Brayden Taylor, 2B\/3B
24 | L\/R | 6\u20190\u201d | 180
AA | .173\/.289\/.286 (77 wRC+) 437 PA, 8 HR, 17 SB, 14% BB, 27.7% K
AFL | .264\/.400\/.472 (.384 wOBA) 65 PA, 1 HR, 5 SB, 12 BB, 19 K<\/p>\n
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League \u201cFall Star\u201d in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.<\/p>\n
RankPlayerPositionVotesTotalPercentageLast Season1Carson WilliamsSS142556%12Brody HopkinsRHP192576%83Jacob MeltonOF142850%N\/A4Theo GillenOF142654%135Ty JohnsonRHP122548%156Daniel PierceSS132357%N\/A7Jadher AreinamoINF152854%N\/A8TJ NicholsRHP132846%N\/R9Michael ForretRHP83324%N\/A10Santiago SuarezRHP113037%1611Anderson BritoRHP72825%N\/A12Xavier Isaac1B92832%313Caden BodineC102540%N\/A14Brendan SummerhillOF112741%N\/A15Slater de BrunOF102540%N\/A16Nathan FlewellingC82631%N\/R17Trevor HarrisonRHP92635%1018Jose UrbinaRHP132650%2519Tre\u2019 Morgan1B\/LF152560%420Jackson BaumeisterRHP122744%1221Aidan SmithOF172959%622Homer Bush Jr.OF102540%2123Dom KeeganC102836%924Gary Gill HillRHP82532%1125Brailer GuerreroOF82433%1426Brayden Taylor2B\/3B62524%2<\/p>\n
Brayden Taylor fell from on high but not off the list entirely, with his slide ending at No. 26. An off-season Fall Star, Taylor had a regular season to forget and will be looking to right the ship in 2026. Adding Dean Moss.<\/p>\n
Fabricio Blanco, SS
17 | S\/R | 5\u201911\u201d | 161<\/p>\n
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he\u2019s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.<\/p>\n
Alex Cook, RHP
25 | 6\u20192\u201d | 220
AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB<\/p>\n
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph \u2014 and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.<\/p>\n
Cooper Flemming, SS
19 | L\/R | 6\u20193\u201d | 190<\/p>\n
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he\u2019s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).<\/p>\n
Taitn Gray, 1B\/OF\/C
18 | S\/R | 6\u20194\u201d | 220<\/p>\n
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity \u2014 despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it\u2019s a great bat to dream on.<\/p>\n
Victor Mesa Jr., OF
24 | L\/L | 5\u201911\u201d | 195
AAA (MIA) | .301\/.368\/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K
MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA<\/p>\n
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February<\/a>. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he\u2019s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.<\/p>\n Dean Moss, OF Signed well above slot out of the 2025 draft at No. 67 overall, Moss\u2019s family moved from California to the Tampa Bay Area to enroll Moss at IMG, and it earned him a new-home-town selection. A jack of all trades, Moss\u2019s hit tool shades his best thanks to plus bat speed. His swing is clean, with and the projection for his power over time is major league average. He will have competition internally to stick at center, but may get the first nod in the rookie league.<\/p>\n Austin Overn, OF
19 | L\/R | 6\u20190\u201d | 180<\/p>\n
23 | L\/R | 6\u20190\u201d | 175
A+ (BAL) | .242\/.367\/.386 (127 wRC+) 341 PA, 8 HR, 43 SB, 15.5% BB, 28.2% K
AA (BAL) | .266\/.326\/.427 (112 wRC+) 136 PA, 5 HR, 21 SB, 6.6% BB, 25.0% K<\/p>\n