Rays draft high school SS Tyler Bell at No. 66 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft

A switch hitting high school infielder rounds out the Rays day 1 picks.

The Tampa Bay Rays have drafted high school short stop Tyler Bell at No. 66 overall, leading the Competitive Round B between the second and third round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

A switch hitter out of Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, IL), Bell is committed to Univ. of Kentucky, adding some synergy to the Rays selection of SS/2B Emilien Pitre at No. 58 out of Univ. of Kentucky.

Bell is not considered a slam dunk to sign, but reaching for Pitre in the second round may provide the cost savings to land Bell here.

MLB Pipeline - Ranked 81 overall - 45 FV

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45

For the second time in five years, Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, Ill.) has a glove-first shortstop who’s attracting scouts. Bell is more highly regarded at the same stage than Ryan Ritter, who turned down the Cubs as a 33rd-rounder in 2019 and emerged as a fourth-rounder out of Kentucky three years later. Bell hasn’t performed well offensively as a senior, but his defensive prowess still could land him in the second or third round.

One of the top shortstops in the 2024 high school class, Bell plays quicker than his average speed and covers ground to both sides. He’s a smooth defender who can execute throws from any angle with solid arm strength. He also has a good internal clock and the athleticism to play all over the diamond if he becomes more of a utilityman than an everyday player.

A switch-hitter, Bell has impressive bat speed and could develop 20-homer power if he makes projectable strength gains and improvements at the plate. But he didn’t hit on the showcase circuit and has been too passive this spring, taking too many hittable pitches and not doing much damage. He’ll turn 19 before the Draft, which will rule him out for some clubs, and he’ll be a sophomore-eligible in 2026 if he attends Kentucky.