Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  As such, we are delighted to present our pre-2025/26 revision of our top 50 Tampa Bay Rays.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in Major League Baseball.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Rays finished fourth in the American League East with a 77-85 record.  As this is a young franchise that constantly overhauls talent, there were new entrants and multiple elevations on this year’s list, especially with the new algorithm.

As always, we present our top five, which saw a change due to the new algorithm.

1. Evan Longoria
2. Carl Crawford
3. Ben Zobrist
4. David Price
5. Kevin Kiermaier

You can find the entire list here.

Infielder Yandy Diaz moved up two spots from #10 to #8.

Pitcher Drew Rasmussen makes his first appearance, skyrocketing to #18.  We admittedly failed to rank him last year.

Notably, Pitcher Shane McLanahan, who missed 2024 and 2025 but returned in 2026, fell by one spot to #21.

Infielder Taylor Walls had a huge jump, moving from #45 to #29.

Pitcher Zack Littell, who was traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the 2025 campaign, debuts at #49.

Greg Vaughn and Steven Souza Jr. fell off the list.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

When Zack Littell arrived in St. Petersburg in mid-2023 as a waiver claim from the Red Sox, he was seen as a journeyman middle reliever. Having bounced through Minnesota and San Francisco, few expected him to become a Tampa Bay pitching success. Yet, the Rays saw elite strike-throwing potential they could develop into more.

Faced with a severe influx of injuries to their starting rotation, the coaching staff asked Littell to step up and take a starting role—a challenge he accepted with notable efficiency. Throughout the latter half of 2023, he stabilized an underperforming pitching staff, delivering precise, high-leverage strikes to achieve a 3.93 ERA across 14 starts, thereby providing Tampa Bay with the essential mid-season boost necessary to secure a wild-card position.

He demonstrated that the transition was not merely a transient occurrence by consistently occupying the role of a full-time starting pitcher throughout a resilient and highly reliable campaign in 2024. Utilizing a precisely aimed four-seam fastball, a formidable slider, and a newly refined splitter, Littell established himself as the definitive "strike-zone filler" for a team that emphasizes pitching efficiency. He made a career-high 29 appearances, covering 156.1 vital innings, and achieved 141 strikeouts while only issuing 31 walks, resulting in an impressive record of 8–10 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.63.

Littell returned to the Tampa Bay rotation for the 2025 season, maintaining his role as a reliable strike-thrower. As the Rays began retooling, they traded Littell to the Cincinnati Reds before the July deadline, ending his productive stint in the American League East. With the Rays, he posted a 16–21 record, 3.76 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP. He ate up 299.1 innings, striking out 257 batters while walking only 51.

There are few pitchers in modern baseball who better personify the thin line between elite dominance and medical fragility than Drew Rasmussen. Blessed with an explosive, high-spin fastball and a devastating slider-cutter combination, the right-hander has spent his career showcasing front-line potential while battling an extraordinarily brutal gauntlet of elbow injuries. Drafted originally by the Rays in 2017 but unsigned due to his health track, he underwent two separate Tommy John surgeries before even cementing himself in the major leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers. But since returning to the Tampa Bay organization via a franchise-altering May 2021 blockbuster trade that sent Willy Adames to Milwaukee, Rasmussen has transformed himself into one of the most efficient, unhittable, and resilient forces in the American League East.

After showing massive flashes down the stretch in 2021, Rasmussen's absolute arrival as an upper-echelon starter came during the 2022 campaign. Weaponizing a high-velocity arsenal with pinpoint control, he anchors the Rays' rotation by logging an 11–7 record and a stellar 2.84 ERA across 146 innings. His signature moment arrived on August 14, 2022, when he put on an absolute clinic against Baltimore, carrying a flawless perfect game into the ninth inning before surrendering a solitary double. He looked poised to build on that dominance in early 2023, roaring out to a 4–2 record and a 2.62 ERA over eight starts before disaster struck yet again. Chronic elbow issues flared up, forcing him to undergo a grueling internal brace surgery in July 2023 that sidelined him for over a calendar year.

The road back was slow and calculated, a testament to Tampa Bay's meticulous pitching development. Rasmussen finally resurfaced in August 2024, working primarily as a high-leverage multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen to protect his arm, posting a strong 2.83 ERA in 16 appearances.

