| AB | 122 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .238 |
| OBP | .282 |
| SLG | .287 |
| HR | 1 |
- Full name Curtis James Mead
- Born 10/26/2000 in Adelaide, Australia
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 171 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 50/Medium
Track Record: The Rays acquired Mead from the Phillies in the November 2019 trade that sent Class A lefthander Cristopher Sanchez to Philadelphia. Sanchez blossomed into a solid starter for the Phillies in 2023, while Mead is ready to break into the Rays’ lineup in 2024, so the trade may prove to be a win for both teams. After missing time in 2022 with an elbow injury, Mead missed almost two months with a wrist injury in 2023 after being hit by a pitch. He dominated the Triple-A International League upon his return, made his MLB debut in August and started both playoff games for the Rays, driving in Tampa Bay’s lone postseason run.
Scouting Report: Mead is one the Rays’ best pure hitters. He has the rare combination of above-average plate discipline and exceptional bat-to-ball skills. Mead looks to pull or go up the middle to do damage, but with two strikes the Australia native shortens up and pokes the ball to right field. He has plus power potential, though so far it has led to more doubles than home runs because he hits balls to the power alleys. Mead feasts on fastballs. He’s not a very adept breaking ball hitter, but he recognizes them and doesn’t chase. Mead’s well below-average arm is an issue for him at either second base or third. He has solid short-area quickness and a solid first step. His hands are average as well, but if he has to leave his feet, go to his knees or move away from his target, he struggles to get anything on his throws. The shift restrictions help him at second by eliminating long throws from short right field.
The Future: Mead’s bat fits in Tampa Bay’s 2024 lineup, ideally as someone who bounces between second and third base, depending on where fewer balls are expected to be hit.
Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 30 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Acquired from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez, Mead should become the first Australian position player regular of the 21st century. After breaking out in Class A in 2021, Mead again earned a midseason promotion in 2022, but his work to improve his arm strength led to a right elbow strain. He had to be shut down with Triple-A Durham in mid July, and eventually had an injection to help heal the injury and missed the remainder of the season. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
Scouting Report: Mead is one of the best pure hitters in the minors. He ranked among the best in the minors in average exit velocity (91 mph) and hard-hit rate (over 50%). He is a tinkerer who will adjust his stance and setup to see what works and what doesn't, partly because his hands work so well. Mead's swing is relatively level and conducive to line drives and high batting averages more than massive home run numbers, but he's expected to develop into a 25-plus home run threat as he learns how to better capitalize on hitter's counts. Defensively, Mead's below-average arm limits him. Second base may fit better than third, and the new restrictions on shifting will benefit him. His arm strength would have been stretched on shifts into short right field, but now that positioning is prohibited. At third base, Mead's arm will likely always be a liability, but he has worked on quickening his release. His range is fringe-average at best, but his hands are adequate. He has also played first base.
The Future: Mead has the best combination of power and hitting ability in the Rays' organization. His defensive limitations are likely to always be an issue, but Mead's offensive upside should make him a long-term regular for the Rays.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 40. -
Track Record: Growing up in Australia, Mead seemed destined to be an Australian rules football player. Mead’s father Tim had played in the Australian Baseball League, but he believed Curtis had a more promising football career ahead. The younger Mead decided to focus on baseball and quickly earned a spot on the Australian junior national team. He signed with the Phillies for $200,000 and was traded to the Rays for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez after the 2019 season. Mead made his full-season debut in 2021 and had one of the biggest breakout seasons of any prospect, batting .321/.378/.533 and leading the minors in doubles as he soared from Low-A to Triple-A.
Scouting Report: Mead has the best combination of power, bat-to-ball skills and hitting ability in the Rays’ system. He manages to combine some of the best average exit velocities in the system (90 mph average) with the kind of contact-heavy approach (15.5% strikeout rate) the organization covets. His level swing produces more line drives than lofted home runs, but he regularly drills balls into the gaps. Mead still hasn’t found a full-time defensive home. He has fringe-average range at third base and playable hands, but his throwing action is long and unorthodox and he can’t rifle a throw without getting his feet set. He will most likely slide to first base as he moves up, but he’s athletic enough to be a plausible left fielder. He’s a below-average runner who likely will slow down further.
