The Rays keep pushing talent through the system, and two of their brightest names are the latest to get the call. First baseman Xavier Isaac and catcher Caden Bodine are both headed from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham after productive runs that made the promotion hard to ignore.
Isaac, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick at No. 29 overall out of East Forsyth High School, has been one of the loudest bats in the organization. Ranked No. 18 in the Rays’ farm system, he put together a line of .255/.400/.510 in 99 games with Montgomery, going 86-for-337 with eight doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 71 RBI, 80 walks and 18 stolen bases.
That kind of production made him the Double-A leader in walks, and his on-base percentage ranked fifth at that level of the minors. His rise is also a meaningful one after the brain injury he overcame, which makes his climb through pro ball an especially strong story.
Bodine’s path to Durham has been even busier. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the return for Shane Baz, the Coastal Carolina catcher has moved through every stop quickly after Tampa Bay took him No. 30 in the 2025 MLB Draft. He began at Single-A Charleston, where he played 33 games, then spent 32 games at High-A Bowling Green before moving up to Montgomery for 37 games.
Now he’s on his way to Triple-A after hitting .316 in those 37 games with the Biscuits. Across 102 games and 482 plate appearances this season, Bodine has posted a .344/.413/.510 slash line with 14 home runs, 23 doubles, two triples and 90 RBI.
Bodine is ranked No. 3 in the Rays’ system and No. 51 overall, and he’s putting together a season that matches the billing. If he gets into a game for Durham, he would become only the third Rays prospect since 2009 to appear at the A, A+, AA and AAA levels in the same season.
With Bodine moving up, Nathan Flewelling is one name to watch as a possible next step, especially with a catcher’s spot now open at Double-A.
In Other News...
As Bullpen Gamble Just Put More Focus On One Frustrating Problem
The Rays bullpen churn picked up again this week when right-hander Chris Roycroft was claimed off waivers by the Athletics, another reminder of how little margin Tampa Bay has when it tries to cycle through relief depth. Roycroft brings major league experience and still has options, so he fit the kind of flexible, low-cost arm the Rays tend to keep in circulation as they try to patch together innings and preserve roster flexibility.
His departure also shines a little more light on a familiar frustration for Tampa Bay: there is always another pitching move, another roster shuffle, another arm being tested before the group ever gets a chance to settle. The Rays have built a reputation around doing more with less, but moves like this underline how often the organization is forced back into the market for help, and how much uncertainty still hangs over a bullpen that never seems to stay complete for long. [Read more 🡒]
A's Add Another Arm As A Costly Roster Consequence Emerges
The Rays roster shuffle this week ended up sending Chris Roycroft elsewhere almost immediately. Tampa Bay designated the right-hander for assignment to clear a spot for Manuel Rodriguezs return from the 60-day injured list, and Roycroft was exposed to waivers after spending time this season with both the Cardinals and Rays.
Oakland moved quickly, claiming Roycroft two days later and making the corresponding 40-man opening by placing shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 60-day injured list. Roycroft is expected to join the Athletics, leaving the Rays with a familiar reminder that one activation can have a ripple effect far beyond the player coming back. [Read more 🡒]
Jonny DeLuca Is Giving The Rays More Than Anyone Expected
Jonny DeLuca arrived in Tampa Bay as part of the offseason deal tied to Tyler Glasnow, and he has quickly become more than a throw-in for a roster that always seems to be searching for useful, versatile pieces. What has stood out this season is how much better he looks on both sides of the ball, with improved bat speed and more power showing up at the plate while his defensive work has sharpened across all three outfield spots.
For the Rays, that kind of two-way growth matters because it gives them another player they can plug in almost anywhere without losing much quality. DeLucas improved ability to handle cutters has helped unlock more of his offense, and the defensive metrics have backed up what the eye test suggests: he is no longer just filling innings in the outfield, he is becoming an important part of how Tampa Bay wants to play. [Read more 🡒]