That careful management paid off in historic fashion during the 2025 season, a triumphant campaign that stands as the absolute masterpiece of his professional life. Reinserted into the starting rotation for the first time since his 2023 internal brace procedure, Rasmussen shattered all expectations regarding his durability by establishing career-highs across the board with 31 starts, 150 innings pitched, 127 strikeouts, and a stellar 4.5 bWAR. Limited to exactly 150 frames due to meticulous workload restrictions, his microscopic 2.76 ERA paced the entire Tampa Bay rotation and ranked fourth among all qualified American League starting pitchers. He displayed unmatched, game-to-game consistency by permitting four runs or fewer in all 31 of his outings while leading the major leagues with 24 starts yielding four hits or fewer—the most in Rays franchise history for a traditional starter. This magnificent, resilient performance earned him his very first career All-Star selection and the prestigious Paul C. Smith Champion Award from the Tampa Bay chapter of the BBWAA, recognizing him as the ultimate embodiment of professionalism both on and off the diamond.

Entering the upcoming 2026 campaign, Rasmussen has officially evolved from an injury risk with high upside into a bonafide, front-line terror.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Tampa Bay Rays will be inducting Evan Longoria into their franchise Hall of Fame. 

The event will take place next year when the club returns to Tropicana Field. 

Longoria is arguably the best player in franchise history, playing there from 2008 to 2017.  The Third Baseman was the 2008 Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, and won three Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger for the team and is the all-time team leader in bWAR (51.7), Games Played (1,435), Runs Scored (780), Doubles (338) Runs Batted In (892) and Walks (569).  Longoria also batted .270 with 1,471 Hits for Tampa.

He will be the sixth man to be inducted into the Rays Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Evan Longoria for his impending honor.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Tampa Bay Rays.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Please note that our algorithm has changed, which yielded minor changes throughout the baseball lists.

Last year, the Rays finished 80-82 and missed the playoffs.  There were two new entrants and multiple elevations coming from the 2024 season.

As always, we present our top five, which saw one change.

1. Evan Longoria

2. Carl Crawford

3. Ben Zobrist

4. Kevin Kiermaier

5. David Price

You can find the entire list here.

Based on the revisions, Kiermaier overtook Price for #4.

Brandon Lowe moved up from #16 to #9.

Third Baseman Yandy Diaz was not able to move past last year’s #10.

Outfielder Randy Arozarena, who was traded to Seattle during the season, advanced two spots to #17.

Pitcher Zach Eflin, who was traded to Baltimore during last season, enters at #50.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

When Zach Eflin became a free agent after the 2022 season, he was widely respected across the league as a reliable mid-rotation pitcher who had spent seven years overcoming recurring knee issues in Philadelphia. Eager to help him reach his full potential, the Tampa Bay Rays made a bold move in the open market, offering him a three-year, $40 million deal — the largest free-agent contract guaranteed to an outside player in franchise history. Eflin quickly showed his appreciation for this incredible show of faith by delivering what is truly the standout performance of his career.

Entering the forefront of the St. Petersburg rotation in 2023, Eflin effectively managed opposing batters through a combination of immaculate control and an elite, substantial sinker. He pitched a career-high 177.2 innings over 31 starts, establishing himself as a leading workhorse for Kevin Cash. He led the entire American League with 16 wins and complemented this traditional success with remarkable efficiency, ultimately finishing sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. In an organization globally recognized for its pitching development, Eflin swiftly developed into a trusted leader within the pitching staff.

He returned in 2024 to provide another highly durable, frontline baseline, logging 19 starts and maintaining a crisp 4.09 ERA over 110 innings through the first four months of the summer. However, with the ballclub fading out of the postseason picture and operating with an eye toward future payroll flexibility, the front office adhered to its signature long-term playbook. Prior to the July trade deadline, the Rays traded the veteran right-hander to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for a trio of prospects.

As a Ray, Eflin made 50 appearances (all starts). He compiled a stellar 21–15 record with a 3.72 ERA and an immaculate 1.08 WHIP, striking out 271 batters against just 37 walks over 287.2 innings pitched.

A college standout at Florida State, Taylor Walls didn't have to travel far when the Tampa Bay Rays grabbed him with their third-round pick in 2017. Since making his big-league debut in 2021, the versatile infielder has given the club masterclass defense wherever he is plugged into the dirt, bouncing effortlessly between second base, third base, and shortstop. While his offensive baseline has historically leaned toward the lighter side, his premier glove is an absolute game-changer that routinely forces him into Kevin Cash's plans.