The Future: Mead will only be 21 for the entirety of the 2022 season. He could be ready for Tampa Bay by 2023.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Acquired from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez in November 2019, Mead took a big step forward in his full-season debut. The 20-year-old Australian hit .356/.408/.586 with seven homers in 47 games at Low-A. Mead was promoted to High-A on July 6, but before he left he stood out to league managers for improving his bat-to-ball skills and showing the ability to make contact against velocity and offspeed pitches while hitting the ball from line to line. It’s mostly gap power currently, but some of those doubles should translate to home runs as Mead matures. Mead fared well at third base, but there are questions remaining about whether he can stick there due to fringe-average range.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Acquired from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez, Mead should become the first Australian position player regular of the 21st century. After breaking out in Class A in 2021, Mead again earned a midseason promotion in 2022, but his work to improve his arm strength led to a right elbow strain. He had to be shut down with Triple-A Durham in mid July, and eventually had an injection to help heal the injury and missed the remainder of the season. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
Scouting Report: Mead is one of the best pure hitters in the minors. He ranked among the best in the minors in average exit velocity (91 mph) and hard-hit rate (over 50%). He is a tinkerer who will adjust his stance and setup to see what works and what doesn't, partly because his hands work so well. Mead's swing is relatively level and conducive to line drives and high batting averages more than massive home run numbers, but he's expected to develop into a 25-plus home run threat as he learns how to better capitalize on hitter's counts. Defensively, Mead's below-average arm limits him. Second base may fit better than third, and the new restrictions on shifting will benefit him. His arm strength would have been stretched on shifts into short right field, but now that positioning is prohibited. At third base, Mead's arm will likely always be a liability, but he has worked on quickening his release. His range is fringe-average at best, but his hands are adequate. He has also played first base.
The Future: Mead has the best combination of power and hitting ability in the Rays' organization. His defensive limitations are likely to always be an issue, but Mead's offensive upside should make him a long-term regular for the Rays.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 40. -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: Acquired from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez, Mead should become the first Australian position player regular of the 21st century. After breaking out in Class A in 2021, Mead again earned a midseason promotion in 2022, but his work to improve his arm strength led to a right elbow strain. He had to be shut down with Triple-A Durham in mid July, and eventually had an injection to help heal the injury and missed the remainder of the season. He is expected to be ready for spring training.
Scouting Report: Mead is one of the best pure hitters in the minors. He ranked among the best in the minors in average exit velocity (91 mph) and hard-hit rate (over 50%). He is a tinkerer who will adjust his stance and setup to see what works and what doesn't, partly because his hands work so well. Mead's swing is relatively level and conducive to line drives and high batting averages more than massive home run numbers, but he's expected to develop into a 25-plus home run threat as he learns how to better capitalize on hitter's counts. Defensively, Mead's below-average arm limits him. Second base may fit better than third, and the new restrictions on shifting will benefit him. His arm strength would have been stretched on shifts into short right field, but now that positioning is prohibited. At third base, Mead's arm will likely always be a liability, but he has worked on quickening his release. His range is fringe-average at best, but his hands are adequate. He has also played first base.
The Future: Mead has the best combination of power and hitting ability in the Rays' organization. His defensive limitations are likely to always be an issue, but Mead's offensive upside should make him a long-term regular for the Rays.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 70. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 40. -
BA Grade: 55/Medium
Track Record: Growing up in Australia, Mead seemed destined to be an Australian rules football player. Mead's father Tim had played in the Australian Baseball League, but according to Australia's ABC News, Tim believed Curtis had a more promising football career ahead of him. The younger Mead decided to focus on baseball and quickly earned a spot on the Australian junior national team. He signed with the Phillies, but was quickly traded to the Rays for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez after the 2019 season. In 2021, Mead made a brief appearance in Triple-A while leading the minors with 38 doubles.
