Tampa Bay Rays 2023 MLB Draft Review
See Also: 2023 MLB Draft Database
Draft Theme: Contact Hitters & Riding Fastballs.
After taking power-over-hit profiles early in the 2022 draft, the Rays inverted that approach in 2023. The team targeted hitting early in the draft and each of their first five picks are position players who stand out for their hit tools, contact ability and batting eye first and foremost and who project for average or worse power. When you dissect the pitchers, a number of them stand out for the impressive induced vertical break numbers on their fastballs.
Most Interesting Day 2 Pick: 1B Tre’ Morgan, 3rd round
Morgan established himself as a cornerstone of Louisiana State’s lineup and infield from the day he stepped on campus, and finished the 2021 season with the fourth-best average in the SEC as a true freshman. He did more of the same in 2022 and 2023 and is a career .332/.424/.497 hitter through 194 games with LSU. He’s an odd profile as a 6-foot-1, 215-pound first baseman and outfielder who is an exceptional defender and athlete at first base, but doesn’t have the sort of power that is necessary to profile there in pro ball. Morgan has never hit double-digit home runs in a single season, even in 2023’s explosive offensive environment, and he’s more of a singles and doubles hitter who controls the zone well and has solid bat-to-ball skills. His exit velocities are modest and he also doesn’t have much more physical projection to bank on more power coming. Because of that, teams were interested to see how he could move around in the outfield and he has split his time in his draft year in left field and first base. He’s a significantly better defender at first, with outstanding instincts around the bag, impressive leaping ability and a 40-grade arm that can be hidden at the position. He’s an above-average runner, but still needs to refine his instincts and route-running in the outfield.
Most Interesting Day 3 Pick: LHP Jeremy Pilon, 18th round
The Blue Jays drafted Pilon as a 16-year-old in the 18th round of the 2022 draft class, making him the youngest player selected. Again draft eligible in 2023, the Canadian lefthander will remain one of the youngest names in the class and will still be 17 years old on draft day. He is listed at 6 feet, 200 pounds and mostly pitches in the upper 80s, touching 90-91 mph here and there with a high-spin, mid-70s curveball that looks like a future plus offering and feel for a changeup around 80 mph. Pilon is committed to Alabama.
