The Tampa Bay Rays handed out their minor league awards for the 2026 season, and the list says plenty about how much talent has moved through the system this year.
Catcher Caden Bodine and outfielder Theo Gillen shared Player of the Year honors, while recent Major League call-up Ty Johnson took Pitcher of the Year. The organization also recognized Alexander Alberto as Top Reliever, Tony Santa Maria as Top Baserunner and Mac Horvath as Top Defensive Player.
Bodine’s rise has been one of the louder developments in the system. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in an offseason trade, he began the year in Single-A and is finishing it in Triple-A, putting himself right on the doorstep of the majors.
The defense behind the plate has stayed strong, but it’s the bat that has driven the jump. In his first full pro season, Bodine posted a .344/.411/.519 line with 16 home runs, 27 doubles, two triples and 97 RBI.
He also drew 49 walks and struck out only 33 times.
Gillen’s season was just as loud in a different way. The 20-year-old climbed quickly through the rankings with a dominant run between High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery, and he’s now viewed as a borderline top-10 prospect in the sport. Across 525 plate appearances, he hit .315/.422/.550 with 22 home runs, 23 doubles, seven triples and 90 RBI, and he added 44 stolen bases.
Johnson earned his award after finishing strong at Triple-A Durham and then making his MLB debut on Sept. 6.
A starter for most of his career, he moved into the bullpen in August and took to the role, which helped earn him the promotion for the stretch run. He put up a 3.03 ERA over 62.1 innings for Durham and struck out 84 before the call-up.
Alberto’s year spanned Double-A and Triple-A, where he logged 46 appearances and 55.2 innings with a 3.72 ERA, five saves and 68 strikeouts.
Santa Maria’s case was built on speed and production on the bases. He began the season with High-A Bowling Green and will end it with Triple-A Durham after scoring 75 runs and stealing 58 bases.
Horvath rounded out the honors by winning Top Defensive Player. A second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, he saw time at center field, right field, left field and second base for the Biscuits.
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