Scouting Report: Mead has the best combination of power, bat-to-ball skills and hitting ability among Rays minor leaguers. He manages to combine some of the best average exit velocities in the Rays system (90 mph average) with the kind of contact-heavy approach (15.5% strikeout percentage) the organization covets. His level swing produces more line drives than lofted home runs, but he regularly drills balls into the gaps. Mead hasn't found a full-time defensive home. He has fringe-average range at third base and playable hands, but his throwing action is long and unorthodox and he can't rifle a throw without getting his feet set. Most likely he will slide to first base more regularly as he moves up, but he's athletic enough to be a plausible left fielder. He's a below-average runner who likely will further slow down.
The Future: Mead will only be 21 for the entirety of the 2022 season that should see him start the year at Double-A Montgomery. He could be ready for Tampa Bay by the end of 2023.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 40. -
Track Record: Growing up in Australia, Mead seemed destined to be an Australian rules football player. Mead’s father Tim had played in the Australian Baseball League, but he believed Curtis had a more promising football career ahead. The younger Mead decided to focus on baseball and quickly earned a spot on the Australian junior national team. He signed with the Phillies for $200,000 and was traded to the Rays for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez after the 2019 season. Mead made his full-season debut in 2021 and had one of the biggest breakout seasons of any prospect, batting .321/.378/.533 and leading the minors in doubles as he soared from Low-A to Triple-A.
Scouting Report: Mead has the best combination of power, bat-to-ball skills and hitting ability in the Rays’ system. He manages to combine some of the best average exit velocities in the system (90 mph average) with the kind of contact-heavy approach (15.5% strikeout rate) the organization covets. His level swing produces more line drives than lofted home runs, but he regularly drills balls into the gaps. Mead still hasn’t found a full-time defensive home. He has fringe-average range at third base and playable hands, but his throwing action is long and unorthodox and he can’t rifle a throw without getting his feet set. He will most likely slide to first base as he moves up, but he’s athletic enough to be a plausible left fielder. He’s a below-average runner who likely will slow down further.
The Future: Mead will only be 21 for the entirety of the 2022 season. He could be ready for Tampa Bay by 2023.
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Acquired from the Phillies for lefthander Cristopher Sanchez in November 2019, Mead took a big step forward in his full-season debut. The 20-year-old Australian hit .356/.408/.586 with seven homers in 47 games at Low-A. Mead was promoted to High-A on July 6, but before he left he stood out to league managers for improving his bat-to-ball skills and showing the ability to make contact against velocity and offspeed pitches while hitting the ball from line to line. It’s mostly gap power currently, but some of those doubles should translate to home runs as Mead matures. Mead fared well at third base, but there are questions remaining about whether he can stick there due to fringe-average range. -
The Rays have had several breakout prospects in 2021, but Mead has taken the most significant leap forward. Mead left July as the minors' leader in batting average (.356). He hits the ball extremely hard and does so regularly—only Wander Franco has a better hard-hit consistency rate among Rays' minor leaguers. There are doubts of whether he can remain at third base. His range is fringe-average at best and his throwing motion is funky.
Career Transactions
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Tampa Bay Rays recalled 2B Curtis Mead from Durham Bulls.
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Durham Bulls activated 2B Curtis Mead.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned 2B Curtis Mead to Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays recalled 2B Curtis Mead from Durham Bulls.
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Durham Bulls activated 2B Curtis Mead.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned 2B Curtis Mead to Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays recalled 2B Curtis Mead from Durham Bulls.
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Tampa Bay Rays recalled 2B Curtis Mead from Durham Bulls.
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Durham Bulls sent 2B Curtis Mead on a rehab assignment to FCL Rays.
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Durham Bulls sent 2B Curtis Mead on a rehab assignment to FCL Rays.
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Durham Bulls placed 2B Curtis Mead on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 3, 2023.
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Tampa Bay Rays optioned 2B Curtis Mead to Durham Bulls.
