Chandler Simpson, Carson Williams Shine In Spring Breakout Win
Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Chandler Simpson and shortstop prospect Carson Williams both put their offensive skills on display in Thursday's 7-5 Spring Breakout win over the Red Sox prospects. Simpson flashed his 80-grade speed on an infield hit to shortstop that he easily beat the throw to first, then swiped his first bag of the series. Then Carson Williams provided some insurance for his squad in the eighth inning when he blasted a two-out solo home run, giving his team some breathing room as they headed into the ninth inning. Neither is expected to make the team out of Spring Training, but both could be fantasy contributors in the second half of the season.
Rays Invite Carson Williams, Xavier Isaac To MLB Spring Training
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Thursday that they've invited shortstop prospect Carson Williams and first base prospect Xavier Isaac to major-league spring training this year. Along with Isaac and Williams, the Rays also invited prospect Tre' Morgan. Per MLB Pipeline, Williams is the No. 9 overall prospect in baseball in 2025, with Isaac checking in at No. 51 and Morgan at No. 94. Williams, 21, missed time with a hand injury in 2024 but still managed to his 20 homers, drive in 69 and steal 33 bases in 115 games with Double-A Montgomery. He strikes out plenty, but he makes up for it with plus power and speed and a strong throwing arm. Isaac, 21, hit .264/.370/.480 with 18 homers and 15 steals in 102 games at High-A Bowling Green and Montgomery in 2024. Morgan, 22, has below-average power for a first baseman but has an excellent hit tool and rare speed at his position.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays are inviting shortstop prospect Carson Williams to spring training. Williams is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Tampa Bay system and No. 4 overall in the sport, according to MLB Pipeline. Williams spent the entire 2024 campaign at the Double-A level. Across 115 contests, the former first-round selection posted a .256/.352/.469 slash line with 20 doubles, 20 home runs, and 33 stolen bases. He held a 58:144 BB:K ratio. This was similar production compared to the .254/.351/.506 line he held through 105 contests at the High-A level during the 2023 season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression as he will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level but could contend for a late-season major league debut.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI on Thursday evening. This was his second round-tripper over the past three games. Since the start of the month, the top prospect has held a solid .253/.367/.434 line with two doubles, two triples, three home runs, 17 RBI, and four stolen bases. Overall, through his first extended look at Double-A ball, the former first-round pick has posted a .256/.354/.463 line with 18 doubles and 17 home runs. MLB.com ranks Williams as the No.2 best prospect in Tampa Bay, only behind Junior Caminero and the fifth-best in the entire sport. Dynasty managers should continue to stash Williams as he could make a case for his major league debut next summer.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams stayed hot in the batter's box on Thursday evening as he went 3-for-5 with a home run, two singles, three RBI, and a walk. This performance extended his current hitting streak to five games. In his past eight games, Williams is currently holding a .313/.405/.531 slash line. The former first-round selection has spent the entire summer at Double-A Montgomery and posted a solid .261/.353/.478 line with 15 home runs, 47 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. The 21-year-old is ranked as the second-best prospect in the Tampa Bay system behind Junior Caminero and the ninth-overall prospect in baseball on MLB.com. He remains a must-watch player as he could finish the season at Triple-A Durham, which could open the door for a 2025 major league debut.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams was 1-for-4 with a solo home run for Double-A Montgomery on Sunday. The 21-year-old finished June hitting .227 with four homers and 10 RBI. He is hitting .280 on the season with 12 homers and 32 RBI with 20 stolen bases. The Rays' No. 2 prospect possesses 60-grade power with plus speed, making him one of the most promising prospects in the minors. Williams could be in line for a promotion to Triple-A Durham by the season's end with next year as his likely MLB debut timeline. Williams already won a 2022 minor league Gold Glove and his bat is equally as promising for fantasy managers.
Carson Williams Hits First Home Run Since Returning From Injury
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams launched his first home run since returning from the injured list on Thursday. The 15th-ranked prospect in baseball on MLB.com was sidelined for just over a week due to a hand injury. Williams has performed very well in his first extended look at Double-A ball this season as he holds a .294/.380/.554 slash line with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. Last summer at High-A Bowling Green, the 20-year-old posted a .254/.351/.506 line with 23 home runs, 77 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. It is great to see Williams not just decline at Double-A but also improve on last year's production. MLB.com predicts the former 28th overall pick to reach the majors next season, but a late-season call-up is not out of the question due to how well he has performed.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams (hand, wrist) left Wednesday's game for Double-A Montgomery in the second inning. Williams was hit on the right hand/wrist earlier in the contest and initially remained in the ballgame before being yanked. There is currently no update on the extent of the injury, but more should be known on Thursday. Per MLB Pipeline, Williams is the Rays' No. 2 prospect, and he has backed that up by hitting .295 with 10 homers, 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 49 games. At age 20, the Rays are in no rush to promote Williams, but pending his health, he could see a promotion to Triple-A Durham this summer with a potential big-league debut on tap for the 2025 campaign. He remains a strong hold in dynasty leagues moving forward and is a name for redraft managers to keep in mind for the future.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Carson Williams has been having a good season for Double-A Montgomery, but has been mired in a slump. Over his last 10 games, Williams is 7-for-40 with one RBI and 16 strikeouts. It should not be the biggest worry for fans of Williams as he has been having a good season overall with a .286 batting average that is accompanied by eight homers, 23 RBI and 15 stolen bases. His biggest flaw has been striking out 60 times in 189 at-bats. Despite his recent cold streak, Williams' strong season should put him on the path to see a promotion to Triple-A this season with a path to the big leagues as soon as 2025. The club's first-round pick in 2021 should be rostered in dynasty leagues and is a name for redraft managers to remember in 2025 drafts.
Tampa Bay Rays minor league shortstop Carson Williams is a consensus top prospect both within the Rays' organization and Major League Baseball as a whole. He's been a prominent name in the minors ever since being selected in the first round of the 2021 draft. He displays spectacular skills in the field, where he uses his reliable glove and impeccable arm strength to challenge opposing hitters and runners. He is also a pure hitter, strong runner, and even capable of producing occasional power. Last week, Williams put on a show, going 8-for-18 with three homers, six RBI, five walks, and three strikeouts. Tampa Bay, which has a variety of needs within its infield, could promote Williams to Triple-A or the majors as he continues to swing a hot bat.
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