2022 Tampa Bay Rays Top MLB Prospects

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CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RAYS TOP 10 PROSPECTS

In one very important way, the Rays took a step back in 2021.

After winning the American League pennant in 2020, Tampa Bay was eliminated in the American League Division Series in 2021, losing a thrilling series to the Red Sox in four games.

So measured by the most important metric of all, the Rays’ season fell short, and the team’s goals of winning the organization’s first World Series remains unfulfilled.

But looked at from almost any other perspective, this was arguably the best year in organization history. The Rays 100-62 season gave them their first 100-win season. They finished with the American League’s best record.

At the minor league level, the Rays had a season unlike any seen in decades. Four of the five Rays’ U.S.-based minor league clubs won their league title with the fifth losing in the deciding game of the final game of its championship series. Rays minor league teams ranked 1-2-3 in winning percentage among the 120 full-season affiliated minor league teams.

Today, we unveil the Rays’ 10 best prospects entering 2022, the top names in a system that remains deep thanks to solid drafting and international scouting, excellent player development and a front office that relies on scouting and analytics to continually refresh the farm system.

We’ll be chatting the Rays farm system at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday. You can submit your questions ahead of time here. 

Here’s how we project their lineup in 2025, with their 2025 ages in parentheses. 

PROJECTED 2025 LINEUP

Catcher: Francisco Mejia (29)
First Base: Curtis Mead (24)
Second Base: Vidal Brujan (27)
Third Base: Wander Franco (24)
Shortstop: Taylor Walls (28)
Left Field: Xavier Edwards (25)
Center Field: Josh Lowe (27)
Right Field: Greg Jones (27)
Designated Hitter: Austin Meadows (29)

No. 1 Starter: Shane Baz (25)
No. 2 Starter: Shane McClanahan (27)
No. 3 Starter: Luis Patiño (25)
No. 4 Starter: Taj Bradley (24)
No. 5 Starter: JJ Goss (24)
Closer: Seth Johnson (26)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Tampa Bay’s Top 10, click here. 

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average: Xavier Edwards
Best Power Hitter: Curtis Mead
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Xavier Edwards
Fastest Baserunner: Greg Jones
Best Athlete: Vidal Brujan
Best Fastball: Shane Baz
Best Curveball: Calvin Faucher
Best Slider: Shane Baz
Best Changeup: Ian Seymour
Best Control: Tommy Romero
Best Defensive Catcher: Blake Hunt
Best Defensive Infielder: Alika Williams
Best Infield Arm: Carson Williams
Best Defensive Outfielder: Josh Lowe
Best Outfield Arm: Josh Lowe