Baseball America’s 2026 top ten Tampa Bay Rays prospects

It is officially prospect season in the baseball world.

So without further ado, the Baseball America top ten Rays prospects for 2026, followed by some key takeaways:

Brody Hopkins is your new Rays Top Prospect

Brody Hopkins claims the top spot in the Rays system following a breakout campaign. It’s stunning how quickly the 23-year old has taken to the mound considering he didn’t start fully pursuing a pitching career until the spring of his draft year. The Seattle Mariners had seen enough potential in Hopkins from his limited experience to make him their 6th round pick in 2023; the Rays would then pick up Hopkins as part of the return in the Randy Arozarena trade at the 2024 deadline.

During the 2025 season, Hopkins made 25 starts and compiled a 2.72 ERA | 3.33 FIP with a 28.7 K% & 12.2 BB% over 116 innings pitched. Baseball America also says that he has the best fastball (65 Grade), curveball (70), and slider (55) in the Rays system as well as being the best athlete.

Well Known Prospects are Falling

Aidan Smith (the star of the Arozarena trade) and Xavier Isaac (whose season ended in July, and says he was treated for a brain tumor in 2025) are clinging to the backend of the Rays top 10 following a year in which Smith didn’t excel as one would have hoped given his tools and Isaac struggled to hit southpaw pitching during the brief time he was on the active roster.

More notable, however, is that OF Brailer Guerrero, INF Brayden Taylor, and 1B Tre’ Morgan all entered the 2025 season as top 100 prospects ranked on multiple lists but all three have drastically seen their stock fall.

Rays 2025 Draft Class gets High Marks

The Rays draft class of 2025 is well featured with Daniel Pierce at 6th and Brendan Summerhill at 7th. Pierce has been tagged with plus defense by BA, writing that “Pierce has a chance to be the equal or better” than Taylor Walls. Summerhill is also praised as one of the Rays best contact-hitting prospects, and they tab him for a trip straight to High-A in 2026.

Biggest Surprise is at Backstop

Meanwhile, perhaps the most under-the-radar prospect in the Rays system, Nathan Flewelling, slots in at 10th. Flewelling just turned 19-years old in November but has already reached High-A thanks to an elite ability at getting on base. The young backstop possesses plus raw power, already reaching high exit velocities, and is a superior defensive catcher.