stacy|
Aug 18, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Brandon Lowe (8) is congratulated by outfielder Josh Lowe (15) after he hit a 2-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Aug 18, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Brandon Lowe (8) is congratulated by outfielder Josh Lowe (15) after he hit a 2-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

To begin the new year, MLB.com decided to make interesting predictions for each club. Some of them are a tad outlandish, like Elly De La Cruz winning MVP in a league that now consists of Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto. Other predictions have a fair chance of being manifested in the 2025 season. We would say the prediction for the Rays is somewhere in the middle.

MLB.com predicts the Rays will have three different players with 30-home run seasons

In 2024, 20 MLB players hit at least 30 home runs and only seven major league teams had multiple players with 30-plus. Zero teams had three or more players with 30 home runs. Therefore, this prediction seems far-fetched from the outset, especially because the Rays' leading power hitter last season was Brandon Lowe with only 21 home runs. We can all agree that 2024 was an unusually poor offensive showing, but it's hard to see the slugging improve that much.

However, a healthy Brandon Lowe combined with the shortened right field dimensions of Steinbrenner Field could easily give the Rays at least one 30-homer candidate. Rays fans can remember when the powerful middle infielder mashed 39 home runs in 2021. Playing at the Yankee Stadium look-alike for half of the season may even boost those impressive numbers.

Secondly, a full season of Rays highly regarded prospect, Junior Caminero will inevitably lead to lots of fireworks. In 43 games last year, the Dominican star-in-the-making deposited six baseballs over the fence. He was just beginning to get his footing with major league pitching when the season came to a close, so be prepared for exciting power stats from the young third baseman in 2025. FanGraphs predicts that the 21-year old will hit 29 home runs next season, so putting him in the 30-homer group is not outrageous at all.

Finding the third 30-homer position player for the Rays is certainly difficult and may be the most unconventional part of this conjecture. Newly acquired utility man, Christopher Morel did hit 26 home runs with the Cubs in 2023, but that will be hard to repeat with possibly a more limited role in Tampa Bay.

Most other Rays position players struggle on the power side of the game as only three of them hit over 10 home runs in 2024. However, MLB.com foresees that the Rays athletic outfielder, Josh Lowe will remain healthy and bolster his slugging statistics in the smaller stadium. In 2023, J. Lowe crushed 20 home runs, so there's definitely reason to believe he could jump to 30 with extended playing time and help from the new friendly confines.

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