Brody Hopkins, RHP
24 | 6\u20194\u201d | 200
AA | 2.72 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 116.0 IP (25 GS) 28.7% K, 12.2% BB<\/p>\n
Hopkins was late to pitching, having done so essentially one season in college before being drafted in 2023, and accordingly has been refining his control throughout his pitching career. This was no different in 2025, as Hopkins saw his performance dramatically improve throughout the Double-A season. He\u2019s a pure power pitcher, a rarity these days, but doesn\u2019t allow much hard contact thanks to a plus-plus curveball, a promising in-development sweeper, a plus cutter, oh and a fastball that touches 100. He\u2019s the type of starter that makes batters say \u201cgood luck\u201d to the man in the on-deck circle during their walk back to the dugout. Given the quality of stuff and trajectory of performance, he might be one of the top prospects in baseball by mid-season.<\/p>\n
RankPlayerPositionVotesTotalPercentageLast Season1Carson WilliamsSS142556%12Brody HopkinsRHP192576%8<\/p>\n
Hopkins was the resounding winner (Hopking?) taking second place, creating a sort of 1-2 tier at the top of the community list this off-season. Other players receiving votes thus far are Theo Gillen (2), and one each for Xavier Isaac, Jadher Areinamo, Ty Johnson, and Jacob Melton.<\/p>\n
Where the list goes from here is anyone\u2019s guess. Remember if you don\u2019t see the player you\u2019d like to vote for in the candidates, they can receive a vote by putting their name in Others.<\/p>\n
Jadher Areinamo, INF
22 | R\/R | 5\u20198\u201d | 160
A+ (MIL) | .255\/.316\/.397 (126 wRC+) 415 PA, 11 HR, 15 SB, 8.2% BB, 11.6% K
AA (TB) | .255\/.316\/.697 (111 wRC+) 159 PA, 4 HR, 6 SB, 7.5% BB, 11.9% K
VEN | .364\/.420\/.692 162 PA, 13 HR, 5 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.3% K<\/p>\n
Acquired in return for Danny Jansen at the 2025 trade deadline, Arienamo was promoted straight to Double-A by the Rays, and his success at that level carried over into the Venezuealan winter league, where his 1.112 OPS and 13 HR were each the second highest marks in the league. He\u2019s considered to have a high baseball IQ, strong motor, excellent bat control, and defensive flexibility, any one of which could earn him an entertaining major league debut.<\/p>\n
Caden Bodine, C
22 | S\/R| 5\u201910\u201d | 200
A (BAL) | .326\/.408\/.349 (133 wRC+) 49 PA, 0 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 8 K<\/p>\n
Drafted 30th overall in 2025, Bodine was acquired in the Shane Baz trade<\/a>. He profiles as a relatively safe prospect thanks to near-70 grade bat-to-ball skills, and comfortably-plus blocking and receiving behind the plate. There is some concern that his smaller frame limits him to fringe power, but those concerns are off-set by solid plate discipline from both sides of the plate; his sweeter swing is left handed. All catching prospects will see their value proposition shift with the challenge system, but his defensive actions, leadership, and receiving give him real value, projecting him as a solid major league contributor.<\/p>\n Anderson Brito, RHP Acquired in the Brandon Lowe trade<\/a>, Brito has three plus pitches with a fastball that touches 100 with cut-ride, and two breakers in a mid-80s curveball with surprising depth and a mid-80s slider he commands best. He also mixes in a developing low-90s cutter and a scattershot but intriguing mid-80s changeup with strong velocity and movement separation, with some added deception from his smaller frame helping limit hard contact. The concern is control, as he\u2019s posted below-average strike rates in A-ball across 2024\u201325 and lacks consistent feel outside the slider, leaving him to project as a slightly wild, high-leverage reliever for now. Still, with multiple plus pitches, improved durability, and meaningful command gains, he has mid-rotation starter upside, giving him possibly the widest range of outcomes on this list.<\/p>\n Slater de Brun, OF Drafted 37th overall in 2025, through a draft pick traded by the Rays, de Brun was essentially re-acquired in the Shane Baz trade<\/a>. Like many Rays outfield prospects he\u2019s not expected to develop much power, but compensates with an ability to hit to all fields, and has the benefit of years to develop. His hit tool rates plus thanks to a quick, compact swing, and his double-plus speed elevates both his baserunning and range in center; he has a solid arm and can stick long term. The key to his development will be improving pitch selection to maximize his power potential. Despite not yet playing in a pro game, he\u2019s a good bet to skip the complex league and debut in Charleston this season.<\/p>\n Theo Gillen, OF Gillen fell to 18th overall in the 2024 draft due to shoulder and wrist injuries, despite being considered by some to be the best teenage bat in the draft. Now healthy, so far he has delivered on that promise, despite a calf injury early in the season and a hand injury while sliding that ended his year early by three weeks. The Rays moved him from short to center after drafting but that has so far not yielded any concerns; the power projection is still unknown. As things stand, Gillen has the floor of a major league contributor and the ceiling of an All-Star, but he has to stay on the field, and has a long way to go.<\/p>\n Xavier Isaac, 1B Isaac had his season cut short large-in-part due to the discovery of a brain tumor, disrupting an otherwise great start to the season that duplicated his cup of coffee in Double-A as a 20-year old, despite some minor arm injuries along the way. He has the best power projection in the system, and if he can hold his own for a full season in 2026 \u2014 particularly against southpaws, which is somewhat of a concern \u2014 the former first round pick (29th overall, 2021) could see his status restored near the top of the Rays prospect rankings.<\/p>\n Ty Johnson, RHP
21 | 5\u201910\u201d | 155
A+ (HOU) | 3.28 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 49.1 IP (12 GS), 31.1% K, 13.4% BB<\/p>\n
18 | L\/L | 5\u201910\u201d | 187<\/p>\n
20 | L\/R | 6\u20192\u201d | 195
A | .267\/.433\/.387 (151 wRC+) 324 PA, 5 HR, 36 SB, 19.8% BB, 23.1% K<\/p>\n
22 | L\/L | 6\u20193\u201d | 240
AA | .201\/.366\/.446 (144 wRC+) 175 PA, 9 HR, 1 SB, 19.4% BB, 29.7% K<\/p>\n
24 | 6\u20196\u201d | 205
AA | 2.61 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 110.1 IP (26 G, 20 GS), 34.7% K, 8.8% BB<\/p>\n