In 2026, the Tampa Bay Rays return to the top four of the MLB Draft for the first time since 2017 and just the second time since drafting Tim Beckham No. 1 overall in 2008.

For a team that spent the first decade and a half living in the top five, the last two decades have seen the Rays become one of the most successful and consistent franchises in baseball, with a specific front office style few teams have been able to replicate.

For the first time since 2016 — the year that led to the No. 4 pick in 2017 — the Rays failed to win at least 80 games in 2025. That’s a remarkable nine-year run for a small-market team. Tampa’s back-to-back fourth-place finishes after five straight seasons of making the playoffs have the team in a bit of a transitional year — do the Rays, ever since Andrew Friedman rebuilt the front office 21 years ago, ever really traditionally rebuild?

In Tampa, no player seems to be untouchable, and manager Kevin Cash has found ways to win with a constantly changing lineup. That’ll be the case in 2026.

But also, the Rays have the makeup of a team that could enter a playoff run as Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen continue to get healthy and Steven Matz and Ryan Pepiot round out the rotation.

With the No. 2 pick, it’s fair to wonder if that player ever even plays for the Rays by the time he reaches the big leagues, but at the same time it would be unlike Tampa to trade prospects.

The Rays have a much more difficult decision than the Chicago White Sox seemingly do. Roch Cholowsky is one of the best college shortstop prospects in some time and is expected to go No. 1 after starring for the UCLA Bruins, the No. 1-ranked team in college baseball to start the season. The Rays, who had the No. 50-ranked prospect in baseball on the 40-man roster and who played 32 games for the Rays in 2025 at shortstop, will take long looks at that same position in this draft.

But also don’t think the Rays won’t do what the Cincinnati Reds did in 2024 with the No. 2 pick and take the best, hardest-throwing college pitcher available in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Let’s dive into the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 draft plan.

What The Tampa Bay Rays Roster Has Now

The offseason is ongoing as of Feb. 5., and thus what could be on the roster now might not be on the roster when Spring Training games start in Florida. That’s the life the Rays have chosen.

But Tampa added Gavin Lux in January via a deal with the Cincinnati Reds and Cedric Mullins signed in December.

The Rays don’t look ready to compete with the juggernauts of the American League East, especially with Baltimore looking to rebound after the Pete Alonso deal. But they will have the pitching, at least to start the season. McClanahan missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery and 2025 with another arm injury, but has a career 3.02 ERA in three seasons. Meanwhile, Drew Rasmussen was 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 2025. One of the returns in the 2021 Willy Adames trade with the Brewers, the 2025 All-Star finished ninth in the American League Cy Young voting.

Junior Caminero, a 22-year-old All-Star, drove in 110 RBI while hitting 45 home runs. He’s not arbitration-eligible until 2028 and under team control until 2031. It’s not impossible to think Tampa would trade him sooner rather than later, but it’s also fair to wonder if a Wander Franco-like contract extension is coming. Or perhaps Caminero will follow Elly De La Cruz, another young star in baseball, and wait to cash-in big during free agency.

What The Tampa Bay Rays Farm System Looks Like

The Tampa Bay Rays have two players on the MLB Top 100 and Baseball America prospects lists. Both lists are led by Carson Williams, who debuted last season for the Rays. The former first-round pick was a high school selection in 2021, and he had a big Double-A season in 2024 that helped push him to the big leagues. It didn’t go great in the 32 games he played in 2025, as he hit just .172.

The other top prospect is 2024 first-round pick Theo Gillen. The Austin, Texas, native hit .267 in A-ball in 2025.

Jacob Melton is the Rays’ No. 4 prospect, and he debuted, albeit with the Houston Astros, in 2025. He comes to Tampa via the three-team trade headlined by Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh in December.

Who Will The Tampa Bay Rays Take In The 2026 MLB Draft?

The Rays like taking high school players. 

Since 2020, the Rays have taken high school players seven times in the first round. TCU star Brayden Taylor, who played in the 2023 College Baseball Showdown, was the No. 19 pick in the 2023 draft, while Brendan Summerhill, a star in the 2025 College Baseball Series, was the No. 42 pick by the Rays in the first competitive balance round.

That’s not to say they won’t take a college player. The last time they owned a top-four pick, they took Brendan McKay out of Louisville.

The first FloBaseball mock draft has the Rays taking Alabama standout Justin LeBron, a consensus top-five pick in the draft and someone who could certainly move through the system fast. If we’re putting a time clock on the Rays to win the World Series based on when they will move Rasmussen (a free agent after 2027, so possibly even this year), McClanahan (a free agent after 2028) and Caminero (arbitration-eligible in 2028), then adding someone who may be able to impact the roster by early 2027 or 2028 would be ideal with this top pick.

