Tampa Bay Rays Minor League Roundup: Week 18

This week’s minor league roundup will only feature the numbers accumulated prior to the start of play on Monday.

This was the 18th week of minor league play.

According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), there is a new #1 in the Rays system and this newcomer Jadher Areinamo. The Rays acquired the 21-year old infielder from Milwaukee on Monday for Danny Jansen. Thus far in 2025, Areinamo is hitting .297/.355/.463 with 11 HR and 15 stolen bases, registering a 122 wRC+ over 415 PA in High-A.

Meanwhile, Ty Johnson continues to be the team’s top minor league pitcher. The 23-year old came to the Rays as part of the return for Isaac Paredes and is having a fantastic season. Over 19 games — 13 starts — Johnson has compiled a 2.59 ERA | 2.49 FIP with a 34.5 K% & 10.7 BB% over 73 IP.

RUMBLINGS

MLB Pipeline has updated their top 30 to feature 2025 draft picks. In somewhat of a shock, none of the Rays draft picks have been slotted in. Other things of note are Brody Hopkins moving up to 3rd and Colton Ledbetter jumping to 14th while Jackson Baumeister is 12th despite poor results and being on the 60-day IL.
Baseball America did a feature on Rays first round pick Daniel Pierce

The Rays haven’t had very many players make Baseball America’s Hot Sheet this season, but Forrest Whitley managed to sneak on this past week.

If you forget everything that Whitley has done over the past few years (10.57 in 13 MLB appearances), there may still be something to watch here. Whitley is striking out 41.8% of batters with Durham while walking only 5.5% of batters. His changeup and cutter are both weapons when paired with his 94-95 mph fastball.

Baseball America also did a write up of the Rays trade with the Brewers.

Bob Seymour since his promotion to Durham on June 30th, 2024:
.266/.339/.569 | 28.7 K% | 9.8 BB% | 45 HR | 127 wRC+ | 610 PA
The Tampa Bay Rays signed an undrafted free agent, Trace Phillips, with a $629,200 signing bonus. That is the largest bonus handed out to an undrafted free agent this year and the 2nd largest in history.

TEAM LEADERS

(minimum of 170 PA for hitters and 160 TBF for pitchers)
Baseball America’s top twenty prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.

Tampa Bay Rays
Top 20 Prospects
#15 Ian Seymour
AAA: 2.62 ERA | 3.45 FIP | 29.2 K% | 5.6 BB% | .236 AVG | 14.9 WHIFF% | 86 IP
MLB: 1.86 ERA | 2.68 FIP | 19.5 K% | 7.3 BB% | .216 AVG | 11.4 WHIFF% | 9 2⁄3 IP
Made big league debut on 6/9
Optioned to Triple-A on 6/10
Promoted to the MLB on 7/8

Durham Bulls

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .301, Andrew Stevenson
OBP: .407, Tre’ Morgan
SLG: 552, Bob Seymour
HR: 26, Bob Seymour
wRC+: 124, Andrew Stevenson
SB: 19, Carson Williams

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.34, Garrett Acton
FIP: 3.41, Paul Gervase
K%: 39.1%, Paul Gervase
BB%: 7.3%, Logan Workman
WHIP: 0.92, Garrett Acton
AVG: .155, Garrett Acton
WHIFF%: 16.2%, Paul Gervase

Top 20 Prospects

#3 Carson Williams:
AAA: .214/.315/.433 | 34.6 K% | 11.8 BB% | 17 HR | 19 SB | 93 wRC+ | 373 PA
#6 Tre’ Morgan
AAA: .291/.441/.366 | 22.9 K% | 18.8 BB% | 1 HR | 2 SB | 127 wRC+ | 170 PA
On Injured List from 5/29 thru 6/17

#16 Dominic Keegan
CPX: .292/.469/.625 | 18.8 K% | 25.0 BB% | 2 HR | 0 SB | 183 wRC+ | 32 PA
AAA: .282/.357/.484 | 29.3 K% | 10.0 BB% | 5 HR | 0 SB | 118 wRC+ | 140 PA
Activated from IL on 5/26

Montgomery Biscuits

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .283, Homer Bush
OBP: .426, Tatem Levins
SLG: .446, Xavier Isaac
HR: 13, Cooper Kinney
wRC+: 152, Tatem Levins
SB: 35, Homer Bush Jr

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.59, Ty Johnson
FIP: 2.49, Ty Johnson
K%: 34.5%, Ty Johnson
BB%: 4.5%, Duncan Davitt
WHIP: 1.00, Ty Johnson
AVG: .166, Ty Johnson
WHIFF%: 17.8%, Ty Johnson

Top 20 Prospects

#1 Xavier Isaac:
AA: .201/.366/.446 | 29.7 K% | 19.4 BB% | 9 HR | 1 SB | 145 wRC+ | 175 PA
Placed on the Injured List on 7/5