That defensive genius was on full display in 2022 when Walls led all of the American League with a massive 2.8 defensive bWAR. He backed up those defensive instincts during an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, leading all American League shortstops with 15 total zone runs above average despite logging just over 620 innings at the position. For Walls, his value has always been built on preventing runs rather than driving them in.

The 2025 season provided a highly encouraging step forward. Appearing in 101 games, Walls turned in the most offensively productive stretch of his career. While his baseline approach remained patient, he lifted his batting average to a personal-best .220 and drove in a career-high 38 RBIs, fueled by a scorching hot June in which he delivered 17 RBIs—the most by any Rays shortstop in a single month in nearly four years. He paired that offensive bump with 14 stolen bases and another 2.5 bWAR season before a late-summer groin strain prematurely ended his campaign in August.

As the Rays look toward the horizon of the upcoming 2026 season, Walls stands as the projected anchor of the Tampa Bay infield.

David Price was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays as the first overall pick in 2007. He made his debut a year later in September, helping the Rays make it to the World Series. Although the team didn't win, Price had a win and a save in the playoffs, and this marked the beginning of his professional career.

In 2009, Price joined Tampa Bay's starting rotation, and in 2010, he became an All-Star, finishing the season with a 2.72 ERA, 19-6 record, and 188 strikeouts. He was second in Cy Young voting, and the Rays' belief in his potential had been proven right. Price was an All-Star again in 2011 and 2012, with the latter being the best season of his career. He won the American League Cy Young, with a league-leading 20 wins and a 2.56 ERA.

As was typical for the Rays, they traded Price (whose contract was set to expire after the 2015 season) during the 2014 campaign to Detroit. Despite the trade, Price had another excellent year, finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting (15-12) and topping the league in strikeouts (275). The Tigers had a tough year in 2015, but Price performed well, beginning the year with a 9-4 record and a 2.53 ERA. He was even better in the second half with the Blue Jays, helping them reach the playoffs. In that year, he won his second ERA title (2.45) and was the runner-up to Dallas Keuchel for the Cy Young.

Price signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2016, but he was no longer a Cy Young contender. He still ate up a lot of innings, but his ERA started to rise, and he had elbow issues. Nonetheless, he played a significant role in Boston's 2018 World Series Championship. Price was shut down with elbow problems in 2019 and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, although he sat out the COVID-shortened year. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that year without him, and he was awarded a ring despite having no on-field accomplishments.

Price spent two more years in the bullpen for the Dodgers and compiled an overall career record of 157-82 with 2,076 strikeouts.

Archer was drafted by the Cleveland Indians but was later traded to the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He made his Major League debut in 2012 and became a permanent fixture in the Rays' rotation a year later. In 2015, despite having a losing record of 12-13, Archer had his best season. He fanned 253 batters, which placed him second in the American League. His 3.23 ERA was good enough for fifth place, and he also attained fifth place in Cy Young voting and added his first All-Star.

Although Archer never duplicated his 2015 season, he remained a top flamethrower despite his losing record. He led the league in losses in 2016 (19) but had 233 strikeouts. He had 249 strikeouts in 2017, which was also his second and final All-Star game. However, Archer's peak was over as he began accumulating injuries. He was later traded to Pittsburgh in 2018, where he suffered from thoracic outlet syndrome and missed the entire 2020 season. When he returned, he was ineffective, and although Tampa resigned him, more injuries were compiled, and he was only able to play six games in 2021. Minnesota gave him a shot, but that only lasted a year.

Archer's record was 63-89 with 1,454 strikeouts.

Wade Davis started his Major League career as a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009. He had a good start, winning 12 games and losing 10 in 2010, and a similar season in 2011. However, in 2012 the Rays decided to move him to the bullpen where he found more success, lowering his ERA to 2.43 over 70.1 innings. After the season, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals where he became a well-known player.

In 2013, Davis returned to the rotation but struggled with a high ERA. The Royals moved him back to the bullpen in 2014, where he excelled as a set-up man, not the main closer. That year, he had a great performance with a 1.00 ERA and 0.847 WHIP, earning him eighth place in the Cy Young voting. Davis also helped the Royals reach the World Series by winning two games in the playoffs.