Teams should start to think that way when it comes to top-10 picks based on how quickly those players have not only made the big leagues but also excelled. Nick Kurtz, Paul Skenes and Jackson Holliday are good examples.

That said, LeBron is the best fit for that move, but I don’t see the Rays passing on Grady Emerson.

The physical tools at 18 (by the time of the draft) are nearly identical to the presumptive No. 1 pick, Cholowsky. Emerson has elite hitting skills and athleticism.

What could also come into play is that Emerson, from Fort Worth, is committed to play at the University of Texas. While it would be wild if the No. 2 pick in the draft opted not to sign what would be a last-slot signing bonus, in the world of NIL, it’s not out of the question to wonder if Texas could convince him to skip the minors.

2026 Shriners Children’s Baseball ShowdownFeb. 13, 202612:00 PM ET: Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech4:00 PM ET: TCU vs. Vanderbilt8:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. ArkansasFeb. 14, 202612:00 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt4:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. Oklahoma8:00 PM ET: Arkansas vs. TCUFeb. 15, 202611:30 AM ET: Vanderbilt vs. Oklahoma St3:30 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas7:30 PM ET: TCU vs. OklahomaCollege Baseball Series In Surprise, ArizonaFeb. 13, 20264:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. ArizonaFeb. 14, 20264:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. StanfordFeb. 15, 20262:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Oregon St6:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. MichiganFeb. 16, 20262:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2Feb. 20, 202612:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Florida St4:00 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Louisville8:00 PM ET: Auburn vs. Kansas StFeb. 21, 202612:00 PM ET: Louisville vs. Michigan4:00 PM ET: Florida St vs. Auburn8:00 PM ET: Kansas St vs. NebraskaFeb. 22, 202611:30 AM ET: Auburn vs. Louisville3:30 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Florida St7:30 PM ET: Michigan vs. Kansas StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3Feb. 27, 202612:00 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Mississippi St4:00 PM ET: UCLA vs. Tennessee8:00 PM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&MFeb. 28, 202612:00 PM ET: Tennessee vs. Arizona St4:00 PM ET: Mississippi St vs. Virginia Tech8:00 PM ET: Texas A&M vs. UCLAMar. 1, 202611:30 AM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee3:30 PM ET: UCLA vs. Mississippi St7:30 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Texas A&MWhen Is The 2026 MLB Draft?

The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-July 14. 

2026 MLB Draft OrderChicago White SoxTampa Bay RaysMinnesota TwinsSan Francisco GiantsPittsburgh PiratesKansas City RoyalsBaltimore OriolesOakland AthleticsAtlanta BravesColorado RockiesWashington NationalsLos Angeles AngelsSt. Louis CardinalsMiami MarlinsArizona DiamondbacksTexas RangersHouston AstrosCincinnati RedsCleveland GuardiansBoston Red SoxSan Diego PadresDetroit TigersChicago CubsSeattle MarinersMilwaukee BrewersThe 2026 MLB Draft Top 100 Prospects 

