ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays hold the No. 2 overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 11 in Philadelphia, their highest selection since making back-to-back No. 1 overall picks in 2007 (David Price) and 2008 (Tim Beckham), and a three-player debate at the top of the board is shaping the franchise’s decision.
The consensus top tier includes UCLA shortstop Cholowsky, high school shortstop Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. Some evaluators consider Cholowsky “the best all-around college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki,” citing his ability to hit for average and power with plus defense at a premium position. He remains the preseason favorite to go No. 1 to the Chicago White Sox, which could take him off the board entirely.
Emerson, a high school prospect, may carry more upside than Cholowsky in the eyes of some scouts, and the Rays have leaned heavily toward prep talent in recent drafts. Five of their last six top picks have come from the high school ranks: Daniel Pierce, Theo Gillen, Xavier Isaac, Carson Williams and Nick Bitsko.
Lackey has surged into the conversation after a dominant spring at Georgia Tech, slashing .397/.519/.772 with 20 homers, 15 steals and more walks (50) than strikeouts (38). The super-athletic catcher addresses a long-standing organizational need behind the plate — the Rays famously passed on Buster Posey in 2008 in favor of Beckham, a high school shortstop.
Flora, the consensus top-ranked pitcher in the class, merits consideration as well. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, the UC Santa Barbara right-hander went 12-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings over 16 starts this spring. But the Rays have steered clear of pitchers in the first round since taking Bitsko in 2020, and Flora is generally ranked a tier below the top three position players.
Another name circulating is Kentucky shortstop Bell, whom the Rays drafted 66th overall out of high school in 2024. He was the highest unsigned pick in that class and hit .343/.510/.608 for the Wildcats as a sophomore-eligible prospect. A below-slot deal with Bell could free the Rays to be aggressive with later selections, including picks No. 33 and No. 49, though he is not as highly regarded as Cholowsky or Emerson at the same position.
The Rays enter the draft window carrying the second-best record in the American League despite a monthlong skid, with top prospect Gillen ranked No. 39 overall anchoring a deep minor league system. Their last top-10 pick came in 2017, when they selected Brendan McKay fourth overall. The first round begins July 11 in Philadelphia.