Davis had an even better year in 2015, helping the Royals win the World Series. He finished sixth in the Cy Young voting, going 8-1 with a 0.94 ERA and 0.787 WHIP. In the playoffs, he earned the Babe Ruth Award by recording four saves, 18 strikeouts, and no earned runs over 10.2 innings. Davis was a critical part of the championship-winning team and had an excellent performance throughout the season.

After another good year with the Royals, Davis was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he became an All-Star in his only season there. He then signed with the Colorado Rockies in 2018, where he had a strange year. Although he led the National League in saves with 43, his ERA was 4.13. Unfortunately, he struggled with arm issues afterward and attempted a comeback with the Royals in 2021, but it was unsuccessful.

Despite the ups and downs of his career, Davis finished his career with 141 saves and a World Series ring that he earned with his excellent performance.

Scott Kazmir was a power pitcher who was initially drafted by the New York Mets. However, he never played for the team as he was traded to Tampa Bay while he was still in the minors. This trade would later receive a lot of criticism from Mets fans, particularly when Kazmir started going to All-Star Games with the Rays.

Kazmir made his debut for Tampa Bay in August of 2004, and while there was much to like about the southpaw, there were also some concerns. He had a good strikeout rate, but he also walked a lot of batters. Nonetheless, Kazmir rose to become Tampa Bay's Opening Day starter in 2006 and earned his first All-Star that year with a record of 10-8, 3.24 ERA, and 163 SO. He had an even better season in 2007, leading the American League in strikeouts with 239. Kazmir was an All-Star again in 2008 (12-8, 3.49 ERA, 116 SO), but he struggled with injuries and his performance declined. He was traded to the Angels during the 2009 season, where he finished strong. However, he had a disappointing 2010 season with an ERA close to six over 150 innings.

In 2011, Kazmir only played one game in the majors and was demoted to the minors, where his career seemed to be over. The Angels released him, and he played in several leagues in 2012 before Cleveland gave him another shot in 2013. Kazmir made the team and was respectable with a 10-9 record and a 4.04 ERA. He then signed with Oakland, where he went to his third All-Star Game, which was a significant achievement considering where he was just a few years before. Kazmir finished with a career-high of 15 wins and had a good start to the 2015 season but was traded to Houston during the season. He then played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for a year, but muscle issues forced him to leave a game in late September, which turned out to be his last game in the majors for the next five years.

Despite his ups and downs, Kazmir had a respectable career with three All-Star selections. He also played in other leagues and won a silver medal for the United States in the 2021 Olympics. Kazmir eventually got another chance in the majors with the San Francisco Giants but retired after that.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out, and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Tampa Bay Rays.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in Major League Baseball.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Rays went off to a torrid start and made the playoffs but was unable to get past the first round.  There are two new entrants and several elevations, some of which are significant.  However, this is more of a reflection of the franchise’s relative youth and Tampa Bay’s propensity to unload tenured players.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Evan Longoria

2. Carl Crawford

3. Ben Zobrist

4. David Price

5. Kevin Kiermaier

You can find the entire list here.

Yandy Diaz, who went to his first All-Star Game, and won his first Batting Title, skyrockets from #29 to #10.

The enigmatic Outfielder, Randy Arozarena, also made a huge jump.  An All-Star last season, Arozarena climbed to #19 from #30.

Now a two-time All-Star, Pitcher Shane McClanahan also had a giant rise in the rank.  He went from #43 to #20.

Another Pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, who is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, went from #45 to #30.

The controversial and likely MLB-banned Wander Franco debuts (and likely ends) at #32.

Manuel Margot moved to #43 from #50 and is no longer with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The last new entrant is Isaac Parades, who enters the list at #47.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

When the Tampa Bay Rays obtained Isaac Paredes from Detroit just before the 2022 season started, many in baseball saw it mainly as a straightforward trade for outfielder Austin Meadows. The Tigers had struggled to develop the young infielder, who scored only two home runs in a brief 57-game stint in Michigan. In contrast, the Rays' front office recognized Paredes as a hitter with exceptional pull-side instincts, making him ideally suited for Tropicana Field.

The change of scenery quickly revealed Paredes' potential. Moving around the diamond to cover first, second, and third bases, he brought an unexpected boost of power to the lineup, hitting 20 home runs in 111 games during his 2022 debut. He not only found his footing but also became an essential high-leverage weapon for Kevin Cash.

