Rays top prospect Carson Williams to start at shortstop

Tampa Bay Rays top prospect Carson Williams will enter the season as the team’s starting shortstop, it was announced Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Williams, who is ESPN’s No. 39 overall prospect, has a solid spring, hitting .281 with a home run and a stolen base in 32 at-bats. He’s an above-average runner and defender at shortstop with a plus arm and plus raw power.

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He became the favorite to win the Rays’ starting shortstop job after Taylor Walls suffered a right oblique injury last week, will be placed on the injured list and likely will miss at least three to four weeks.

“When Walls went down, I think it was basically [that] we were fairly confident with Carson being the right guy. We just wanted to make sure all options and bases were covered,” manager Kevin Cash told reporters Tuesday. “Carson’s had a really good spring. We’ve seen the improvements that he’s made on both sides of the ball, and [we’re] excited for him to be in there Opening Day for us.”

Williams, the 28th overall pick in the 2021 draft, hit .172 with a .219 on-base percentage, five homers, 12 RBIs and two steals in 32 games with Tampa Bay last season. He batted .213 with a .318 on-base percentage, 23 homers, 55 RBIs and 22 steals in 111 games for Triple-A Durham.

“Of course, under the circumstances, it’s a bummer,” Williams said of Walls’ injury. “… But I’m gonna take this opportunity and I’m gonna go try to help the ballclub win some games. To be on the Opening Day roster has been a dream of mine for a really long time, and I’m really excited that they trust me and they believe in me.”

In another move, starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot was placed on the injured list with right hip inflammation. Cash said he will get an injection to help with the discomfort, but his trip to the IL is expected to be “very short.”

Pepiot had been expected to start Monday, but Cash instead has reshuffled his rotation, and Joe Boyle, who was optioned to the minors on Friday, will return and start the Rays’ second game on Saturday.

The Rays open the season on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.