2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 3

Brayden Taylor wins the election for No. 2 in the system.

Previous Winner

Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B
23 | L/R | 6’0” | 180
A+ | .269/.389/.514 (154 wRC+) 383 PA, 14 HR, 26 SB, 15.9% BB, 24.8% K
AA | .194/.290/.435 (113 wRC+) 125 PA, 6 HR, 3 SB, 12.0% BB, 36.8% K

On the whole Taylor was one of the best performers in the Rays system last year, and looks the part of an average major leaguer, which I promise is high praise for the team’s first round selection from 2023. Depending on how his return to Double-A goes in 2025, he should be promoted quickly, and could have a fast track to the majors should the Rays part with Brandon Lowe anytime soon.

Taylor won a tight election up against Xavier Isaac, who ranked ahead of him in last year’s community voting. Also receiving votes were Chandler Simpson (3), as well as Tre Morgan (1) and Brody Hopkins (1). There were no Testers or Others.

Of note: this off-season CBS Sports is ranking the top three prospects in every system, and RJ Anderson put the Rays top three as Carson Williams, Brayden Taylor, and — drumroll — Brody Hopkins. A timely suggestion, given our vote today! Read his write up here and see if he can sway you.

Candidates

Yoniel Curet, RHP
22 | 6’2” | 190
A+ | 3.28 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 93.1 IP (21 GS) 30.3% K, 12.2% BB
AA | 1.75 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 25.2 IP (5 GS) 35.9% K, 10.7% BB

International signing rules forced the Rays to add Curet to the 40-man roster in 2024, which was a massive vote of confidence from the organization for the Dominican signee from 2019. He has a good body and doesn’t need max effort for his 98 mph fastball and hard slider to shine. Curet will return to Double-A to see if his ERA holds, and he’ll continue testing out a fading change up to prove he can stay on track developing as a starter — but if he can’t, it’s the floor of a top flight closer, soon.

Gary Gill Hill, RHP
20 | 6’2” | 160
A | 3.15 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 108.2 IP (22 G, 21 GS) 24.2% K, 6.2% BB

The wheels fell off toward the end of his first full professional season, but before those last four starts Gill Hill had a 2.40 ERA over his first 18 appearances for Charleston, and it’s just one bad start that pushes that over 2 runs on average. His body has developed well as a starter despite a low arm slot, one of only three teenagers in 2024 to amass more than 100 IP (one of the others is fellow org pitcher Santiago Suarez). His fastball is up to 96 mph, and he’s tested a curve, slider, change, and cutter thus far, inducing weak contact all around.

Theo Gillen, OF
19 | L/R | 6’2” | 195
A | .154/.353/.192 (86 wRC+) 34 PA, 0 HR, 1 SB, 23.5% BB, 41.2% K

The Rays top draft pick from 2024, the high school outfielder had several serious injuries to overcome to become the No. 18 overall pick, including labrum, wrist, and knee. His line drive swing is expected to add power as he develops, but given his injury history that is a question not a given. For now the Rays will treat him like a top-tier center field prospect, but he should have lots of time to develop.

Brailer Guerrero, OF
19 | L/R | 6’1” | 215
CPX | .330/.452/.466 (155 wRC+) 126 wRC+, 2 HR, 13 SB, 17.5% BB, 25.4% K

Guerrero’s first year state side went well enough, which was not a guarantee after requiring labrum surgery just 7 games into his career with the Rays after signing for $3.7 million in 2023. He got paid thanks to exit velo’s in the 110’s. This year he made it 28 games before succumbing to a shoulder injury again. It’s a special bat, but he has to stay healthy to be a viable top prospect.

Trevor Harrison, RHP
19 | 6’4” | 225
CPX | 3.58 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 32.2 IP (8 G, 7 GS) 29.5% K, 6.1% BB
A | 3.15 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 40.0 IP (9 GS) 29.3% K, 11.0% BB

After the Rays convinced Harrison to forego an education at Florida State in 2023, the organization waited until 2024 for his debut. The slow play has showed a promising path. His fastball sits at 95 mph (up to 99), and his change up is effective against opposite handed hitters. Baseball America views him as the organization’s top pitching prospect.