That initial surge paved the way for a spectacular breakout in 2023. Paredes became the team's offensive focal point, hitting 31 home runs and driving in 98 runs with a strong .488 slugging percentage. He utilized a unique ability to pull the ball with significant lift, making him one of the most effective home run threats in the American League and earning MVP support in voting. In 2024, he confirmed his stardom by earning his first selection to the American League All-Star team.

However, as the Rays slid out of the postseason race by midsummer, the front office executed a typical, forward-looking maneuver. Ahead of the July trade deadline, they traded the freshly minted All-Star to the Chicago Cubs for Christopher Morel and a pair of pitching prospects, capitalizing on Paredes' skyrocketing market value.

With Tampa, Paredes played 355 games, with 280 hits, 67 home runs, and 198 RBIs. He had a .234/.338/448 slash line and a 124 OPS+.

The phrase "what could have been" hardly captures the complete demise of Wander Franco’s baseball career. Among modern prospect evaluations, few players arrived in the majors with as nearly flawless a projection. Signed from the Dominican Republic by the Tampa Bay Rays for $3.825 million in 2017, the switch-hitting shortstop dominated minor-league pitching and secured consecutive consensus No. 1 prospect rankings across baseball. When he finally debuted in June 2021, he appeared to be a once-in-a-generation talent, setting an historic 43-game on-base streak that tied Frank Robinson's all-time record for a 20-year-old. Despite only 70 games played, he finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Tampa Bay was so confident they saw the future face of the sport that they broke their strict, low-payroll philosophy. In November 2021, they signed the 20-year-old to an extraordinary 11-year, $182 million extension, a franchise record. This bold financial commitment was rare for a small-market team, giving Franco control of the organization even before completing a full year in the major leagues.

The initial returns from that historic investment showed remarkable success but also early signs of physical weakness. Franco missed much of the 2022 season due to a fractured right hamate bone and repeated quad strains, yet he still demonstrated elite bat-to-ball skills by hitting .277 over 83 games. He started the 2023 season strongly, impressing with his aggressive play and smooth, efficient defense at shortstop. By July, he earned his first career All-Star invite as an injury replacement for Aaron Judge. By early August, his power and speed were fully on display, with 17 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and a 5.3 bWAR, helping the Rays move confidently toward October.

Then, everything changed dramatically. On August 13, 2023, social media revealed serious allegations of an illegal relationship between the 22-year-old star and a minor in the Dominican Republic. Major League Baseball promptly put Franco on administrative leave, while international authorities initiated a broad criminal investigation. By July 2024, he was moved to the restricted list, losing his salary and service time, as prosecutors accused him of sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.

The legal saga concluded definitively in the Dominican court system. Franco was convicted of both sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, and this conviction withstood appeals. Although a three-judge panel later pardoned him, citing that he was under an extensive extortion and blackmail scheme by the minor's mother, the conviction remains permanently on his record.  No team in the Majord will touch him again.

His MLB career concluded with 292 hits, 30 home runs, and a .282/.340/.454 slash line over just 265 games.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top Tampa Bay Rays.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Tampa was not able to make the playoffs, but they were contenders.  On a young team, this allowed, four new entrants on our Top 50. 

As always, we present our top five, which was not affected by the last season:

1. Evan Longoria

2. Carl Crawford

3. Ben Zobrist

4. David Price

5. Kevin Kiermaier

You can find the entire list here.

Kiermaier, who is now a Toronto Blue Jay, did not do enough to move past his number five spot.

Brandon Lowe, moved up one rank to #15.

Of the highest four new entries, we have Infielder, Yandy Diaz, who enters this list at #29.

2021 American League Rookie of the Year, Randy Arozarena, debuts at #30.

An All-Star last year, Shane McClanahan enters at #43, and fellow hurler, Tyler Glasnow moved up two spots to #45.

Outfielder, Manuel Margot debuts at #50.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

When Manuel Margot arrived in St. Petersburg before the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the pandemic, he brought exactly what the current Tampa Bay roster needs: exceptional defensive versatility across all three outfield positions. After being traded from San Diego following four key years in the National League, the Dominican outfielder was not meant to be a middle-of-the-order power hitter. Instead, his value lies in his excellent range that prevents runs and his versatile glove, which aligns seamlessly with Kevin Cash’s defensive strategies.

