2025 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 19

Montgomery emerges as a relief ace but drops to 18.

Previous Winner

18. Mason Montgomery, LHP
25 | 6’2” | 195
AAA | 6.26 ERA, 5.29 FIP, 87.2 IP (31 G, 14 GS) 26.1% K, 8.9% BB
MLB | 1.86 ERA, 1.20 FIP, 9.2 IP (9 G, 0 GS) 45.9% K, 13.5% BB

Montgomery is all fastball, as evidenced by his horrid results in Durham as a starter. He transitioned to relief in August where he focused on just throwing his plus-plus fastball and hard breaking ball, and that earned him a promotion to the Rays shortly thereafter, where he was able to max-effort his way into being an effective bullpen piece, with 93rd percentile fastball velocity and really good extension. The two-pitch combo is legit enough that he could be trusted with high leverage in 2025, provided batters aren’t barreling him up.

Apologies for the poll delays, sometimes my day job gets in the way! This weekend I’ll write up profiles for Bob Seymour and Hunter Bigge. Looking for one more Tester I can knock out so let’s have a discussion there, and those three additions should take us through the next three polls. I’ll do my best to get one up each morning MWF.

Candidates

Gregory Barrios, SS
21 | R/R | 6’0” | 180
A+ (MIL) | .325/.367/.429 (128 wRC+) 256 PA, 1 HR, 18 SB, 5.1% BB, 9.4% K
A+ (TBR) | .240/.310/.286 (77 wRC+) 198 PA, 0 HR, 18 SB, 8.6% BB, 14.6% K

This slick fielding Venezuelan prospect was picked up from the Brewers in the Civale trade in early July, and with a glove that should carry him to the Majors in some capacity, the Rays locked him into a short stop role. His results show keen strikezone awareness for his level, and an aggressive but successful approach on the base paths. He’s basically 2023 31st overall pick Adrian Santana, but two years older and one level higher. You can never have too many of those.

Homer Bush Jr., OF
23 | R/R | 6’2” | 200
A+ (SDP) | .272/.362/.347 (111 wRC+) 341 PA, 4 HR, 43 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.3% K
A+ (TBR) | .272/.367/.498 (124 wRC+) 121 PA, 2 HR, 14 SB, 10.7% BB, 23.1% K

Son of a former Blue Jays and Yankees outfielder, Bush Jr. was acquired alongside RHP Dylan Lesko and C J.D. Gonzalez in the Jason Adam trade at the 2024 deadline and has the easiest path to the majors among the three. He might be the toolsiest player in the system, depending on your opinion of Smith’s bat. Bush Jr. is an elite runner and the skills to stick in center at every level. Fangraphs says, “Bush is poetry in motion on the basepaths, running with grace and speed unlike all but a handful of pro baseball players,” and Baseball America flagged him as their sleeper in the Rays system.

Cooper Kinney, 2B/3B
22 | L/R | 6’1” | 200
A+ | .289/.352/.494 (137 wRC+) 361 PA, 10 HR, 6 SB, 8.9% BB, 22.2% K

2024 finally brought the performance that was expected from the 2021 34th overall pick’s pedigree. Promoted despite a mild year at Low-A in 2023 (after missing all of 2022 to a labrum injury), Kinney was all about the infield (53 G at 2B, 17 at 3B, 9 at 1B, and 24 at DH) but notably no appearances at short stop. He re-injured his shoulder, ending his season early. Cooper’s calling card is hard contact, but he has the barrel control and mind to work his counts at a major league level. Here’s to hoping he can stay healthy.

Colton Ledbetter, OF
23 | L/R | 6’1” | 205
A+ | .273/.339/.484 (130 wRC+) 446 PA, 16 HR, 34 SB, 8.1% BB, 28.3% K

Ledbetter is one of my favorite bats in the system, with an ability to get a jump on pitches and adjust to meet anything bending; although, the leap to Double-A next season will be the real test. In the meantime, it’s plus exit velos to all fields. He was held in High-A to get the lion’s share of center field reps but projects as a corner, and has 50’s across the board, giving major league projection with power and speed on the bases. In a worse system he’s a top-ten prospect.

