Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson, Aidan Smith Just Missed Out on MLB Pipeline Top 100

Outfielders Chandler Simpson and Aidan Smith were not among the Tampa Bay Rays prospects ranked inside MLB Pipeline's preseason top 100, but they weren't far off.
Phoenix, AZ, USA; Draft prospect Aidan Smith during a high school baseball game at the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field.
Phoenix, AZ, USA; Draft prospect Aidan Smith during a high school baseball game at the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In this story:

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of very few teams with five top-100 prospects in their farm system, and they very nearly had more.

MLB.com's Ben Weinrib unveiled 10 prospects who just missed out on MLB Pipeline's preseason top 100 rankings in an article published Monday. The Rays had two players make the "just missed" list – outfielders Chandler Simpson and Aidan Smith.

Simpson stole 104 bases between High-A and Double-A this past season, becoming the first player in either the majors or minors to reach the century mark since 2012. The 24-year-old has averaged 143 stolen bases per 162 games in his minor league career thus far, converting on 86.6% of his attempts.

The Rays selected Simpson in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech, by way of the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Through 233 minor league games, he has hit .326 with one home run, 30 doubles, six triples, 63 RBIs, 104 walks, 91 strikeouts and a .768 OPS.

In a poll conducted by MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo earlier this offseason, executives landed on Simpson as the prospect with the best speed tool across all of the minor leagues. He finished 2024 as the No. 4 prospect in Tampa Bay's system.

Smith, who was ranked No. 9 among Rays prospects at the end of last season, came over from the Seattle Mariners at the 2024 deadline. He was the centerpiece of the Randy Arozarena return package, one year removed from being selectedn the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Across 97 games of Single-A action last year, Smith hit .288 with 11 home runs, 33 doubles, 53 RBIs, 41 stolen bases and an .874 OPS. The 20-year-old will have to prove himself at the upper levels, but he has shown solid promise as a potential five-tool prospect thus far.

The five Rays prospects who did make the top 100 were shortstop Carson Williams, first baseman Xavier Isaac, infielder Brayden Taylor, first baseman Tre' Morgan and outfielder Theo Gillen. Williams came in at No. 9 overall, followed by Isaac at No. 51, Taylor at No. 67, Morgan at No. 94 and Gillen at No. 99.

Williams, Isaac, Taylor, Morgan and Simpson have been invited to Tampa Bay's big league spring training camp. They will report to Charlotte County, Florida, in time for the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 16.

Related MiLB Stories

  • RAYS, ARANDA GIVEN FLEXIBILITY: As a result of his injury-riddle 2024 season, Jonathan Aranda can be optioned by the Rays once again in 2025. CLICK HERE
  • MOREL MOVING TO OUTFIELD: Tampa Bay surely values Christopher Morel's defensive versatility, but the club is set to make him a full-time left fielder in 2025. CLICK HERE
  • STEINBRENNER FIELD UPGRADED: The Rays will reap the rewards of the Yankees renovating their spring training facility, considering that will be their home this season. CLICK HERE

Follow MiLB On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Minor League Baseball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.


Published |Modified
Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.