Return To Form for Rays Relief Pitcher Has Greatly Helped Bullpen

A Tampa Bay Rays pitcher has returned to form, providing much-needed stability in the bullpen.

Apr 3, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of a Tampa Bay Rays hat and glove during the seventh inning of the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. | Scott Taetsch-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a great spot with how they are performing at the Major League level this season, knowing that the future holds for the franchise.

Another high-upside youngster will be added to the mix in a few weeks when the 2026 MLB Draft is held on July 11 and 12. The Rays have the No. 2 pick and are hoping to add someone to the mix that has the long-term potential of their current No. 1-ranked prospect, Theo Gillen.

A first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, No. 18 overall, he is quickly ascending all prospect rankings with his torrid performance in the minor leagues. He has been performing so well that Tampa Bay feels that he is ready for a new challenge.

As shared by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Times on X, Gillen is being promoted to Double-A Montgomery. It is a move that has been earned with some incredible performances with High-A Bowling Green.

Theo Gillen promoted to Double-A Montgomery

The new dressing room is seen as a ribbon cutting and tour is held at the new Montgomery Biscuits Clubhouse at newly renamed DABOS Park in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday, April 6, 2026. | Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A unanimous top 100 prospect coming into 2026, he is going to be shooting up the rankings whenever they are updated throughout the year. He is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect in the Rays’ farm system, and there is certainly a chance he cracks the overall top 10 in baseball.

He is only 20 years old but shows a feel for the game beyond his years. Through 57 games with Bowling Green before the promotion, he had 265 plate appearances and has been tearing it up.

He produced a .342/.449/.589 slash line with 12 home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, 44 RBI and 25 stolen bases while being caught only five times. As shared by Running From The OPS, Gillen is the only player at any level of the minor leagues to have 12+ home runs, 25+ stolen bases and a batting average of at least .310 on the year.

An incredible athlete, he is starting to put all of his tools to work on the field. And it is translating to excellent results. It will certainly be interesting to see how he handles the jump in competition, with Double-A pitching being a lot better than what he has seen with Single-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green.

Theo Gillen is trending towards a Top 10 prospect in baseball and is hitting .342 with a 1.038 OPS. Only prospect in the Minors with 12+ HR, 25+ SB, and an AVG over .310. Emerging power, sound plate discipline, and a plus base runner. He's ready for his next challenge. https://t.co/fp13ee1qJN pic.twitter.com/edSqy8CJAa

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) June 22, 2026

Nothing has fazed him to this point, showcasing improvements each year he has been a professional.

Along with the emerging power at the plate and game-changing speed that he possesses on the basepaths, Gillen is also looking like a difference maker defensively. His speed is an asset playing center field, where he has all the tools to be above-average in that realm of the game as well.

Tampa Bay looks to have another future star on its hands in the outfield. He is viewed as a future All-Star, and it is hard to argue against that with what he has shown thus far.