While his regular-season performance was modest, with a.264 batting average and only 19 home runs over four years, Margot shined brightest during the high-pressure 2020 postseason. He dramatically improved, using surprising power to hit five playoff home runs during the team's journey to the American League Pennant.

That October, his most defining moment took place at Petco Park, his old stadium, during Game 2 of the ALCS versus Houston. As he tracked a high, drifting fly ball by George Springer into the right-field corner, Margot sprinted over 100 feet into foul territory, battling the bright afternoon sun. He leapt at the peak of his jump, caught the ball, and blindly flipped over the padded railing, tumbling onto a concrete walkway below. He quickly reappeared, triumphantly holding his glove high to secure a memorable out that embodied the selfless, relentless defense of that pennant-winning team.

He remained a highly reliable platoon asset and a respected clubhouse presence through the 2023 season, helping guide the organization to multiple postseason appearances before the front office executed a typical financial pivot. Prior to the 2024 campaign, the Rays traded the veteran outfielder to the Los Angeles Dodgers to reallocate payroll. He accumulated 320 hits, 19 home runs, and 153 RBIs.

Randy Arozarena's journey to becoming a baseball star is truly inspiring. From facing a daring escape across the ocean from Cuba to Mexico in a small boat, to showcasing his talent in the Mexican League, his perseverance paid off when the St. Louis Cardinals signed him in 2016. Although he showed exciting potential during a brief stint in 2019, the competitive Cardinals roster limited his opportunities. In January 2020, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in a move that sparked one of the most exciting and culturally rich runs in recent franchise history.

Arozarena’s debut in St. Petersburg during the regular season faced a big delay because of a tough battle with COVID-19, which limited him to just 23 games. But as soon as the expanded 2020 postseason started, he delivered an incredible, record-shattering performance that made headlines. Wearing a pair of lucky cowboy boots in the clubhouse, he became a powerhouse, earning the ALCS MVP award and hitting an astonishing 10 home runs—breaking the MLB record for a single postseason. His timely hitting helped the underdog Rays win the American League pennant, quickly making the charismatic outfielder a beloved hero around the world.

Remarkably still rookie-eligible for the 2021 campaign, Arozarena effectively confirmed his postseason reputation by receiving the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He supported manager Kevin Cash's lineup with 145 hits, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases, demonstrating an exceptional combination of power and speed. He again reached the 20-homer mark in 2022, exerting significant influence over division opponents and solidifying his role as the emotional core of the franchise.

His cultural impact peaked remarkably during the historic 2023 season. Prior to the commencement of the major league schedule, Arozarena garnered international attention while representing Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, achieving an impressive .450/.607/900 slash line and executing a viral, home-run-robbing catch against Japan. He carried this momentum back to St. Petersburg, where he was elected as a fan-voted All-Star starter, coinciding with the team's introduction of a dedicated "Randy Land" seating area in left field. By August, he set a new major league record as the first player to begin his career with three successive seasons of at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, concluding the summer with 23 home runs and a career-high 80 walks.

During his 2024 campaign in Tampa, Arozarena experienced an extended slump that resulted in a trade to the Seattle Mariners in July. Despite this, his power-speed model remained resilient. He achieved his fourth consecutive 20/20 season by the end of 2024, and remarkably extended this record to five consecutive 20/20 campaigns during his outstanding 2025 season with Seattle. In total, Arozarena accumulated 531 hits, 94 stolen bases, and 85 home runs while with the Mariners.

When a player risks everything to pursue a dream in the open market, discovering a team that fully understands and maximizes his unique physical talents can transform a raw prospect into a model of hitting efficiency. Yandy Díaz defected from Cuba at 21, eventually signing with the Cleveland Indians and debuting in the majors in 2017. Cleveland recognized his exceptional bat-to-ball skills but struggled to find a permanent role or address his extreme ground-ball tendencies. His career changed dramatically in December 2018 when the Tampa Bay Rays acquired him in a strategic three-team trade. In Tampa, Díaz found the ideal combination of opportunity, analytical support, and patience, turning his powerful forearms and low strikeout rates into a top-tier offensive force.