Dylan Lesko, RHP
21 | 6’2” | 195
A+ | 6.96 ERA, 6.27 FIP, 84.0 IP (22 G, 19 GS) 25.6% K, 19.2% BB

The key return for RP Jason Adam, Lesko was the Padres 15th overall selection in the 2022 draft despite him needing Tommy John surgery that Spring; his results have not yet materialized. I combined his results for both organizations in one stat line above as the Rays only gave him 6 appearances (3 starts) before the season ended. He has a fastball up to 98 mph and a plus-plus change.

Ben Peoples, RHP
24 | 6’1” | 175
AA | 3.42 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 55.1 IP (12 GS) 24.9% K, 10.0% BB

It’s a small miracle the Rays did not lose Ben Peoples in the Rule 5 draft this off-season, as pitchers with 97 mph cutters do not grow on trees. Given the recent change in starting pitching depth, and some persistent command issues, a relief role seems likely. He flashes a quality vertical breaking ball from a high release point, and should get a long look in Spring Training as a potential high leverage arm for 2025.

Jeremy Pilon, LHP
19 | 6’0” | 200
CPX | 3.28 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 46.2 IP (12 G, 9 GS) 30.7% K, 16.1% BB
A | 3.21 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 14.0 IP (4 G, 3 GS) 35.5% K, 22.6% BB

Tampa Bay drafted Pilon late in 2023 after he pitched at a showcase at the Trop, where they loved his high spin rates. The young Pilon out-performed his age in 2024, thanks to that 12-6 curveball, but he’ll need a third plus pitch to have major league projection. Developmentally, he’s lucky that low velo tends to not hurt a lefty’s profile, and that time is on his side.

Emilien Pitre, 2B
22 | L/R | 5’11” | 185
A | .299/.402/.403 (141 wRC+) 92 PA, 0 HR, 7 SB, 13.0% BB, 12.0% K

It’s mildly surprising to put a second baseman with no pop in contention for a top prospect list, but the Rays were aggressive to grab the Quebecois in the second round of this year’s draft after he proved his contact-forward hitting for Kentucky playable in the wood bat Cape Cod League, despite the lack of power. He’s a plus runner and rangy, giving ample coverage up the middle. In 21 games played after the draft the Rays never tried him elsewhere than second, but it’d be interesting to see if his arm can play at short in a pinch.

Jose Urbina, RHP
19 | 6’3” | 180
CPX | 4.50 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 48.0 IP (13 G, 8 GS) 21.7% K, 12.1% BB
A | 5.29 ERA, 6.11 FIP, 17.0 IP (4 GS) 18.2% K, 6.1% BB

The Venezuelan was elevated to the Holy City at the end of 2024, continuing the team’s aggressive push with his development. He traded his curveball for an easier to locate slider mid-season, but thus far lacks a plus third pitch. That’s ok when you have a 99 mph fastball with length in your delivery. Concerns with that delivery being repeatable seem overstated at his young age.

Owen Wild, RHP
23 | 6’2” | 230
A | 3.06 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 35.1 IP (7 GS) 26.6% K, 6.3% BB
A+ | 2.72 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 86.0 IP (17 G, 15 GS) 31.9% K, 6.2% BB

Wild has an 80-grade baseball name for a pitcher that hasn’t figured out his fall off the table breaking ball just yet. The 2023 seventh-rounder out of Gonzaga is still throwing in the low-90s, but has a plus fading change up that could be his ticket to the majors. He shouldered 121 innings in his first professional season, with a dip and drive, over-the-top delivery that looks clean, although repeatability is a concern with a truncated arm stroke that can be a little late. He should return to High-A in 2024, but could see promotion quickly if his third pitch locks in.