The Tampa Bay Rays have announced the winners of their 2026 Minor League awards:
Minor League Co-Player of the Year: Catcher Caden Bodine
Bodine, 22, has slashed .344/.411/.519 (156-for-453) with 27 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 97 RBI, 49 walks, and 81 runs scored over 112 games across four levels of the Rays system this season. He is the only Rays farmhand to play 10 games or more for all four full-season affiliates in a single campaign since at least 2005. Bodine’s .344 average is the second
best among full-season minor leaguers. The switch-hitting backstop is on pace to be the first Rays minor leaguer to finish with a top-two batting average in the minors since Chandler Simpson won the minor league batting title in 2024. Bodine’s .344 clip would mark the fifth-highest average by a full-season Rays minor leaguer (min. 316 plate appearances).
Bodine began the season with Class-A Charleston and slashed .379/.433/.614 (50-for-132) with 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 27 RBI in 33 games for the RiverDogs. He earned Carolina League Player of the Month and Rays Organizational Player of the Month honors in April. At the time of his promotion, he paced all Single-A hitters in batting average (.379), ranked second in slugging percentage (.614) and OPS (1.047), and was fifth in hits (50). Bodine reached base safely in 30 of his 33 games with Charleston.
He played 32 games with Class-A Bowling Green and posted a .341 (45-for-132) average with six doubles, four home runs, 30 RBI, a .411 on-base percentage, and a .477 slugging percentage. He hit safely in a career-best 18 straight games between June 4-25, a streak that included a South Atlantic League Player of the Week award for June 15-21. During the streak, Bodine went 34-for-79 (.430) with four doubles, one home run, 21 RBI, and a 1.003 OPS.
He was promoted to the Double-A level on June 30 and appeared in 37 games for Montgomery. During his stint in the Southern League, he turned in a .316/.397/.447 (48-for-152) slash line with five doubles, five home runs, 33 RBI, with 20 walks to 12 strikeouts. Between June 30 and Aug. 23, Bodine’s .316 average ranked fourth in the Southern League, while his .397 on-base percentage was seventh best and his 33 RBI tied for eight most. He closed his tenure with the Biscuits by reaching base safely in 12 straight games from Aug. 8-23 and was promoted to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 25.
Bodine began his Triple-A career with an eight-game hitting streak from Aug. 25 through Sept. 5, extending his on-base streak to a career-best 20 games across the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Across 10 games with Durham, he has hit .351 (13-for-37) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, and a 1.017 OPS. Over his last 67 games since June 4, he has hit safely in 57 of those contests and has reached base safely in 60 of 67.
The Mount Holly, N.J. native was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles alongside outfielder Slater de Brun, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn, and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 33 overall) in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shane Baz. He is rated as the No. 51 overall prospect, including the No. 5 catching prospect, and the Rays No. 3 prospect by MLB.com.
Minor League Co-Player of the Year: Outfielder Theo Gillen
Gillen, 20, has hit .315 (138-for-438) with 23 doubles, seven triples, 22 home runs, 90 RBI, 44 stolen bases, a .422 on-base percentage, and a .972 OPS in 114 games across stints with Class-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery. He has reached base safely in 107 of 114 games this season and in 185 of 195 games across his minor league career since the Rays selected him in the first round (18th overall) of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Westlake High School (Texas).
Gillen batted .342/.449/.589 (75-for-219) with 12 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 53 runs, and 28 stolen bases in 57 games with Bowling Green. At the time of his promotion on June 23, he paced High-A batters in average, ranked second in on-base percentage and OPS (1.038), was third in slugging percentage, tied for third in total bases (129), tied for fifth in hits, sixth in stolen bases, and tied for sixth in runs scored. Over 57 games with Double-A Montgomery, he has hit .288 (63-for-219) with 11 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 46 RBI, a .394 on-base percentage, and 16 stolen bases.