His initial campaigns in 2019 and 2020 under the dome showed moments of high-efficiency performance. However, recurring severe hamstring strains and other physical setbacks consistently delayed his development. After regaining full health in the following summers, Díaz made getting on base a daily priority. He alternated between first and third base and offered reliable contribution across the infield.

The pinnacle of his career in the batter's box was achieved during a remarkable and historic 2023 regular-season performance. Demonstrating exceptional prowess, Díaz delivered an outstanding offensive display, systematically defeating American League pitching to achieve a career-high 35 doubles and 22 home runs, while driving in 78 runs. His remarkable efficiency was evident in his .410 on-base percentage, leading to his first American League batting title with an impressive .330 batting average. This distinguished performance resulted in his selection as a starting player in his first All-Star Game, the receipt of a Silver Slugger Award, and an impressive sixth-place finish in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Diaz regressed in 2014, where his over-the-fence power cooled to 14 home runs and his slugging slid to .414. Yet, demonstrating the unyielding baseline that defines his profile, he remained a remarkably safe high-volume producer, lashing out 158 hits and breaking a modern franchise record with an incredible 20-game hitting streak.

His exceptional resilience and skillful recovery in the 2025 season have cemented his lasting legacy in franchise history. Díaz's consistent elite batting control confirmed it's a permanent trait in the division, as he skillfully neutralized major-league threats. Over 150 games, he achieved 155 hits, 29 doubles, and 16 home runs. His flawless plate discipline stood out at the top of the order, with 61 walks and just 92 strikeouts, leading to a .284 batting average and a .356 on-base percentage—further strengthening the Rays' reputation for efficient offense.

Now actively stepping into the current 2026 regular season, the 34-year-old table-setter remains a vital vanguard of the club's competitive ceiling, with management signaling their absolute confidence by officially picking up his 2026 contract option.

The story of Shane McClanahan’s major league career is still very much an open book, but his early chapters have perfectly illustrated the Tampa Bay Rays' uncanny ability to continuously identify, refine, and unleash elite pitching talent. Selected 31st overall in the 2018 amateur draft out of the University of South Florida, the left-hander didn't have to pack his bags very far to begin his professional journey, keeping his high-octane fastball right in his home state.

McClanahan officially joined the starting rotation in April 2021, instantly changing the dynamic of the staff with an aggressive, power-pitching approach. He attacked big-league hitters without a hint of hesitation, grinding his way to a 10–6 record across 25 starts. That electric debut campaign earned him a seventh-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and served notice that the Rays had found their next frontline anchor.

That potential fully blossomed into true stardom during a spectacular 2022 sophomore campaign. Armed with a devastating changeup and a high-90s heater, McClanahan dominated the junior circuit, earning the honor of starting the All-Star Game for the American League. He concluded that brilliant breakout summer with a 12–8 record, an elite 2.54 ERA, and a microscopic 0.926 WHIP while striking out 194 batters in 166.1 innings—a performance that landed him sixth in the AL Cy Young voting. He maintained that elite trajectory into 2023, securing a second consecutive All-Star nod and racing out to an 11–2 record with a 3.29 ERA.

However, the high-stress nature of modern power pitching caught up to him that August, as his season was abruptly cut short by the news that he required a second career Tommy John surgery. The recovery process wiped out his entire 2024 campaign and delayed his highly anticipated return.

Will a healthy McLanahan bring another All-Star year in 2026?

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2022 revision of our top 50 Tampa Bay Rays.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Tampa had another excellent season, where they again made the playoffs, but the small market team reloaded again in the off-season, always seeking cheaper and younger talent.  

As always, we present our top five, though there were no changes, and only one new addition overall.  There were, however, significant elevations on the list.

1. Evan Longoria

2. Carl Crawford

3. Ben Zobrist

4. David Price

5. Kevin Kiermaier

You can find the entire list here.

It is worth noting that Kiermaier was unable to overtake Price for #4, and is at #5 for the second straight year.

Second Baseman, Brandon Lowe, skyrocketed from #40 to #16, a reflection more on the short stays that players have in Tampa, than it does on Lowe’s solid 2021.

The same can be said for Joey Wendle, who also shot up from #36 to #17, but Wendle is now with the Marlins.

Austin Meadows, who was traded to Detroit during Spring Training, also jumped multiple spots, climbing from #49 to #34.

Starting Pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, who begins the year on the DL, is the lone new entry at #46.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.