As I previously mentioned, his best ability to this point has been his plate discipline. He put up a 13% chase rate this season in Low-A, rarely expanding the zone. When paired with his 19.8% walk rate, Gillen’s patience becomes a highlight of his game. With pitchers unable to make him expand the strike zone, he’ll have more opportunities to do damage.
In addition to an intriguing offensive profile, there’s a lot to like with his glove as well. The Rays transitioned Gillen from shortstop to center field immediately after selecting him in the first round, and he’s handled it fairly well so far. The Rays are betting on his athleticism with this move, and he’ll get even more comfortable with more reps at the position.
It’s easy to see why the Rays trusted his athleticism enough to make this move, though. To say the least, Gillen is quick on the bases. His speed has been graded out in the 60s from multiple outlets, including Aram Leighton in Just Baseball’s Top 100 list.
This speed gives him immediate upside in center field due to the ground he can cover, and it’s already translated well to the bases. If he had played a full 162-game season at the pace he swiped bags in 2025, he would’ve been on pace for nearly 80 steals.
Overall, while he’s far from a complete prospect, Gillen’s raw tools show a lot of promise as he continues to develop. If he’s able to keep growing and sync up his swing a little better, he could quickly become a household name in the minor leagues.
Where Can Gillen Improve in 2026?
Now that we’ve taken a look at Gillen’s on-field production and his raw tools, we can look ahead to where he can make strides in 2026. The ceiling is undeniably high, but like any young player, there are areas where he can refine his game and unlock even more potential.