2026 MLB Draft Review: Tampa Bay Rays

The players

The Rays may have landed the best overall prospect available in the 2026 MLB Draft, when Grady Emerson landed in their lap with the second-overall pick.

Over the past few years, the Rays have almost exclusively targeted high school shortstops at the top of the MLB Draft. Emerson was, arguably, the best high school shortstop for 2026. A dynamic hitter who’s been a mainstay in the high school showcase circuit for years, Emerson is a strong left-handed hitter with great rotational acceleration, raw pop, and fantastic speed in the field.

The club went back into the high school shortstop market again at the top, as the Rays grabbed Taj Marchand in the Competitive Balance A round. Strong arm, as Marchand was hitting the low-90s as a pitcher in high school.

Tampa Bay used their second-round pick on Ben Blair, another pitcher from what has become a very strong Liberty program. Blair struck out a team-high 113 batters over 94.1 IP and has a live arm, to say the least. A sharp cut/slider, coupled with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball with run and ride. Walked very few batters this season; Blair allowed 17 free passes.

Back to the high school rankings, the club went back to the well in the third and fourth rounds. Pitcher Gavin Giese was an interesting pick in the third round, as he wasn’t one of the big names on the high school showcase circuit. But he was one of several high school pitchers grabbed in the first 10 rounds. Tampa spent over $800,000 each on AJ Rice & Griffin Long.

Collin Bland, who was given a seven-figure bonus, was. Bland put up fantastic raw power numbers and hit .500 with eight home runs at 2025 Perfect Game tourney events. Big, strong left-handed hitter who will likely slot in either at a corner outfield position or first base.

Tampa Bay then grabbed more college pitchers, which was a theme throughout the remainder of the 2026 MLB Draft.

Owen Kramkowski was a key piece for the Arizona Wildcats during their deep run in 2025. His numbers weren’t sexy in 2026, as Kramkowski struck out 75 over 72 innings and posted an ERA north of 6.00. What works in his favor is that he throws strikes and has low-to-mid-90s fastballs.

Kyle Johnson was a two-way player both at Duke and Virginia. However, he didn’t hit a ton, making him much more of a pitcher. Johnson had a K/9 above 9.0 in all three seasons at university. Mid-90s fastball, as well as a changeup and slider.

Tate McKee was a steady strikeout pitcher across three seasons with Georgia Tech. McKee notched a career-best 99 punchouts over 78 innings with the Yellow Jackets in 2026. More groundballs than flyballs with McKee, who works with a mid-90s sinker, plus a four-seamer with some cut, as well as a jumping slider.

Tampa Bay also grabbed two other lottery tickets, among college pitchers. Mason Bixby fits the Rays’ mold: good stuff but questionable command, someone who could benefit from the club’s “aim for the middle” approach. Florida State pitcher Cole Stokes throws a hard fastball that flirted with triple digits.

The club also grabbed Amp Phillips and Alex Philpott from the Gamecocks. Phillips was the strikeout leader (71) for South Carolina this past year.