There is a lot to be thankful for as Tampa Bay Rays fans

The 2023 season for the Tampa Bay Rays was full of trials and tribulations. They lost three starting pitchers from their Opening Day roster to season-ending injuries that will likely keep them out all of next season. They were dealt a massive blow with the ongoing Wander Franco situation. The Baltimore Orioles surpassed them for the division crown, and they were unceremoniously decimated by the eventual World Series Champion Texas Rangers in the Wild Card round.

However, to linger on the team's shortcomings and misfortunes ignores the great things that happened for the Rays last season and the great things that are coming. As we in the United States kick off our holiday season with Thanksgiving, I want to take some time and celebrate what we have to be thankful for as Rays fans. While these things may appear small in the grand scheme of life, it's what makes me optimistic that the best is yet to come for the Tampa Bay Rays.

A new stadium is in the works

Tropicana Field has been the site of a few significant events in the last 15 years. Akinori Iwamura's leap after clinching the AL Pennant in 2008 and Evan Longoria's walk-off home run in Game 162 to clinch a Wild Card spot in 2011 stand out as two of the biggest moments. However, attendance numbers have rarely been good for the Rays. They had the lowest-attended postseason game in 104 years this past October, and they had the fourth-lowest home attendance during the regular season. Fans have been clamoring for a new stadium for years amid rumors of the team looking at a potential St. Petersburg-Montreal split.

In September, Rays fans finally got their wish. The team announced a $1.3 billion plan to build a new ballpark on the same lot where The Trop currently stands. The new stadium would hold 30,000 seats and isn't expected to open until 2028. The drawings of what the stadium could look like are breathtaking. Most importantly, it would keep the Rays in the area for the foreseeable future. It was exciting news, and it will hopefully result in attendance numbers skyrocketing.

Yandy Diaz rightfully getting MVP consideration

While several players contributed to the Rays' success offensively, no one did it better than Yandy Diaz in 2023. Diaz led the American League with a batting average of .330, becoming the first Rays player to win a batting title. He also set career highs in almost every major hitting category, slugging 22 home runs and 78 RBIs to go with his team-high 173 hits. He also earned the first Silver Slugger of his career, taking the honors as the top-hitting first baseman in the American League.

The accolades didn't stop there for the Rays' first baseman. After winning the batting title and putting together a strong season, Yandy Diaz was rightfully in consideration for the AL's Most Valuable Player. While Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani was the unanimous decision, Diaz placed sixth in voting, appearing on 28 of the 30 ballots.

He was third on four ballots, but most of his votes were for a sixth-place finish. Diaz might not be as widely celebrated as Randy Arozarena, but his contributions to the team are recognized and appreciated by the fanbase. He was the firestarter for many rallies down the stretch, simply with his ability to get on base. The Baseball Writers' Association of America noticed and gave Diaz the recognition he deserved.

The future of the Tampa Bay Rays is bright

The Tampa Bay Rays are widely renowned for their ability to draft and develop players that turn into contributors at the MLB level. They rank in the Top 10 in team prospect pools consistently, doing so again this season during the preseason and midseason rankings by MLB.com. They currently have the sixth-rated prospect in the game, Junior Caminero, who we saw get some action late in the season, as well as Curtis Mead, who is ranked No. 34. This success isn't new for the organization and can be seen throughout the minor leagues.

Along with the top prospects expected to contribute in the near future, there is plenty of young talent at the big league level to help lead the way. Isaac Paredes just led the team in home runs and RBIs at 24 years old. 25-year-old Josh Lowe put together a breakout season. Regulars like Jose Siri, Rene Pinto, and Taylor Walls are still in their mid-20s. The Rays batted the third-youngest lineup on average in the league. Even some of their "older" stars are in their late 20s, like Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, and Harold Ramirez. Add some young pitchers into the mix who are likely to mature, like Taj Bradley, and this team's success could carry on for a while.