For players to retain their all-important rookie eligibility, they must meet not exceed the following thresholds in a previous season:
- 130 ABs for position players
- 50 IP for pitchers
- 45 days on an active ML roster for position players and pitchers
It can be relatively simple to manage a player’s workload so they don’t exceed 130 ABs or 50 IP, but the time requirement of 45 days can be trickier. For that reason, many teams will wait to call-up rookies until it would be mathematically impossible for them to accrue 45 days of active series time. That cut-off date this season is August 13th. The reasons for wanting
a player to retain rookie eligibility in a subsequent season are driven by limiting service time to ensure that player doesn’t burn through any pre-arb years before they’re able to consistently contribute in the majors. Waiting for this cut-off date helps ensure a player doesn’t earn “Super Two” status in which they would get to arbitration one year faster.
This isn’t something that just the Rays or small market teams engage in; all teams do it. The league has tried to incentivize teams to get their young players up to the majors with their prospect promotion incentives (PPI) in recent years, but that really only applies to the best talent. There are at least a handful of guys in every organization who could be decent role players on that team’s ML roster, but there isn’t much incentive to promote them to the majors and potentially exhaust an arbitration year when that same role could be filled by a veteran waiver claim.
The Rays have a few players who are in Durham that could find themselves joining the ML roster once August 13th rolls around. There isn’t a ton of impact potential waiting in Durham, but there are a few guys who could fill a supporting role as the team looks to win the division. Some of these players would also make sense to fill a roster spot when we get to September and rosters expand.
Here are my top four candidates:
- RHP Ty Johnson: He began the year in Durham’s rotation but was moved to the bullpen in late July. His velocity has jumped a couple ticks on both of his pitches in a relief role and could be a solid multi-inning weapon or high-leverage arm in the majors. Johnson would need a 40-man spot to join the ML club.
- RHP Alex Cook: It’s been an up and down year for Cook who was added to the 40-man roster this offseason. He pitched a few innings already, so he would need to join the team a few days after the 8/13 cut-off in order to retain his rookie eligibility for 2027. The Rays like his strike-throwing and mid 90s fastball from a lower release height, and he could carve out a nice role near the back of the bullpen.
- RHP Alexander Alberto: Alberto has been a slow-burn development project in the farm, but he appears to have unlocked another gear with his command this season. A ground-ball machine, he features an upper-90s cut-fastball from an outlier release. Alberto would need a 40-man spot to join the big league club, and he would become a minor league free agent if he isn’t on the 40-man roster by the end of the season. It’s a potential high-leverage arm if he can maintain his command gains.
- RHP Evan Reifert: Similar to Alberto’s situation, Reifert is set to become a minor league free agent at the end of this season. His command and health have kept him in AAA for two seasons now, but his breaking ball is one of the better put-away pitches in the minor leagues – it’s one of just three pitches with a wOBA under .200 and a whiff% above 50% in AAA this season. It’s a high-leverage profile if he can continue to throw strikes the way he has over the last month.
Beyond the rookies they could bring up from Durham, the Rays do have a few others who could help the team in September when rosters expand. The following players are already on the 40-man roster, making them logical additions for the major league side:
- C Kenny Piper: He earned his ML debut last week when the Rays needed a catcher while they waited for Liam Hicks to get to Colorado. Piper is the best defensive catcher in the system; he’s a plus receiver and excellent at controlling the run game – posting caught stealing rates at of 37% this season in Montgomery and 42% in the Dominican Winter League this offseason. He’s unlikely to impact the game offensively, but he has shown a knack for pulling the ball in the air.
- INF Oliver Dunn: A LHB who can play multiple positions on the dirt (including SS), Dunn has shown plus power metrics with above-average plate skills and just enough contact ability to make it work in-game. He’s already on the 40-man and has seen some time in the majors with the Rays this season.
- RHP Joe Boyle: The command has fluctuated this season, but his stuff is as good as ever – especially since adding a breaking ball this spring and cutting some vert from his offspeed pitch. Boyle would likely be limited to a relief role while he continues to develop his feel for his secondaries – potentially as a multi-inning guy who can turnover a lineup.
- RHP Mason Englert: Maybe the inverse profile of Boyle, Englert fills up the zone with fringy stuff and has excellent feel for his offspeed pitch. His plus command has served him well as he has transitioned to a starting role. Englert could eat some innings in the Rays rotation if they need someone to come in and throw strikes.
- RHP Hunter Bigge: After adding a new offspeed pitch this offseason, Bigge has struggled at times to find the zone. His upper-90s fastball still plays and his stuff is sharp across the board, but his command has kept him in Durham for most of this season. He has shown solid command since the start of July however and could contribute in the majors down the stretch.
- RHP Trevor Martin: He made his ML debut this season and performed well in his six appearances. Martin isn’t going to blow anyone away with his stuff, but his lower release and solid command helps his arsenal play up a bit. Martin will throw a lot of strikes and could work as a middle reliever.
There are also some players in Durham that could add some flexibility to the Rays roster, but would need a 40-man spot:
- C Logan Driscoll: He showed some promise on both sides of the ball a few years ago in the majors before an injury took away his 2025 season. He was released, but re-signed and worked his way back to Durham. He’s a LHB with solid plate skills and plus receiving.
- INF Nick Madrigal: A similar defensive profile to Dunn, Madrigal is a high-contact, high-ground ball RHB the Rays signed and sent to Durham in June. His skillset fits the Rays offensive identity well, and he has nearly 1,000 PAs in the majors, plus a 135 wRC+ in Durham thus far.
- OF Jack Suwinski: Suwinski underwent a swing change this offseason that has helped him reach a new level. It’s easy plus power from the left side with an improved hit tool that should allow him to be an above-average offensive contributor in the majors if he were to get the opportunity. His fringy defensive profile will likely limit him to a corner OF role, but his impact with the bat should be more than enough to make up for any defensive shortcomings.
- LHP John Rooney: Rooney is a bit of a wild card as he has missed a large portion of this season due to injury. He features a low 90s fastball from a lefty side-arm slot and a big sweepy breaking ball around 80mph. His deception and stuff could help him put away LHB with ease, but his command and limited arsenal have given him trouble against righties.
The Rays have plenty of internal options they could call on to supplement their roster as we approach the end of the regular season. While it is a possibility that we could see someone in AA make the jump to the majors (Piper technically did it despite having already spent time in AAA), I don’t think any of those players are ready for an opportunity in the majors, even if it’s just a cup of coffee.
All of the potential call-up guys in Montgomery have lots of development left: Theo Gillen struggles to consistently get the ball in the air and is still working on his defensive game, Caden Bodine has a chase rate near 40% and is allowing runners to steal bases at a 90% success rate in AA, Jadher Areinamo also has a chase rate near 40% and has dealt with some injuries throughout the year, and Jackson Baumeister has struggled to find the zone on and off all season. I don’t have many concerns about most of these profiles long term, but they simply don’t look like they’re capable of filling a major league role this season.
I’m looking forward to seeing what decisions the Rays make when they have the opportunity to add some talent from AAA to the big league roster.
