The Rays are calling up shortstop Carson Williams, their top prospect and one of the best prospects in the game, a source told MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra on Thursday. The club has not confirmed the news.
Williams, taken by Tampa Bay with the 28th pick in the 2021 Draft, combines huge power potential with elite defense and speed, and is ranked as MLB’s No. 47 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Williams could become the fourth member of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list to make his MLB debut in the past week, joining Owen Caissie of the Cubs (No. 45), Nolan McLean of the Mets (No. 37) and Samuel Basallo of the O’s (No. 8). No. 7 prospect Bubba Chandler is also set to get called up on Friday, and sources told MLB.com’s Ian Browne that outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (No. 77 overall) will be called up Thursday as well.
At Triple-A Durham this season, the righty has 23 homers and a .765 OPS in 451 plate appearances, to go along with 22 stolen bases. For his Minor League career, he has an .816 OPS with 85 homers and 105 stolen bases in 465 games.
Still, it hasn’t been an ideal age-22 season for Williams. His 34.2 percent K rate is third-highest among Triple-A qualifiers, and his 38.8 percent whiff rate is fifth-highest for the level (min. 250 PA). That said, he’s hitting .246/.350/.527 with 16 homers in 59 games since the start of June, good for a 125 wRC+ in that span. He’s also notched his third straight 20/20 season with 23 homers and 22 steals.
Though his strikeout rate is a concern, observers believe it will decrease with better swing decisions, allowing his violent swing to drive more balls in the air.
As the bat continues to develop, Williams’ defense has remained stellar. A Minor League Gold Glove winner in 2022, he has drawn praise for his quickness and range in the field, as well as a plus-arm with good accuracy.
COMPLETE RAYS PROSPECT COVERAGE
With Taylor Walls out with a groin strain and Ha-Seong Kim dealing with back tightness, the Rays appear to view Williams as worth a late look at short to get him ready for a bigger role in ‘26.
As he matures, he has the potential to be an All-Star shortstop in the bigs. But even if the offensive production lags, Williams could have a solid MLB career based on his defense alone.