The outfielder was named Rays Organizational Player of the Month in June after reaching base in every game as part of a season-best, 32-game on-base streak between May 27 through July 4. In June, he went 33-for-97 (.340) with four doubles, three home runs, 18 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 20 walks to 21 strikeouts, and a .458 on-base percentage over 24 games. He also produced a 27-game on-base streak between July 17 and Aug. 21 and a 25-game on-base streak from April 21 to May 24.
With 22 home runs, 90 RBI, and 44 stolen bases, Gillen is one of five affiliated minor leaguers since at least 2005 to post 20 home runs or more, 90 RBI or more, and 40 stolen bases or more at full-season levels in a single season. The only others to accomplish the feat are Konnor Griffin (2025), Jackson Chourio (2023), Cade Marlowe (2022), and George Springer (2013).
On May 29 at Hudson Valley, Gillen reached base six times in six plate appearances with three hits, three walks, two RBI, and four stolen bases. He became the second minor leaguer since at least 2005 to reach base in each of six plate appearances or more and steal four bases or more, joining Milwaukee prospect Braylon Payne, who did so on Sept. 7, 2024 at Carolina.
Gillen is ranked as the No. 12 minor league prospect, No. 2 minor league outfielder, and the No. 2 Rays prospect. On July 8, he was named to the AL roster for the Futures Game during All-Star Week in Philadelphia, going 1-for-3 with an RBI in the July 12 exhibition.
Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson
Johnson, 24, went 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA (62.1 IP, 21 ER), 84 strikeouts, 25 walks, a 0.96 WHIP, and a .164 (35-for-213), opponent batting average over 21 appearances (10 starts) with Triple-A Durham before his major league promotion on Sept. 5. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 6 at Texas, working a scoreless inning of relief with one walk and two strikeouts.
Over the course of May, he spun a 1-0 record, a 1.17 ERA (23.0 IP, 3 ER), 29 strikeouts, and a .171 (14-for-82) opponent batting average in five starts en route to an International League Pitcher of the Month award. He closed the month of June with 5.0 hitless innings against Norfolk on June 28, adding nine strikeouts and one walk to win International League Pitcher of the Week honors (June 22-28).
After transitioning to the bullpen, Johnson made nine relief appearances in August to a 0.79 ERA (11.1 IP, 1 ER), 0.35 WHIP, and .059 (2-for-34) opponent batting average with 19 strikeouts, earning Rays Player Organizational Pitcher of the Month honors for his efforts. He faced 36 batters in August, with only four reaching base safely. He led all Triple-A pitchers with a 0.35 WHIP during the month, third best by a Ray farmhand in a calendar month since 2021 and third best by a Durham pitcher since at least 2005 (min. 10.0 innings pitched).
Johnson was acquired from the Chicago Cubs alongside infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel and right-handed pitcher Hunter Bigge for infielder Isaac Paredes on July 28, 2024. The Rockwall, Texas native is rated as the Rays No. 10 prospect by MLB.com.
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Right-handed pitcher Alexander Alberto
Alberto, 24, has split 46 appearances (five starts) between Double-A Montgomery (21 appearances) and Triple-A Durham (25 appearances/five starts), going a combined 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA (55.2 IP, 23 ER), 68 strikeouts, 22 walks, and a 1.26 WHIP. He began the year with Montgomery, posting a 2.20 ERA (28.2 IP, 7 ER), 0.94 WHIP, and .191 (18-for-94) opponent batting average. At the time of his June 16 promotion, it marked the sixth-best WHIP in the Southern League (min. 25.0 IP). He has gone 1-0 with a 5.33 ERA (27.0 IP, 16 ER) in 25 games (five starts) with Durham, tallying 29 strikeouts against 13 walks. The right-hander has held opponents scoreless in 28 of his 41 relief outings and kept them hitless in 15 of the 41. He did not allow a run in 10 straight relief appearances from May 15 to June 16.
Alberto was tabbed as Rays Relief Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season after turning in a 2.59 ERA (48.2 IP, 14 ER) and 1.17 WHIP in 2025. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was signed as an international free agent on Nov. 25, 2019. He is currently ranked as the Rays No. 25 prospect by MLB.com.
