Rays steal triple digit arm as PTBNL in Kameron Misner trade

If the Rays had to choose a favorite type of return in a trade with another club, a high-powered arm would likely be the No. 1 choice. A versatile utility player or athletic shortstop would probably be a close second, but we're happy to say that they snatched the coveted triple digit pitcher. When the Royals traded for former Rays rookie outfielder Kameron Misner, they promised a "player to be named later". Four months later, that player has been revealed and he may be exactly the type of prospect they're looking for in Tampa Bay.

The Royals finally announced the "PTBNL" in the Kameron Misner deal last November and he definitely isn't a household name. However, the Rays thrive on being "sneaky" with their development. There must've seen something that they saw from this pitching prospect to accept as the return for a legitimate starting center fielder on any given team.

22-year-old Matthew Hoskins is the hurler that the Rays received to complete that November trade. Hoskins is a product of the University of Georgia and was drafted by Kansas City in the 12th round of the 2025 draft. The underappreciated reliever has been recorded touching 100 mph on his fastball, but sits from 96-98 mph on a regular basis. As a junior at Georgia, the 6'2 righty closed out a huge 7-6 victory over the rival Arkansas Razorbacks. It would snap a 4-game SEC losing streak and jolt them towards an 18-12 SEC record and an impressive 43-17 record overall. The Bulldogs would eventually be eliminated by Duke in the tournament, but they put together an impressive season, nonetheless.

Hoskins had his best campaign in the 2025 season as he collected career-highs in innings pitched (27.1) and strikeouts (39). His 5.93 ERA showed some flaws with walk totals and being susceptible to the home run ball, but there's no question that Hoskins could be a talented member of the Rays organization.

Meanwhile, the other half of the trade is performing well for the Royals so far this spring. Misner was becoming a fan-favorite for the Rays last season due to his Opening Day heroics and humble appearance. However, after he was optioned to Triple-A Durham to make room for Jonny DeLuca, he was never the same player. His sub-.200 AVG in May and June didn't match his .364 AVG in March, ultimately resulting in his demise. We wish Kameron Misner nothing, but the best in Kansas City.