RADIO
Grady Emerson Selected Second Overall by Rays
With the second overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays are selecting high school shortstop Grady Emerson. The 18-year-old shortstop is widely considered the top high school prospect in this year's draft class and sits as MLB.com's No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class. Emerson, who is committed to Texas, was awarded the Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award and has one of the most developed profiles despite his young age. According to MLB.com, Emerson generates high exit velocities while making smart decisions in the batter's box. Additionally, the left-handed-swinging bat has the potential to push for 25 home runs per season when he reaches the majors and possesses above-average speed on the bases. In terms of his glove, Emerson received a 60-grade fielding score on MLB.com, suggesting he has the tools to become one of the top all-around players when he debuts. While dynasty managers may have to wait several years before he reaches the majors, his raw upside makes him well worth selecting with a top pick in all first-year player drafts.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Carson Williams Optioned to Triple-A
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Carson Williams was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Friday. Williams will head back to the minors after struggling during his short stint with the big league club. Across 33 plate appearances, Williams slashed .100/.156/.133 with three RBI and two walks. Brandon Williamson (back) was activated off the Injured List, so Williams will head to the minors to get everyday at-bats. It shouldn't be too long before Williams is back with the big league club. He can be sent to the waiver wire in redraft formats, but remains a dynasty stash.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Wander Franco Found Guilty, Won't Serve a Sentence
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty on Monday and criminally responsible for the crime of sexual and psychological abuse against a minor, but ESPN's Juan Arturo Recio reports that he will not serve a sentence. The 25-year-old won't have to spend any time behind bars as long as he meets the conditions set by a judge, which is a curious decision by the justice system in the Dominican Republic. Franco remains on the restricted list in MLB, and the Rays won't be required to pay any of his salaries from the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed with the organization back in November of 2021. Major League Baseball could decide to discipline Franco in their own way, but either way, the once-promising shortstop prospect is unlikely to ever play professional baseball in the United States again. Franco was an All-Star in his last year with the Rays in 2023 and slashed .282/.340/.454 with a .795 OPS, 30 home runs, 130 RBI, and 40 steals in 265 games played in his three MLB seasons.
Source: ESPN.com - Juan Arturo Recio
Source: ESPN.com - Juan Arturo Recio
Carson Williams Worth Picking Up Following Recent Promotion?
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Carson Williams was recently promoted for his second stint in the majors this season. Although he was hitting just .238 in Triple-A, fantasy managers should still consider rostering him because of his power upside. Williams homered five times across 32 Triple-A games this year, salvaging a 93 wRC+. His 30.% strikeout rate is problematic, but he did walk at a 12.1% clip. There's no denying that he hits the ball hard with power, as evidenced by his 111.4 mph maximum exit velocity (85th percentile) and 10.4% barrel rate (80th percentile). Still available in almost every fantasy league, Williams represents an intriguing waiver wire pick-up for managers seeking a power surge. He could get into the lineup on Monday against Orioles left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carson Williams Called Up, Worth Adding in Deeper Leagues?
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Sunday that they recalled infielder Carson Williams from Triple-A Durham after placing outfielder Jake Fraley (hernia) on the 10-day injured list. Williams, who made his major-league debut in 2025, made the Rays' Opening Day roster but was quickly sent back to the minors after going 3-for-23 (.130) at the plate with one walk and nine strikeouts in just seven games played. He also struggled in 32 games as a rookie, batting .172 (17-for-99) with five homers, 12 RBI, two steals, six walks, and 44 strikeouts in 106 plate appearances. Taylor Walls, the team's current shortstop, is a whizz with the glove, but he doesn't provide much offensively, so the first-place Rays could give Williams another run at the position. The former first-rounder in 2021 was hitting .238/.333/.418 with a .751 OPS, five home runs, 21 RBI, six steals, and 24 runs in 32 games for Durham before his call-up. In deeper leagues, Williams is worth a dart throw for middle-infield depth. He's rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.
Source: Rays Communications
Source: Rays Communications
