Welcome to Day 2 of the MLB draft, which happens to coincide with the Rays retirement of the No. 3 jersey. Will the organization find its next retired number today?
Below are the players, their school, and the round/pick for the selection with writeups from MLB Pipeline and beyond.
RHP Owen Kramkowski (4YR JR, Arizona) – 5/145
Tampa Bay started day 2 the same way they ended day 1, with a bit of a surprise, adding a prospect not high on the MLB Pipeline board, this time picking up a star of the University of Arizona’s rotation, who has added velocity
this year.
With his tall, thin frame and glimpses of an easy fastball, Kramkowski has drawn some comps to T.J. Nichols, a former Arizona hurler and current Rays prospect. The 6-foot-3 right-hander relies mostly on his sinking fastball-slider combination. It’s a bowling ball heater that was up to 98 mph this fall, but was back around the 92-93 range he threw it in as a starter in 2025, and it does elicit very high ground-ball rates. He backs it up with an upper-70s slider that has decent three-quarter traditional tilt to it. He started going to his average mid-80s cutter more frequently this spring. Kramkowski threw a ton of strikes last year, walking only 1.8 per nine. He repeated that in 2026, but it’s control over command, and at times, he can get too much of the plate and get hit.
[MLB Pipeline]
LHP Kyle Johnson (4YR JR, Virginia) – 6/174
A two-way star transfer from Duke, Johnson is expected to pitch as a professional.
Despite a less-than-pretty statline, scouts are still bullish on Johnson as an athletic left-hander who has yet to focus on pitching full-time. He has as many as five pitches to work with, starting with a fastball that averaged a touch over 93 mph but topped out at 97-98 mph this spring, and it some ride to it when he’s at the top of the zone. His slider, thrown up to 83-84 mph, can be a 1-to-7, hammer-like breaker with a ton of swing and miss. He has a distinct upper-70s curve and can also throw a harder, 86-88 mph cutter. He used his low-80s changeup more than any other secondary pitch, throwing it downhill with armside sink and run, a cambio he’ll throw to hitters on both sides of the plate. Johnson has never been a consistent strike-thrower, carrying a career 4.6 BB/9 (5.1 per nine in 2026) rate into NCAA Regional play this year. But there are some raw ingredients to work with, and there were teams who felt he was worthy of top five round consideration, with perhaps another gear to reach when he puts the bat down for good.
[MLB Pipeline]
RHP AJ Rice (HS SR, GA) – 7/203
An interesting pick in that the Rays might need to allocate funds to lock in a signature from a clear draft day one talent.
Rice would be a lock to go in the top two or three rounds if not for his lack of physicality and his commitment to Auburn, but his combination of a deep arsenal and polish gives him plenty of believers among evaluators. He’s built along the lines of Tim Hudson and his style is reminiscent of the four-time All-Star. He drove in both runs in the Georgia 3-A championship game to lead Pickens HS to its first-ever state title. Rice’s best pitch is a tight mid-80s slider with high spin rates, but it’s just one of four weapons at his disposal. His fastball sits in the low 90s, touches 95 and misses bats with its carry and armside run. His feel to spin extends to a low-80s curveball that he lands in the zone, and he also shows advanced aptitude for a fading mid-80s changeup. Rice has an up-tempo delivery but the athleticism to repeat it well and throw strikes with all four of his offerings. He generates his stuff with a quick arm and has a track record of performing against top competition. Though he’s undersized at 5-foot-11, he has the potential to become a mid-rotation starter.
[MLB Pipeline]
RHP Griffin Long (HS SR, GA) – 8/233
Some scouts believe Long is the best sleeper pitching prospect in Georgia’s prep class. He has added velocity this spring to go with a projectable 6-foot-2 frame and feel for a three-pitch arsenal. He could go as high as the late third round if that would be enough to sign him away from Kennesaw State. After sitting at 90 mph and peaking at 93 with his fastball last summer, Long now operates at 92 and touches 95, though his heater could use more life. His slider has gained some power as well, parking around 80 mph and displaying promising spin even if it lacks consistency. His best present pitch is a fading low-80s changeup that’s more advanced than most high school cambios. Long’s athleticism, clean operation and loose arm bode well for his future control and command. He has the potential for three solid or better offerings with strike-throwing to match once he gets stronger and adds more polish. One of the younger mound prospects in the Draft, he didn’t turn 18 until May.
[MLB Pipeline]
OF Tai Jones (HS SR, MS) – 9/263
A former student of Rays first base coach Corey Dickerson, who was coaching Jackson Academy in Mississippi before getting the call back to the big leagues. Jones was not ranked at MLB Pipeline.
Tai Jones is a 2026 OF/RHP with a 6-3 205 lb. frame from Brandon, MS who attends Jackson Academy. Long and lean athletic build with some present strength and room for plenty more. 6.71 runner in the sixty. Primary outfielder on defense, fields the ball out front, long and loose arm action, has more arm strength there with more momentum into his throws and a higher arm slot, big game range with a spectacular game catch in right field. Right handed hitter, hits from a straight stance with a simple and repeatable trigger, loose and quick hands with some barrel whip, gets extended well through contact, lots of 95+ EV contact in the games, lots of power potential with repetitions and maturity. Very good student. Verbal commitment to McLennan CC.
[Perfect Game – 2025 National Showcase]
RHP Tate McKee (4YR JR, Georgia Tech) – 10/293
The Rays end their top ten picks with the ace of a very good college team.
The top starter on a Georgia Tech team that ranked No. 2 in the nation for much of the season, McKee backs up a fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and touches 96 with a hard slider in the mid-80s. He’s the only NCAA Division I hurler to start every series opener for his team through the past two seasons. He logged a 4.15 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 78 innings this spring.
[MLB Pipeline]
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This article is being updated!
