Our All-Time Top 50 Tampa Bay Rays Have Been Revised to Reflect the 2023 Season
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:
3. Ben Zobrist
4. David Price
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.
Our All Time Top 50 Tampa Bay Rays have been updated to reflect the 2022 Season
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:
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.
42. Manuel Margot
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.