Rank    Name    Position    Age    School    Commitment

1    Roch Cholowsky    SS    20    UCLA    —

2    Grady Emerson    SS    17    Fort Worth Christian    Texas

3    Justin Lebron    SS    21    Alabama    —

4    Jacob Lombard    SS    18    Gulliver Prep    Miami

5    Derek Curiel    OF    20    LSU    —

6    Tyler Spangler    SS    18    De La Salle    Stanford

7    Liam Peterson    RHP    20    Florida    —

8    Sawyer Strosnider    OF    20    TCU    —

9    Cameron Flukey    RHP    20    Coastal Carolina    —

10    Drew Burress    OF    21    Georgia Tech    —

11    AJ Gracia    OF    21    Virginia    —

12    Carson Bolemon    LHP    18    Southside Christian    Wake Forest

13    Gio Rojas    LHP    18    Stoneman Douglas    Miami

14    Ace Reese    3B    20    Mississippi State    —

15    Jackson Flora    RHP    20    UC Santa Barbara    —

16    Chris Hacopian    SS    21    Texas A&M    —

17    Eric Becker    SS    20    Virginia    —

18    Tyler Bell    SS    20    Kentucky    —

19    Vahn Lackey    C    20    Georgia Tech    —

20    Logan Schmidt    LHP    17    Ganesha    LSU

21    Coleman Borthwick    RHP    17    South Walton    Auburn

22    Caden Sorrell    OF    20    Texas A&M    —

23    Blake Bowen    OF    17    JSerra    Oregon State

24    Chris Rembert    2B    20    Auburn    —

25    Jensen Hirschkorn    RHP    17    Kingsburg    LSU

26    Gavin Grahovac    3B    20    Texas A&M    —

27    Brady Harris    OF    17    Trinity Christian    Florida

28    Trevor Condon    OF    17    Etowah    Tennessee

29    Aiden Ruiz    SS    18    The Stony Brook    Vanderbilt

30    Gabe Gaeckle    RHP    21    Arkansas    —

31    Eric Booth    OF    17    Oak Gove    Vanderbilt

32    Kaden Waechter    RHP    18    Jesuit    Florida State

33    Caden Bogenpohl    OF    20    Missouri State    —

34    Will Brick    C    17    Christian Brothers     Mississippi State

35    Joseph Contreras    RHP    17    Blessed Trinity    Vanderbilt

36    Tegan Kuhns    RHP    20    Tennessee    —

37    Zion Rose    OF    20    Louisville    —

38    Savion Sims    RHP    18    Prestonwood Christian    Oklahoma

39    Maddox Molony    SS    21    Oregon    —

40    Joey Volchko    RHP    20    Georgia    —

41    Jarren Advincula    2B    20    Georgia Tech    —

42    Cole Carlon    LHP    20    Arizona State    —

43    Chase Brunson    OF    20    TCU    —

44    Rocco Maniscalco    SS    16    Oxford    Mississippi State

45    Ryder Helfrick    C    20    Arkansas    —

46    Tommy LaPour    RHP    20    TCU    —

47    Ryan Lynch    RHP    20    North Carolina    —

48    Cole Koeninger    SS/RHP    18    Keller    Tennessee

49    Beau Peterson    3B    18    Mill Valley    Texas

50    Landon Thome    2B/3B    18    Nazareth Academy    Florida State

51    Lucas Moore    OF    20    Louisville    —

52    Daniel Cuvet    3B    20    Miami    —

53    Denton Lord    RHP    18    South Walton    —

54    Kevin Roberts    OF    17    Jackson Prep    Florida

55    James Clark    SS    18    St. John Bosco    Princeton

56    Connor Comeau    SS/3B    17    Anderson     Texas A&M

57    Andrew Costello    C    18    Cathedral Prep    Wake Forest

58    Trey Rangel    RHP    18    The Colony    Texas

59    Jake McCoy    LHP    20    South Carolina    —

60    Keon Johnson    SS    17    First Presbyterian    —

61    Eli Herst    RHP    17    Seattle Academy    Vanderbilt

62    Henry Ford    OF    21    Tennessee    —

63    Blake Bryant    RHP    18    Citizen Christian     Clemson

64    Jason DeCaro    RHP    19    North Carolina    —

65    Gavin Gallaher    3B    21    North Carolina    —

66    Archer Horn    SS    17    St. Ignatius    Stanford

67    Trey Beard    LHP    21    Florida Atlantic    —

68    Cooper Sides    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    LSU

69    Sean Duncan    LHP    17    Terry Fox (Canada)    Vanderbilt

70    Hunter Dietz    LHP    20    Arkansas    —

71    Ethan Bass    SS    18    Glenbrook North    Wake Forest

72    Noah Wilson    OF    18    McCallie    Vanderbilt

73    Carson Tinney    C    20    Texas    —

74    Shane Sdao    LHP    22    Texas A&M    —

75    Aidan Knaak    RHP    21    Clemson    —

76    Owen Kramkowski    RHP    20    Arizona    —

77    Kade Lewis    1B    20    Wake Forest    —

78    Gary Morse    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    Tennessee

79    Tre Broussard    OF    20    Houston    —

80    Jorvorskie Lane    OF    17    Grapevine    Arkansas

81    Matt Ponatoski    SS    17    Moeller    Kentucky

82    Jake Brown    OF    20    LSU    —

83    Malachi Washington    OF    17    Parkview    LSU

84    Logan Hughes    OF    20    Texas Tech    —

85    Steven Milam    SS/2B    21    LSU    —

86    Brady Ballinger    1B    20    Kansas    —

87    Blake Morningstar    RHP    20    Wake Forest    —

88    Ethan Kleinschmit    LHP    20    Oregon State    —

89    Brett Renfrow    RHP    20    Virginia Tech    —

90    Will Yow    SS    18    St. Anne’s-Belfield    Virginia

91    Ricky Ojeda    LHP    20    UC Irvine    —

92    Dominic Santarelli    1B    18    St. Joseph    —

93    Andrew Williamson    OF    20    Central Florida    —

94    Wilson Andersen    RHP    17    Jesuit    Mississippi State

95    Jason Amalbert    SS    18    DePaul    Oklahoma

96    Ethan Norby    LHP    20    East Carolina    —

97    Cade Townsend    RHP    20    Mississippi    —

98    Alex Hernandez    2B/OF    20    Georgia Tech    —

99    Wes Mendes    LHP    21    Florida State    —

100    Cole Prosek    3B    18    Magnolia Heights    Mississippi

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