TAMPA, Fla. – Hitting the quarter mark in the season, major league teams face two essential challenges. Aside from finding ways to record victories, baseball decision-makers continually face personnel issues to shape rosters. This is pretty much a given and that’s due to injuries and poor performance. Here’s another consideration. There are always decisions to be made on when and whether to promote players to the major league level and assess their value. Into the third decade of the 21st century, crunching numbers at the major league level, watching for tendencies, and arriving at decisions through technology tend to be the norm. While the Tampa Bay Rays have treaded water here in the opening two months of the season, the prospects at Durham, the AAA affiliate, and Montgomery, the AA club, are not smashing calculators with numbers. Rather, little attention is drawn. For Tampa Bay field manager Kevin Cash and Erik Neander, the club’s president of baseball operations, Durham manager Morgan Ensberg, in his second season there, and Kevin Bowles, in his second season leading Montgomery, are their eyes and ears for the future of the franchise. Through the opening weeks of the season, production from important players in the Tampa organization tends to be absent. Then again, the Rays’ use of players tends to create traffic jams at various positions. Still, communication is an integral component of success, and that pipeline remains open and clear. “I do not have much communication with Bowles,” said Cash, the field manager. “I talk to Morgan generally about once a week and check in on guys. He has a good team down there and really likes his group. What we have seen down there are inconsistencies with young players. Super talented, they get hot, they get cold, and Triple AAA baseball can be really challenging. We are fortunate that we have a guy like Morgan because his perspective is pretty good for that group. We’re excited about all of these guys, the talent and what they are capable of doing.” If the Rays are looking for prospects to jump into the major league lineup anytime soon, there may be a wait. Consider – Shortstop Carson Williams - The Rays' number one pick (28th overall, and number one prospect) in the 2021 draft. Hit .256 last season at Montgomery (20 homers, 69 RBIs) and promoted to Durham. Through 47 games, Williams was hitting .180 (30-for-167) with six homers. Williams has a propensity to strike out and, in parts of three seasons in the Rays system, struck out 483 times in 1359 plate appearances. ROAD TO THE SHOW – Not likely. The Rays are waiting for Ha-Seong Kim to return from right shoulder surgery. Once he returns, the shortstop position is his, and Kim is locked in for this season and the 2026 campaign. First baseman Xavier Isaac – first-round pick (29th overall) in the 2022 draft. Considered the Rays’ number three prospect. After a 15-homer, 61 RBI season at High A Bowling Green last season, promoted to AA Montgomery. At AAA for the 2024 season, he hit .211 in 31 games. Played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the 2024 Arizona Fall League and hit .286. Started the 2025 season at Montgomery and through 19 games, hitting .237 with five homers and 12 RBIs. Hampered by injury to his left elbow. ROAD TO THE SHOW – Not likely. The Rays like Jonathan Aranda at first base, and Aranda remains among only a few currently in the majors hitting above .300. The current first base Tampa job is his to lose. Outfielder Tre Morgan – third-round selection (88th overall) in the 2023 draft. Morgan will hit for average and, coming into the 2025 season, had a career .313 batting average for parts of two minor league seasons. Promoted to Durham at the end of spring training, he was hitting. .298 in 26 games and 25 stolen bases. Morgan started the 2025 season on the IL with a quad injury and continues to flirt with hitting .300 ROAD TO THE SHOW – Morgan would be a nice addition, but the Rays outfield is overpopulated. With Jake Mangum and Jonny DeLuca recovering from nagging injuries, Kameron Misner, with his defense playing an elite level, and the speed of Chandler Simpson as an offensive catalyst, Morgan hits a traffic jam in the outfield. Cather Dominic Keegan – Plagued by injuries nearly the day the Rays drafted him in the fourth round (134 overall) in the 2022 draft. Regarded as a catcher with a strong bat, Keegan would be a great addition to the Rays' catching contingent. Noted for poor hitters and less than elite defense, the catching situation remains one of the weakest links on the team. Keegan suffered through an elbow issue at the start of the season and, during the last week in May, joined Durham. He spent the 2024 season hitting .285 for Montgomery (nine homers, 60 RBIs) and comes from the elite baseball program at Vanderbilt. ROAD TO THE SHOW – The Rays hope Keegan is on an accelerated course to the majors. At 24 years old, he holds the important variable of longevity and, if he stays healthy, durability. Depending on his health, Keegan could get the call later this season. All of which can portend the direction of a franchise. From the outside, the Rays' method of development and trajectory to the majors is impressive. The franchise has qualified for postseason play in five of the past six years (not counting the 2025 season), and that gathered attention. “Many teams in the past have tried to copy their formula for success,” said catcher Matt Thaiss, acquired by the Rays from the White Sox on May 27. “I’m excited to get acclimated here, get going, and enjoy the success.” All good things must come to an end … the Rays winning streak, at six and the longest since June of last season, ended with a 4-2 defeat to the Minnesota Twins on May 27. Though starter Taj Bradley kept the Rays in the game with solid seven innings and surrendered two earned runs, the offense was limited to six hits. “We just won six straight and playing really good baseball,” said second baseman Brandon Lowe, who went 2-for-4 in the loss and raised his season batting average to .249 after 50 games. “You can’t get down on yourselves and freak out over one loss. We’ll show up for next game, do what we have been doing, prepare and things will take of themselves.” Just the next day, the Rays bounced back with a 5-0 win over the Twins. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen allowed three base runners (one hit, one walk, one hit batter) in six stellar innings. The victory gave the Rays their seventh win in their previous eight games. “What we’re doing right now is what we are capable of doing day in and day out,” Rasmussen said after his record went to 4-4 and ERA lowered 2.33. “From the position player corps, we have a group that makes all the plays and a power and speed element to our offense.” The emotion of DFA … Prior to the May 27 contest against Minnesota, the Rays acquired catcher Matt Thaiss from the Chicago White Sox. To make room and to carry only two catchers (the other, Danny Jansen), the team designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment. With a 0-3 game on May 27 (two grounders to the first baseman and striking out), Rortvedt finished this season with the Rays as a 6-for-63 hitter, .095. “If I stand here and say I don’t understand the move, I’d be lying and delusional,” he said quietly to a group of reporters in front of his locker. “It sucks the way I played and it’s on me. I’m not going to make any excuses but just grateful to be around these guys and be part of this team. I’m extremely grateful and can’t say enough good things about this organization and the people here. Everyone means a lot to me and accepted me in the clubhouse. That meant a lot. It sucks the way I played this year and know I’m a better player. I know I can contribute to a winning organization.” Including the 2025 season, Rortvedt, a native of Madison, Wisc. spent parts of four seasons with the Rays, Yankees and Twins. … Replacing Rortvedt on the roster is Thaiss, a 30-year-old out of Jackson, N. J. In seven seasons with the Angels and White Sox, he has a career batting average of .209 with 23 homers and 87 RBIs in 280 major league games.
