Can a team with a shoestring budget truly compete with the MLB's powerhouses? The Tampa Bay Rays have consistently proven that it's possible, thanks to their incredible farm system. Even with a few prospect stumbles in 2025, their minor league pipeline continued to churn out talent. Let's dive into a review of their 2025 minor league season, team by team, and see who's on the cusp of making an impact in the majors.
Charleston Riverdogs
The headliner in Charleston was undoubtedly Theo Gillen, the Rays' 2024 first-round pick. This outfield prospect made a splash in his 73 games in the Carolina League. Gillen posted a slash line of .267/.433/.387 with five homers and 18 extra-base hits, demonstrating his ability to make solid contact. But here's where it gets interesting: Gillen's real strength might be his plate discipline. The 20-year-old walked a whopping 64 times, boasting an above-average Whiff% (26%), and swiped a team-leading 36 bases. Is Gillen the next great on-base machine in the making?
Beyond Gillen, the Riverdogs showcased other promising hitters. Catcher Nathan Flewelling, another 2024 draftee (third round), displayed exceptional patience at the plate, walking 89 times in 102 games. Brendan Summerhill, a late-season addition, quickly made his presence felt with 12 hits in just 10 games and a Whiff% below 20%. And let's not forget Brailer Guerrero, who, at just 19 years old, put up a respectable .744 OPS.
On the pitching side, the Riverdogs' rotation featured three consistent starters: Jose Urbina, Jacob Kmatz, and Ryan Andrade, all logging over 90 innings in Low-A. Urbina, at only 19 years old, impressed with a 25.5% Whiff% and 96 strikeouts in 92 innings. Kmatz, a 2024 fifth-round pick, struggled with a 5.56 ERA but showed flashes of potential with a 23.7% Whiff%. In the bullpen, Noah Beal stood out, racking up 34 strikeouts in 27.2 innings and boasting a Whiff% exceeding 40%, one of the highest in the league.
Bowling Green Hot Rods
The Bowling Green Hot Rods narrowly missed out on the South Atlantic League final, a testament to their talented roster. Their lineup was packed with exciting players, including speedster Aidan Smith, former Kentucky standout Emilien Pitre, power hitter Mac Horvath, and 2023 first-round pick Adrian Santana.
Smith, despite a high Whiff% (over 32%) and 143 strikeouts, displayed intriguing power/speed potential, hitting 14 home runs and stealing 41 bases. Horvath mirrored that power/speed combo, leading the team with 16 home runs and also swiping 41 bags. Outfielder Noah Myers exhibited excellent plate discipline, walking 68 times in 85 games and leading the Midwest League with an 18.7% BB%. In fact, Bowling Green had four players (Myers, Horvath, Pitre, and Smith) in the league's top 20 in walk percentage. Pitre, in addition to his strong walk rate, led the Midwest League with 120 hits and posted one of the lowest Whiff% (24%) in the league. Santana, while not a power threat (17 XBH in 85 games), made his mark on the basepaths, stealing a team-high 47 bases.
Former Texas A&M slugger Hunter Haas, a 2023 fourth-round pick, had a tougher time, hitting .162/.269/.247 with four home runs and a concerning 36.5% Whiff%. And this is the part most people miss: even top prospects can struggle as they adjust to the professional game.
The Hot Rods' pitching staff was anchored by Marcus Johnson, T.J. Nichols, and Gary Gill Hill, the latter of whom is considered to have significant upside. Gill Hill didn't rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he limited walks (30 in 136.2 IP) and induced a high number of ground balls. Johnson averaged a strikeout per inning (138 K in 138 IP) but was prone to the long ball, surrendering a league-high 28 home runs. Nichols (20 HR in 96.2 IP) also struggled with home runs but compensated with a Whiff% over 31%.
Montgomery Biscuits
The Rays' ability to consistently trade away MLB pitchers without missing a beat is largely due to their shrewd acquisitions in return. For example, when they traded Isaac Paredes to Chicago in 2024, they received Hunter Bigge (an impactful reliever) and Ty Johnson. Johnson, a 2023 15th-round pick, had a breakout year with Montgomery, striking out an impressive 149 batters in 110 innings while holding opponents to a .174 batting average in Double-A. Johnson's 35.7% Whiff% was the second-highest among Southern League pitchers with at least 500 induced swings.
Brody Hopkins, acquired alongside Aidan Smith in the Randy Arozarena trade, also impressed, striking out 141, the fourth-most in the league. Walks were an issue (60 in 116 innings), but like Johnson, he limited home runs (7 in 116 innings). Jackson Baumeister (26.7% Whiff%), acquired in the Zach Eflin trade, struck out 51 in 62.1 innings. And let's not forget Nichols, who finished the year with 37 strikeouts in 37 innings and a sub-1.00 ERA with the Biscuits.
On the offensive side, the Biscuits had the league leader in on-base percentage (.405 OBP) but also three players in the bottom 10: Will Simpson, Brayden Taylor, and Cooper Kinney. Both Taylor and Kinney were former first-round picks. Taylor had a bizarre season, exhibiting low Whiff% and ground ball rate but slashing .173/.289/.286 with only eight home runs. Kinney, on the other hand, had a 30.5% Whiff% and hit 13 home runs in 117 games. Jadher Areinamo, acquired in July for Danny Jansen and added to the 40-man roster in November, hit four home runs and 12 extra-base hits after joining the organization. Areinamo displayed exceptional bat-to-ball skills, boasting an 18.5% Whiff%, making him one of the most consistent hitters in the Southern League.
Durham Bulls
The big question surrounding the Durham Bulls is: what does the future hold for Carson Williams in the majors? We'll soon find out, as Williams debuted in September and is poised for regular playing time in 2026. While his defensive prowess and power are undeniable, they are accompanied by some concerns. As noted in our International League recap, Williams had one of the worst Whiff% in the league and frequently chased pitches outside the strike zone. This resulted in 154 strikeouts in 111 games, raising questions about his hit tool. But here's where it gets controversial... is Williams' power potential worth the risk of high strikeout numbers?
Beyond Williams, the Durham Bulls saw several hitters progress in their careers. Veteran Bob Seymour hit 30 home runs and earned an MLB debut. Tanner Murray and Tristan Peters (now with the White Sox) each hit at least 15 home runs. Former LSU standout Tre' Morgan, with a .398 on-base percentage, could be the next Yandy Diaz. The pitching staff featured Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour, both of whom were among the best in the International League and received time in the Rays' rotation.
Early Top 5 Prospect List
- Carson Williams
- Anderson Brito
- Theo Gillen
- Daniel Pierce
- Brody Hopkins
Williams, despite his flaws, possesses the most exciting raw talent in the organization, making him a clear choice for the top spot, although it's a closer call than you might think. In a deep pool of prospects, Anderson Brito has the potential to be the organization's best pitcher. The Rays acquired him in the three-way trade that sent Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery, and Jake Mangum to the Pirates.
So, what do you think? Are the Rays truly unstoppable with their ability to develop talent, or will their reliance on prospects eventually catch up to them? And who do you think will be the next breakout star from this farm system? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
