Curtis Mead is no stranger to offseason baseball. The 21-year-old first played back home in the Australian Baseball League in 2017, and his early turns as a teenager with Adelaide helped put him on Major League radars, leading to his signing with the Phillies in May 2018.

Now with the Rays after a November 2019 trade, Mead has his latest offseason assignment -- the Arizona Fall League.

Tampa Bay’s No. 14 prospect is one of the most interesting bats participating in this year’s AFL following a breakout season in the Rays' system.

• AFL stats | Scottsdale roster | Arizona Fall League coverage

Following the canceled 2020 Minor League campaign, Mead finally got to show off his offensive capabilities over a longer sample to his second organization this summer and quickly impressed Tampa Bay brass. He hit .321/.378/.533 with 15 homers over 104 games across three levels, mostly Low-A and High-A. His 132 hits, 38 doubles and 55 total extra-base hits led all Tampa Bay farmhands, making Mead stand out in one of the deeper systems in the game.

But it wasn’t until his promotion from Charleston to Bowling Green on July 6 that Mead felt like 2021 could be a special year. A six-day cameo at Triple-A Durham, when the club was in immediate need of infield help, locked that in.

“I felt like I could play at Low-A,” Mead said. “Then when I got called up to High-A and started to compete up there as well, that’s when I figured that I belonged here.”

You could even trace Mead’s breakout a little further back to last offseason during his latest trip to the ABL. Mead finished second down under in batting average (.347) and also placed among the top four in slugging percentage (.569) and OPS (.951) during a 22-game turn with his hometown club Adelaide. It wasn’t a massive sample size, but the performance spoke to what Mead can accomplish as a right-handed hitter who utilizes an upright batting stance and solid approach to make consistent hard contact.

“I kind of came into 2021 pretty confident,” Mead said of his time in the ABL.

That confidence has carried into the early days of the Fall League. Mead entered Tuesday 11-for-38 (.289) with five extra-base hits in nine games, despite being the fifth-youngest player on an AFL Opening Day roster.

But while the offensive performance has solidified his status as a good prospect, Mead’s defense will be followed closely by both Tampa Bay and external evaluators during his days as a Scorpion. He has received most of his time at third base to this point, but has mixed in a pair of starts across the diamond at first as well. He doesn’t have the above-average arm typically associated with third-base prospects, and there’s the possibility that the versatility-loving Rays could use Mead in a Joey Wendle-type utility role down the line.

For now, Mead wants to do all he can in the desert to stick at the hot corner, all while showing a bat that can play almost anywhere.

“I definitely spend most of my time there,” Mead said of playing third. “I feel like that’s where I provide the most defensive ability.”

Rays hitters in the AFL

Heriberto Hernandez, OF (No. 11): Acquired from the Rangers last December in the deal for Nathaniel Lowe, Hernandez is best known for making lots of loud contact. He worked out as a catcher in the Texas system but has become a full-time outfielder with the Rays, specifically in right where his above-average arm plays. He hit .252/.381/.453 with 12 homers in 73 games with Low-A Charleston as a 21-year-old during the regular season.

Matt Dyer, OF: The Rays acquired the 2020 fourth-rounder from the Mets in a July deal that sent Rich Hill the other way. The University of Arizona product played six different positions in his first Minor League season -- catcher, first, third and all three outfield spots. He’s played mostly center in the AFL to this point, and he has more of an outfield frame at a lanky 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. Dyer hit .260/.352/.519 with 12 homers in 63 games at a pair of Low-A affiliates but should see more of a challenge as a recent collegian in the Fall League.

Rays pitchers in the AFL

Trevor Brigden, RHP: Taken in the 17th round in 2019, the Ontario native became the first player drafted out of Okanagan College, thanks in part to a Twitter video posted by his coach that showed his fastball up to 94 mph. The 26-year-old right-handed reliever showed solid numbers at Low-A and High-A with a 3.04 ERA, 67 strikeouts and 11 walks in 47 1/3 innings in his first taste of full-season ball. Like Mead, he made a cameo at Triple-A Durham, though that was a rough stay (nine earned runs in 1 2/3 innings). Add in some Olympic qualifying time with Team Canada, and the AFL is just the latest stop in a busy 2021 for the hurler.

Carlos Garcia, RHP: Garcia brings plenty of velocity with a mid-90s fastball and has a slider and changeup that can both flash average. He was utilized as a multi-inning reliever at High-A this season with middling results (4.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 63 strikeouts in 66 innings). Entering Tuesday, he had yet to allow a run in his first four Scottsdale appearances (6 2/3 innings), and that’s notable given how much the bats have dominated early.

Matthew Peguero, RHP: The 21-year-old right-hander bounced between Rookie ball and Low-A this season, posting a 4.29 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP with 60 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings between the two spots. Originally working out as a starter, he pitched exclusively in relief from Aug. 13 onward and has continued to do so with Scottsdale. His mid-90s fastball and decent slider give him the potential pitches to work out of the bullpen, but he needs to test that arsenal against tougher bats than he’s seen in the Minors to this point.

Caleb Sampen, RHP: Sampen was limited by injury to only 17 2/3 innings at Double-A Montgomery. The 24-year-old was ineffective in that look with an 8.66 ERA and 1.75 WHIP over five appearances. In the past, Sampen has shown an impressive cutter as well as a fastball that could touch the mid-90s, so he has the history of stuff. But the AFL needs to be where he makes up innings and performance to end 2021 on a brighter note.