Trio of touted pitching prospects seizing opportunity in Rays camp

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- When Brody Hopkins first walked into the Major League clubhouse at Charlotte Sports Park earlier in spring camp, he couldn’t help but notice the placement of his locker: right next to two-time All-Star Shane McClanahan, a couple spots down from veteran starters Steven Matz and Nick Martinez.

“I saw mine was next to McClanahan, and I was like, ‘Oh, boy,’” Hopkins said, smiling. “He told me I can ask him whatever I want, so it’s been pretty nice.”

Hopkins, the Rays’ top pitching prospect, set out to learn as much as possible in his first Major League Spring Training. It’s the same approach being taken by T.J. Nichols and Ty Johnson, fellow pitching prospects, who finished last season in Double-A Montgomery’s playoff rotation with Hopkins.

For those three, it’s a chance to get a feel for life in the Majors and what it takes to succeed at the game’s highest level. For the Rays, it’s a chance to see the future of their rotation.

“I think it's a great opportunity for [pitching coach] Kyle [Snyder] and [manager Kevin Cash] to take a look at what might be options for us in the rotation in the next couple years,” vice president/assistant GM Kevin Ibach said.

Hopkins was recently named MLB Pipeline’s No. 85 overall prospect, behind only shortstop Carson Williams (No. 63) and outfielder Theo Gillen (No. 76) among Rays players. The 24-year-old right-hander is the club’s first pitching prospect on MLB Pipeline’s preseason Top 100 list since Taj Bradley in 2023. Johnson and Nichols finished last season (Nos. 24 and 25) among Tampa Bay’s Top 30 Prospects and will move up the rankings in MLB Pipeline’s upcoming preseason list.

Together, those three -- and several others, including trade acquisition Michael Forret -- represent the Rays’ next big opportunity to develop and promote impact starting pitching from within their own system, which has been an issue for Tampa Bay the past few years.

Hopkins and Johnson joined the Rays during the club’s trading spree in July 2024, spent all last year in Double-A and they are expected to begin this season with Triple-A Durham. Drafted by the Rays in the sixth round in 2023, Nichols is likely to return to Double-A after a late-season promotion from High-A Bowling Green in ‘25.

All three pitched well last season, putting them on a path to the Majors.

The ultra-athletic, overpowering Hopkins put together a 2.72 ERA with 141 strikeouts in 116 innings over 25 starts for Montgomery last season. Armed with arguably the best slider in the system, Johnson recorded a 2.61 ERA with 149 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings over 26 outings in Double-A. And Nichols, the organization’s 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, posted a 2.90 ERA with 156 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings over 19 games in High-A and six starts in Double-A.

“That jump from [Class] A ball to Double-A can be pretty intimidating for a lot of players, and those three have all checked that box already,” Ibach said. “Really looking forward to what they can do with Double-A and Triple-A, almost like finishing school or graduate school for a pitcher and see how they can refine some of the things we want them to work on so they can contribute sooner than later at the Major League level.”

This spring is another important part of their development. Nichols started Tampa Bay’s Grapefruit League opener on Feb. 21 and pitched in relief against the Red Sox on Thursday. Hopkins and Johnson each pitched a scoreless inning against an Orioles lineup full of familiar faces on Wednesday.

“It was surreal. It was awesome,” Hopkins said. “Getting to throw in a big league game is one thing, but then when the five guys you face are big leaguers and three of them have been All-Stars, it’s pretty cool.”

They all realize they’re not competing for a chance to break camp with the big league club, but they recognize it’s an opportunity to pick their peers’ brains and perhaps impress their bosses.

“Just soaking it all in. Just learning,” Hopkins said. “Just trying to get as much knowledge as I can going into the season and building from there.”

“Definitely watch and learn,” Johnson added. “I’ll still ask questions, but I definitely like to observe and really see people's demeanor and see how they go about their business. So that's probably been the biggest thing I've learned from.”

Nichols freely admitted he expected this Spring Training to be different, but he was pleasantly surprised to find out that big leaguers are just like them.

Someday, they all could share the same clubhouse again.

“I would say I've been more vocal than I figured I would be, just because of how comfortable these guys have made me,” Nichols said. “It's been an easy transition.”