Tampa Bay Rays 2023 MLB Draft Report Card
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Revisiting the 2023 Rays MLB Draft class after the conclusion of the minor league season.
Best Pure Hitter: Third baseman Brayden Taylor (1) had one of the most polished and advanced offensive approaches in the 2023 draft class. He has a keen eye and a clean lefthanded swing, and could become a plus hitter.
Best Power Hitter: The Rays drafted more contact hitters and zone control experts in 2023, but outfielder Colton Ledbetter (2) has solid-average power potential and managed some of the better exit velocity numbers of Tampa Bay’s draft class. Taylor (1) isn’t your typical slugger, but he has efficient batted ball angles and did homer 48 times in three seasons with Texas Christian.
Fastest Runner: Shortstop Adrian Santana (1s) is an excellent runner who flies out of the batter’s box and has consistently turned in double-plus run times. He ran the second-best 60-yard dash at the 2022 East Coast Pro when he clocked a 6.30-second time.
Best Defensive Player: Santana (1s) earned praise from scouts for his defensive ability throughout the 2023 draft cycle. He’s a safe bet to stick at the position and has the requisite actions, hands, arm strength, body control and internal clock to stick at the position and be a plus defender there.
Best Fastball: Righthander TJ Nichols (6) has big time fastball velocity, but the pitch has always played down in part thanks to below-average command—something the Rays have been adept at improving for their young pitchers. Nichols sits in the 95-96 mph range and has been up to 99 in the past. However, it was righthander Will Stevens (15) who showcased the most velocity among Tampa Bay debuts by touching 98.4 which was about a tick higher than Nichols reached in his debut this summer.
Best Secondary Pitch: Righthander Owen Wild (7) has good feel for a low-80s changeup that has a ton of arm-side fading life and could be an above-average secondary. He threw the pitch 16% of the time during the spring with Gonzaga and generated a 36% miss rate with it.
Best Pro Debut: Outfielder and first baseman Tre’ Morgan (3) had a terrific debut between the Florida Complex League and Carolina League. In 14 games he slashed .396/.482/.542 with the advanced bat-to-ball skills that scouts expected, but perhaps a bit more impact as well. He split time between left field and first base—where he is a plus-plus defender.
Best Athlete: Santana (1s) has the most obvious quick-twitch athleticism of the class, though Morgan’s (3) footwork, body control and athleticism is an asset at first base and could allow him to improve quickly as a defender in the outfield.
Most Intriguing Background: Lefthander Jeremy Pilon (18) was just 17 years old on draft day this year, but he was actually drafted in 2022 when he was a 16-year-old. He’s a projection lefthander who needs to add more stuff, but how many players can say they were drafted twice before they were officially an adult?
Closest To The Majors: Taylor’s (1) offensive approach, batting eye and confidence in the box should allow him to adjust quickly to the pro game. He has the sort of slow heart rate approach to hitting that should serve him well.
Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): The Rays spent half a million on righthander Garrett Edwards (11), who likely would have gone on the second day of the draft if he didn’t get injured in the middle of the college season with Louisiana State. He has been up to 97 mph, has a mid 80s sweepy slider and shows feel for a changeup as well.