Brody Hopkins, RHP
23 | 6’4” | 200
A (SEA) | 2.90 ERA, 4.08 FIP, 83.2 IP (18 GS) 26.5% K, 11.2% BB
A+ (TBR) | 3.45 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 31.1 IP (7 GS) 29.0% K, 9.9% BB

Arguably Seattle’s top pitching prospect — and according to Baseball Prospectus, now the Rays — Hopkins was acquired in the Arozarena trade. He is a hard throwing side-armer with a plus-plus slider that has more reliever risk than your average starter, but modern pitching minds seem to think he’ll be able to stick in a rotation. His ability to keep his long arm path throwing strikes should make or break that possibility.

Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF
21 | L/L | 6’3” | 240
A+ | .287/.381/.535 (157 wRC+) 302 PA, 15 HR, 14 SB, 12.3% BB, 30.1% K
AA | .211/.346/.349 (113 wRC+) 133 PA, 3 HR, 1 SB, 15.8% BB, 40.6% K

One of the hardest hitting prospects in minor league baseball, Isaac had some contact issues upon his promotion to Double-A, but that is to be expected of even the best prospects in baseball. He’s proven to have some speed so expect to see Isaac test an outfield glove in 2025.

Tre’ Morgan, 1B
22 | L/L | 6’0” | 215
A | .320/.398/.440 (149 wRC+) 115 PA, 2 HR, 9 SB, 8.7% BB, 11.3% K
A+ | .371/.447/.558 (184 wRC+) 231 PA, 6 HR, 10 SB, 11.3% BB, 7.8% K
AA | .211/.322/.342 (102 wRC+) 91 PA, 2 HR, 1 SB, 13.2% BB, 18.7% K

The inverse of Xavier Isaac, and a year ahead developmentally, Morgan is an LSU National Champ and a high contact first baseman with a plus-plus glove at the position. The Rays started playing with his swing at Double-A amidst the difficult jump, and sent him to the 2024 AFL, where his hitting got back on track with a .338/.391/.500 batting line over 88 PA as he tested out a corner outfield glove that I expect him to leave in Arizona.

Chandler Simpson, OF
24 | L/R | 5’11” | 170
A+ | .364/.431/.372 (138 wRC+) 147 PA, 0 HR, 31 SB, 10.2% BB, 10.9% K
AA | /351/.401/.407 (141 wRC+) 358 PA, 1 HR, 73 SB, 8.1% BB, 7.5% K

Simpson graduated to Double-A pitching without missing a beat and eclipsed 100 SB with only 17 caught steals across both levels. This is the stuff of legends in the making. Drafted 70th overall in 2022, Simpson has been riding a rocket ship powered by his own two feet, but 2024 was the year he proved he can hit as well as he runs. If he can prove he’s learned outfield defense well enough for the majors (he was a second baseman in college) we’ll see him at the major league level in 2025.

Aidan Smith, OF
20 | R/R | 6’2” | 190
A (SEA) | .284/.402/.470 (135 wRC+) 358 PA, 9 HR, 28 SB, 14.5% BB, 24.3% K
A (TBR) | .306/.395/.486 (155 wRC+) 86 PA, 2 HR, 13 SB, 14.0% BB, 18.6% K

Smith has the good face. An over-slot fourth rounder the Mariners convinced to sign out of high school, he became part of the return for Randy Arozarena and proved his sweet swinging start to the season wasn’t a fluke. He’s expected to grow into his power, as well as his swing, which featured more swing-and-miss than scouts wanted to see. This was likely a product of Smith dialing in his barrel manipulation more than the result of bad decisions. His run and field tools have major league projection in center, and he’s had pull side pop in Low-A that exceeds expectations for a teenager. If he hits in Bowling Green like he did in Charleston last season, he’s a Top-100 prospect.

Santiago Suarez, RHP
20 | 6’2” | 175
A | 4.11 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 111.2 IP (23 GS) 25.7% K, 4.7% BB

Suarez is everything you want in a starting pitching prospect, with projectable command and plus-plus control exhibited by his consistent, low walk rates. It’s a good body and delivery, a major league fastball and curve, and he’s already mixing in a cutter maturity beyond his place in Charleston. He’s slated for a turn in High-A next season, but one has to wonder how aggressive the Rays could get with his journey up the ladder.