5 Rays on MLB.com's Updated Top 100 Prospects

MLB.com recently updated their "Top 100 Prospects in Baseball" list at the end of May, and the Tampa Bay Rays found themselves with 5 names on the list, with unfortunately one prospect falling out of the top 100.

Shane Baz (#12), Josh Lowe (#44), Taj Bradley (#68), Vidal Brujan (#70), and Curtis Mead (#94) made up those who remained on the list, and SS Greg Jones fell off the list after beginning the season at #86.

Jones has struggled to start off 2022, as MLB.com noted he has struck out 34.8 percent of the time, which brings back into question his hit tool. Jones has continued to show his plus speed though, going 17-19 on the basepaths. Hit elite speed also gives him the ability to take extra bases, as seen on his recent inside-the-park home run.

Shane Baz has been working his way back from elbow surgery, causing a bit of a lower ranking than before. Baz has electrifying stuff and displayed that at the beginning of last season, and after dominating in his recent rehab start, will rejoin the MLB rotation against the Twins this weekend.

Josh Lowe and Vidal Brujan have struggled at the major league level thus far in 2022, with Lowe being demoted in early May and Brujan struggling to replace him. They each carried an OPS of .344 and .364 respectively, and the club will need them both to find their footing soon to help contribute to their playoff run. The organization has not lost faith in either hitter and is waiting to see a return to the promise they have shown.

Taj Bradley has continued his run of dominance from 2021, now having a 2.18 ERA at AA Montgomery, and could be a big riser in the next prospect rankings. Bradley looks to be one of the next young phenom arms to come to Tampa Bay in the next year or two and earned minor league pitcher of the month for Tampa in May.

On the offensive side at AA Montgomery, Curtis Mead has slashed .293/.391/.487 with 19 extra-base hits and 28 RBIs in 2022. Mead has found time at first base, second base, third base, and DH this season, and his continued development at the plate will go a long way for this club.

The Rays continue to have one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball. Even with the graduations of Baz, Lowe, and Brujan on the horizon, there are still plenty of names in the organization to keep an eye out for over the coming years.