ST. PETERSBURG -- Vidal Bruján, the Rays' No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, won’t be active during the upcoming two-game series against the Nationals, but the young infielder will join the team as part of the four-man taxi squad.

MLB Pipeline ranked the Rays’ system as the best in the Majors, and Bruján is a big reason why. The 22-year-old has the best speed in the organization and across the Minors. He stole 48 total bases last season between Class A Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery.

Bruján has also shown the ability to hit for a bit more power, knocking nine homers in 2018 and four last season. Some scouts believe that, at 180 pounds, Bruján has the best pound-for-pound power in the organization.

“There’s a lot of quick twitch, a lot of speed, and he really likes to play,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s always smiling. The player development group rave about him. Just a winner player that can do many things that can help you win games -- offensively, defensively and on the bases. You see him around his teammates and he’s a really likable guy. I’m excited for him to be on the trip.”

Bruján won’t be the only top-rated prospect headed to D.C. Top catching prospect Ronaldo Hernández will be making his third appearance on the taxi squad this season, with infielder Kevin Padlo (No. 18) also making the trip. Veteran left-hander Sean Gilmartin is the fourth player on the taxi squad.

The possibility of being activated is a big reason why the players are on the taxi squad, but the Rays also value the importance of being around the big league team for a young player. Hernández has been able to work on his catching and get familiar with the pitching staff, while Bruján and Padlo will get an opportunity to be inside the clubhouse and have a change of scenery from the alternate training site in Port Charlotte, Fla.

“I think that’s why we’re doing it,” Cash said. “Some of that thought goes into some of these decisions. I think we all recognize what this group of guys have been through and are continuing to go through at the alternate site -- and I give the staff down there a ton of credit, Michael Johns and his group -- but it’s tough. They’ve been running basically an instructional league for two months with 30 players or whatever it is.

“You have to keep the positive and the chemistry going, and if this gives them a break to get into a two-day trip, we should be very considerate of doing it, and that’s how we got to this point.”

Injury updates
• Cash said that Ryan Yarbrough (left groin tightness) could be activated on Tuesday and start against the Nationals. He mentioned that nothing is official and the Rays are still talking things through, but it appears likely.

• According to Cash, Mike Zunino (left oblique strain) has been progressing, but the Rays’ catcher will be sidelined for a little bit longer.

“He’s progressing, but it’s going to take some time, though,” Cash said. “He feels better today than he did three days ago, and he felt better three days ago than he did a week ago, so that’s a good thing.”

• There’s still no real update on Yandy Díaz, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a right hamstring strain. Cash said Díaz has been staying off his leg, and there’s still no timetable for his return.