#5 Brody Hopkins
AA: 3.28 ERA | 3.64 FIP | 27.5 K% | 12.1 BB% | .222 AVG | 11.7 WHIFF% | 85 IP
#10 Brayden Taylor:
AA: .159/.261/.254 | 28.4 K% | 12.3 BB% | 4 HR | 7 SB | 59 wRC+ | 292 PA
#17 Colton Ledbetter
AA: .276/.357/.397 | 24.5 K% | 10.4 BB% | 5 HR | 26 SB | 125 wRC+ | 364 PA
#18 Cooper Kinney:
AA: .256/.302/.432 | 26.4 K% | 6.0 BB% | 13 HR | 0 SB | 116 wRC+ | 348 PA
#19 Homer Bush
AA: .283/.360/.342 | 19.5 K% | 8.1 BB% | 0 HR | 35 SB | 114 wRC+ | 385 PA

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .266, Emilien Pitre
OBP: .405, Noah Myers
SLG: .442, Ryan Spikes
HR: 13, Mac Horvath
wRC+: 135, Noah Myers
SB: 45, Adrian Santana

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.89, Hayden Snelsire
FIP: 2.94, Drew Dowd
K%: 31.4%, Drew Dowd
BB%: 2.1%, Marcus Johnson
WHIP: 0.93, Hayden Snelsire
AVG: .195, Hayden Snelsire
WHIFF%: 15.4%, Hayden Snelsire

Top 20 Prospects

#4 Santiago Suarez
A+: 1.78 ERA | 2.90 FIP | 28.3 K% | 5.1 BB% | .170 AVG | 14.8 WHIFF% | 25 1⁄3 IP
Placed on the Injured List on 5/9
#9 Gary Gill Hill
A+: 3.96 ERA | 4.28 FIP | 19.6 K% | 5.9 BB% | .253 AVG | 9.3 WHIFF% | 97 2⁄3 IP
#11 T.J. Nichols
A+: 3.44 ERA | 4.52 FIP | 29.9 K% | 5.7 BB% | .228 AVG | 14.1 WHIFF% | 91 2⁄3 IP
#12 Aidan Smith
A+: .229/.339/.384 | 32.9 K% | 13.0 BB% | 10 HR | 27 SB | 113 wRC+ | 322 PA
#20 Emilien Pitre
A+: .266/.341/.411 | 21.9 K% | 9.5 BB% | 9 HR | 9 SB | 117 wRC+ | 388 PA

Charleston River Dogs

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .303, Angel Mateo
OBP: .437, Theo Gillen
SLG: .410, Angel Mateo
HR: 6, Angel Mateo
wRC+: 154, Theo Gillen
SB: 32, Theo Gillen

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.74, Jose Urbina
FIP: 2.87, Andy Rodriguez
K%: 26.8%, Jose Urbina
BB%: 2.3%, Andy Rodriguez
WHIP: 0.98, Andres Galan
AVG: .179, Andres Galan
WHIFF%: 14.3%, Andres Galan

Top 20 Prospects

#2 Theo Gillen
A: .275/.437/.401 | 22.3 K% | 19.9 BB% | 5 HR | 32 SB | 154 wRC+ | 296 PA
#7 Trevor Harrison
A: 2.59 ERA | 3.31 FIP | 22.1 K% | 11.2 BB% | .210 AVG | 12.2 WHIFF% | 76 1⁄3 IP
#8 Brailer Guerrero
CPX: .000/.000/.000 | 50.0 K% | 0.0 BB% | 0 HR | 0 SB | -100 wRC+ | 2 PA
A: .230/.342/.378 | 29.1 K% | 13.3 BB% | 4 HR | 6 SB | 114 wRC+ | 158 PA
Placed on the IL on 6/24
Began rehab assignment on 7/22 but only played in 1 game

Complex League

THE COMPLEX LEAGUE’S SEASON IS OVER

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .323, Nicandro Aybar
OBP: .462, Alberth Palma
SLG: .388, Alberth Palma
HR: 1, Alfonzo Martinez & Derek Datil
wRC+: 148, Alberth Palma
SB: 15, Alberth Palma

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.52, Danny Hilario
FIP: 2.77, Danny Hilario
K%: 32.7%, Danny Hilario
BB%: 4.7%, Alexander Campos
WHIP: 0.84, Danny Hilario
AVG: .163, Danny Hilario
WHIFF%: 19.0%, Danny Hilario

Top 20 Prospects

None currently on active roster

Dominican Summer League

Minimum 80 PA & 80 TBF

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .397, Angel Brachi
OBP: .528, Angel Brachi
SLG: .513, Andreimi Antunez
HR: 5, John Santana
wRC+: 178, Angel Brachi
SB: 29, Israfell Bautista

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.86, Ralph Sierra
FIP: 3.15, Efrailin Ramos
K%: 28.0%, Starlin Savinon
BB%: 7.5%, Efrailin Ramos
WHIP: 0.86, Xavier Lopez
AVG: .147, Xavier Lopez
WHIFF%: 19.3%. Xavier Lopez

Top 20 Prospects

None currently on active roster