Rays' diverse class a product of collab, 'Cats, arms and D

ST. PETERSBURG -- After years of preparation culminating in three days of activity, the Rays were pleased with the 21 players they selected in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Tampa Bay filled out its Draft class on Tuesday by selecting 10 players in Rounds 11-20. Top to bottom, from first-rounder Theo Gillen to 20th-rounder Kaleb Corbett, the Rays believe they added a talented group to their highly regarded player development system.

“I’m really happy. I think when you start the Draft with Theo Gillen, that was a big plus for us,” Rays amateur scouting director Chuck Ricci said. “I think we added all different kinds of players. We added a lot of pitching, but we didn’t shy away from some position players on Day 3.”

Overall, the Rays selected 15 college players, one junior college pitcher and five players from the high school ranks. They picked 10 right-handed pitchers, two lefties, three outfielders and two shortstops along with one catcher, first baseman, second baseman and third baseman.

The Rays must now work to sign those players so they can begin their professional careers. The impact of this class won’t be known for years, but here are four takeaways from Tampa Bay’s 2024 Draft.

1) They went up the middle on Day 1
Most Draft classes are judged by what becomes of its top picks, and the Rays stuck to a formula that’s worked well for them recently, selecting three middle-of-the-diamond position players: high school center fielder Gillen, Kentucky second baseman Émilien Pitre and high school shortstop Tyler Bell.

Gillen was arguably the best high school hitter available, although he’ll be challenged by the move to center field after playing shortstop in high school. Pitre took massive steps forward at Kentucky. And the switch-hitting Bell is an excellent defensive shortstop.

“When Theo was there, we were thrilled. We just spent a lot of time with him, so that always gives you more of a comfort level,” Ricci said. “Every time we saw Pitre, he kept getting better. … And Tyler’s somebody we noticed last summer and we just followed him, and he really took the next step physically.”

2) Collaboration was key
It’s no surprise that the Rays highly value the opinions of their executives, scouts and analysts when putting together their Draft board. This year, they also sought further input from their Minor League hitting and pitching coordinators.

Throughout the spring, Ricci said, the scouting department sent video of pitchers to director of pitching Winston Doom and pitching coordinators Buddy Carlyle, Tony Watson and Christian Wonders, among others. They were all present during the club’s in-person meetings leading up to the Draft, and Ricci said the Rays “elevated the arms that our evaluators liked and our pitching group liked.”

They did the same thing with their hitting coordinators. Ricci said they even had one sitting alongside their scouts at the ACC and Big 12 tournaments.

“It’s just been really neat to interact with our group,” Ricci said. “If we’re sending them players, whether that’s on the hitting side or the pitching side, that they don’t feel comfortable developing and they think it’s a challenge, I think it just makes it hard to be successful.

“The more we’re on the same page, scouting and development. I think it’s always been a big thing here, and if it can get better in the future, it’s only going to mean we have a better chance to be successful.”

3) Fastballs are the foundation
As he broke down each of the Rays’ picks during post-Draft conference calls, Ricci struck a familiar refrain with most of the pitchers they selected. From fourth-rounder Nate Knowles to 11th-rounder Cade Citelli and many others, their fastball was their strength.

That repetition was intentional. The Rays sought out pitchers with good heaters.

“And not just velocity. The combination of velocity, life and command,” Ricci said. “I think there are ways now that, when I played and even probably 10 years ago, weren’t really available to these guys as far as building a breaking ball and the information that’s out there.

“I think we tried to get good, athletic pitchers that move good down the hill that have a good foundation with their fastball. It’s a building block for us.”

4) The Wildcats were well-represented
Three of Tampa Bay’s 21 picks came from Kentucky’s College World Series squad: Pitre (second round), right-hander Trey Pooser (10th) and lefty Dominic Niman (18th). Ricci said that was a testament to the way the Southeastern Conference has “separated itself” and what that environment does for players.

“It’s almost like a miniature version of a very high professional level,” he said. “Not that the play is at that level, but I think the pressure is something that I value [in] the guys that have played at that level.”