Tampa Bay Rays have 8 prospects in the Arizona Fall League

Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan are among the contigent

The Arizona Fall League is an annual monthlong showcase held that features minor leaguers from each team in baseball. The event usually features some of the game’s top prospects as well as some unheralded players from each team’s system. It is also a way for teams to give some players that endured injuries during the regular season a chance for more in-game reps.

This year, the Rays are sending two of their top position player prospects in Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan, along with six other players. All eight players will be placed on the Mesa Solar Sox, which is a team made up of players from the Rays, Angels, Athletics, Cubs, and Red Sox.

Here is the full list:

• Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF
• Tre’ Morgan, 1B/OF
• Mac Horvath, INF
• Alexander Alberto, RHP
• Derrick Edington, RHP
• T.J. Fondtain, LHP
• Jack Hartman, RHP
• Jackson Lancaster, LHP

Below is a quick summation of the player and their 2024 season statline:

Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF

The Rays shocked plenty of people when they selected slugging high-schooler Xavier Isaac with the 29th overall pick of the 2022 draft. However, the Rays are looking like geniuses with the selection as Isaac has turned into one of the most powerful bats in the minor leagues and is rocketing up prospect rankings; Baseball America currently has him at 32nd on their top 100. Once in possession of a lumbering physique, Isaac has transformed into an athletic and agile player capable of stealing plenty of bases. He may even spend some time in the outfield during his time in Arizona.

A+: .287/.381/.535 | 15 HR | 14 SB | 30.1 K% | 12.3 BB% | 157 wRC+ | 302 PA
AA: .211/.346/.349 | 3 HR | 1 SB | 40.6 K% | 15.8 BB% | 113 wRC+ | 133 PA

Tre’ Morgan, 1B/OF

The Rays could call up Tre’ Morgan on Opening Day in 2025 and he’d be a front runner for a Gold Glove award. He is considered the absolutely best first base defender in the minor leagues. However, with Xavier Isaac sharing the same roster, Morgan has been forced to take reps in the outfield where he has shown to be a capable defender. Meanwhile, Morgan’s offense has been above and beyond what was expected as he has used his gap to gap power and above average contact ability to be one of the best hitters in the minor leagues. Since the start of the 2023 season, among hitters with at least 400 PA, Tre’ Morgan has the 4th highest wRC+ as well as one of the best strikeout to walk ratios.

A: .320/.398/.440 | 2 HR | 9 SB | 11.3 K% | 8.7 BB% | 149 wRC+ | 115 PA
A+: .371/.447/.558 | 6 HR | 10 SB | 7.8 K% | 11.3 BB% | 184 wRC+ | 231 PA
AA: .211/.322/.342 | 2 HR | 1 SB | 18.7 K% | 13.2 BB% | 102 wRC+ | 91 PA

Mac Horvath, INF

An alluring blend of power and speed as well as the tools to be a defensive asset helped to entice the Orioles to select Horvath in the second round of the 2023 draft. Horvath made his pro debut later on that season and excelled, forcing his way into High-A within a month. The now 23-year old Horvath didn’t quite enjoy the same amount of success in 2024 as he remained in High-A for the duration of the season, but still showcased his power and speed potential.

A+: .229/.318/.406 | 13 HR | 35 SB | 25.9 K% | 10.8 BB% | 107 wRC+ | 444 PA

Alexander Alberto, RHP

Although he is just 22-years old, 6’8” Alexander Alberto has been in the Rays system for a long time. Originally signed on the International Signing day of 2019, Alberto didn’t make his debut until 2021 and didn’t move stateside until 2022. Thus far, command has been extremely problematic for Alberto, but his projectability is fun to dream about. Look no further than FanGraphs write up of the tall righty and their hopes ooze of the page.

We’ve been waiting for years for Alberto to exit the womb of the complex...

This is a low-and-slow barbecue dev prospect with freakish size and arm strength. He’s never thrown strikes, but it’s tough to dismiss someone who’s built and moves like this.

Alberto will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason.

CPX: 4.91 ERA | 3.37 FIP | 30.2 K% | 17.0 BB% | .250 AVG | 17.1 WHIFF% | 11 IP
A: 1.59 ERA | 3.45 FIP | 23.3 K% | 11.1 BB% | .169 AVG | 14.7 WHIFF% | 22 ²⁄₃ IP

Derrick Edington, RHP

One of the most intriguing players heading to Arizona is 25-year old Derrick Edington. Like Alberto, Edington has an imposing physique on the mound as stands in at 6’8.” After graduating from college in 2022, Edington went undrafted and ventured into the Independent Leagues where enjoyed plenty of success and caught the attention of the Rays, who signed him in May of 2024.

CPX: 0.00 ERA | 2.82 FIP | 29.4 K% | 11.8 BB% | .200 AVG | 40.0 WHIFF% | 4 IP
A+: 5.92 ERA | 5.49 FIP | 25.2 K% | 8.4 BB% | .253 AVG | 10.6 WHIFF% | 24 ¹⁄₃ IP

T.J. Fondtain, LHP

During his collegiate days, Fondtain was a solid two-way player but scouts believed his best way forward would be to transition into a full-time pitcher. The Rays were among the teams to believe this, selecting Fondtain in the 14th round of the 2023 draft. A 6’5” southpaw, there is a belief that as Fondtain develops, his average velocity will improve and make him a potential weapon out of the bullpen.

A+: 3.38 ERA | 4.39 FIP | 28.4 K% | 5.5 BB% | .194 AVG | 15.1 WHIFF% | 61 ¹⁄₃ IP

Jack Hartman, RHP

In November, 2022, the Rays were in the midst of their usual churn to clear 40-man roster space. One of the moves made was to send 1B Ji-Man Choi to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In return, the Rays received Jack Hartman, the Pirates 4th round selection in 2020. Originally an infielder in college, Hartman’s arm strength led to him taking the mound. His velocity immediately makes people take notice. Hartman is now high leverage reliever, and he advanced to Double-A towards the end of the 2024 campaign. Hartman will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason.

CPX: 0.0 0ERA | 2.82 FIP | 50.0 K% | 25.0 BB% | .000 AVG | 38.5 WHFF% | 1 IP
A+: 3.08 ERA | 3.63 FIP | 28.8 K% | 7.2 BB% | .265 AVG | 16.5 WHIFF% | 26 ¹⁄₃ IP
AA: 3.78 ERA | 4.21 FIP | 23.2 K% | 8.7 BB% | .210 AVG | 12.5 WHIFF% | 16 ²⁄₃ IP

Jackson Lancaster, LHP

The Seattle Mariners selected Jackson Lancaster in the 38th round of the 2019 draft, but the southpaw chose to go to college instead. Unfortunately for Lancaster, his collegiate career didn’t merit any more interest from scouts and went onto the Independent Leagues following graduation. However, Lancaster dominated in Indy-Ball and the Rays signed him in April, 2023.

There isn’t much information about Lancaster’s repertoire, but based on the stats, he has a knack for getting the ball past opposing hitters. Pitching primarily out of the bullpen, Lancaster had a 31.1 K% and a 21.1 WHIFF%; his whiff rate was the highest in the Rays system and among the highest in all of minor league baseball.

CPX: 7.20 ERA | 4.02 FIP | 30.0 K% | 0.0 BB% | .300 AVG | 28.3 WHIFF% | 5 IP
A+: 5.59 ERA | 3.90 FIP | 31.1 K% | 9.6 BB% | .256 AVG | 21.1 WHIFF% | 29 IP