The Rays are calling up infield prospect Carson Williams, studies Jeff Passan of ESPN. He’ll take the lively roster spot of Ha-Seong Kim, who’s going on the injured checklist, studies Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Occasions. Kim departed yesterday’s sport resulting from again stiffness. The Rays can even have to open a 40-man roster spot.
Williams, 22, is the Rays’ prime prospect and one of many prime prospects in all the league. The Rays took him twenty eighth general within the 2021 draft. He’s presently ranked 74th general at Baseball America, 14th at FanGraphs, twenty fourth at ESPN and forty seventh at MLB Pipeline.
As might 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 flooring however large questions on his ceiling. He’s thought-about a robust 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 issues will undercut his future profession as an enormous leaguer.
On the optimistic facet, 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 counsel it’s potential Williams rounds right into a participant like Willy Adames sooner or later, whereas additionally nothing that an Adalberto Mondesà future appears potential.
Taking a look at conventional numbers, it’s simple to see the optimistic view. Williams hits about 20 house runs per 12 months and steals 20-35 bases yearly as effectively. 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 in addition drew walks at an 11.4% tempo whereas hitting 62 house 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 stage this 12 months. He nonetheless has 23 house runs and 22 stolen bases, in addition to a robust 12.4% stroll fee, however an enormous 34.1% strikeout fee has lower 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 tough to reach the majors whereas putting out that usually. Amongst certified hitters this 12 months, Cruz has the best strikeout fee 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 potential 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 pace can nonetheless be a helpful participant, however that’s one thing effectively under a star.
In some unspecified time in the future, 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 checklist, opening up enjoying 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 by way of the prospect promotion incentive. A participant can earn his membership an additional draft choose if they’re prime prospects and hit sure standards by way of 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 choose 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 preserve him from attending to 130 at-bats. Assuming he nonetheless ranks on prospect lists going into 2026, he can be PPI eligible if the Rays put him on their Opening Day roster in 2026.
Pictures courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Photos
