The Rays are calling up infield prospect Carson Williams, reviews Jeff Passan of ESPN. He’ll take the lively roster spot of Ha-Seong Kim, who’s going on the injured listing, reviews Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions. Kim departed yesterday’s recreation attributable to again stiffness. The Rays may also have to open a 40-man roster spot.
Williams, 22, is the Rays’ prime prospect and one of many prime prospects in the complete league. The Rays took him twenty eighth total within the 2021 draft. He’s at present ranked 74th total at Baseball America14th at FanGraphstwenty fourth at ESPN and forty seventh at MLB Pipeline.
As may be seen from the disparity in these numbers, Williams is a divisive prospect. Keith Legislation of The Athletic gave him the #8 spot coming into the 12 months however then did a midseason replace of 60 names with Williams not getting a point out.
The gaps appear to be as a result of Williams has a stable ground however large questions on his ceiling. He’s thought-about a powerful defender at brief and a plus runner, which provides him the ground. Offensively, he has large energy however strikes out a ton. Prospect evaluators appear cut up on how a lot these strikeout considerations will undercut his future profession as a giant leaguer.
On the optimistic aspect, FanGraphs compares him to gamers like Elly De La Cruz, Oneil Cruz and Ezequiel Tovar, who’ve sufficient expertise to work round strikeout totals. They recommend it’s attainable Williams rounds right into a participant like Willy Adames sooner or later, whereas additionally nothing that an Adalberto Mondesí future appears attainable.
Taking a look at conventional numbers, it’s straightforward to see the optimistic view. Williams hits about 20 residence runs per 12 months and steals 20-35 bases yearly as properly. From 2021 to 2024, throughout a number of ranges, he stepped to the plate 1,578 occasions. He struck out in 30.6% of these but additionally drew walks at an 11.4% tempo whereas hitting 62 residence runs. His mixed batting line of .256/.353/.478 translated to a 132 wRC+.
His 2025 efficiency highlights the pessimistic view and maybe explains why Legislation bumped Williams off his midseason replace. Williams has taken 451 plate appearances on the Triple-A degree this 12 months. He nonetheless has 23 residence runs and 22 stolen bases, in addition to a powerful 12.4% stroll charge, however an enormous 34.1% strikeout charge has reduce into his batting common and on-base share. His .213/.318/.447 line this 12 months interprets to a subpar 98 wRC+.
It’s fairly troublesome to achieve the majors whereas hanging out that always. Amongst certified hitters this 12 months, Cruz has the very best strikeout charge within the league at 31.9%. He has hit some large bumbs however his .207/.304/.398 line interprets to a wRC+ of 92. Gamers like Riley Greene and James Wooden even have strikeout charges above 30% with extra success, nevertheless it’s a tough space to be in.
Clearly, there’s a variety of attainable outcomes right here. If Williams can rein within the strikeouts or work round them, there’s star-level upside. The ground isn’t terrible, as being a glove-first shortstop with velocity can nonetheless be a helpful participant, however that’s one thing properly under a star.
Sooner or later, the Rays must put him in in opposition to large league pitching to see what occurs, and now could be a logical time. As talked about, Kim is heading to the injured listing, opening up taking part in time at shortstop. The membership has fallen to six.5 video games out of a playoff spot. They’re not completely buried within the standings however in all probability leaning in the direction of focusing extra on the longer term than on 2025.
It additionally works out when it comes to the prospect promotion incentive. A participant can earn his membership an additional draft decide if they’re prime prospects and hit sure standards when it comes to awards voting. A participant is PPI eligible if he begins a season on two of the three prime 100 lists from BA, ESPN and MLB Pipeline. If the membership then promotes the participant early sufficient in a season to earn a full service 12 months, that membership will get an additional draft decide if the participant wins Rookie of the 12 months or finishes prime three in MVP or Cy Younger voting throughout his pre-arbitration years.
It’s now too late within the season for a participant to get 45 days of service time. Which means Williams will retain rookie standing going into 2026 if the Rays hold him from attending to 130 at-bats. Assuming he nonetheless ranks on prospect lists going into 2026, he could be PPI eligible if the Rays put him on their Opening Day roster in 2026.
Images courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Photos
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