Defensive Player of the Year: Outfielder Mac Horvath
Horvath, 25, has appeared in 115 games for Double-A Montgomery this season, including 64 as a center fielder, 30 as a right fielder, 16 as a left fielder, and five as a second baseman. He has committed only three errors on 304 total chances for a fielding percentage of .990 over 968.0 innings. He is tied for the Double-A lead with 12 outfield assists, and his .989 fielding percentage as an outfielder ranks fifth among all outfielders at the level (min. 850.0 innings in the outfield).
The native of Austin, Minn. was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles alongside right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister and outfielder Matthew Etzel for right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin on July 26, 2024.
Baserunner of the Year: Infielder Tony Santa Maria
Santa Maria, 24, paces the organization with 58 stolen bases on 67 attempts (86.6 pct.) across 101 games with Class-A Bowling Green and 13 games with Triple-A Durham. He joined previous Baserunner of the Year winners Chandler Simpson (2023-24) and Homer Bush Jr. (2025) as the only Rays minor leaguers with 55-steal campaigns since 2021. The infielder is one of four full-season minor leaguers to have swiped 50 bases or more and produce a .400 on-base percentage or higher this season.
The Atlantic City, N.J. native was selected in the 19th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Rutgers University.
Erik Walker Community Champion: Right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh
Named after former Rays minor league pitcher Erik Walker, who died tragically in 2006 following his first season in professional baseball, the award annually recognizes a Rays minor leaguer who exemplifies teamwork, sportsmanship, and community involvement. Haugh was selected from a field that included nominees from each Rays affiliate. The Rays Up Foundation will make a $2,500 donation in Haugh name to his chosen charity.
In his first professional season this past summer with Class-A Charleston, Haugh recorded a 9-6 record, a 4.79 ERA (118.1 IP, 63 ER), 1.36 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts to 28 walks across 24 outings (23 starts). His 4.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked eighth among Class-A arms (min. 100.0 innings pitched), while his nine wins tied for 10th. Between May 28 and June 10, he strung together 17.2 consecutive scoreless frames, a stretch that included a 7.0-inning, complete-game shutout in the opener of a doubleheader on May 28 at Columbia.
The 23-year-old was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 First-Year Player draft out of the University of North Carolina. Additional nominees for the award included Logan Workman (Durham), Mac Horvath (Montgomery), and Garrett Gainey (Bowling Green).
The Rays also announced Most Valuable Players for each of their seven affiliates:
Triple-A Durham MVP: Right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson
In addition to his Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award, Johnson earned Durham MVP honors one year after being named Double-A Montgomery’s Co-MVP in 2025.
Double-A Montgomery MVP: Infielder Xavier Isaac
Isaac, 22, slashed .255/.400/.510 (86-for-337) in 99 games for Double-A Montgomery with eight doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 71 RBI, 80 walks, and 77 runs scored. He paces the Southern League in on-base percentage, ranks second in walks, third in OPS, fourth in slugging percentage, tied for fourth in runs scored, and sixth in homers.
The infielder was promoted to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 25 and has produced a .308 average (12-for-39) and a 1.079 OPS in his first 11 games with the Bulls. His .404 on-base percentage and .928 OPS across 2026 are single-season career highs. With 27 home runs between both teams, he is one of 12 full-season minor leaguers to have 25 home runs or more and a .400 on-base percentage or better in 2026.
Isaac earned Organizational Player of the Month honors in August after slashing .311/.443/.703 (23-for-74) with five doubles, eight home runs, 24 RBI, 18 walks, a 1.146 OPS, and three stolen bases over 21 games between Montgomery (14) and Durham (four), earning a promotion on Aug. 25. His eight home runs, 18 walks, 27 runs, and 13 extra-base hits (tied) led all Rays farmhands during the month.
The left-handed batter was selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of East Forsyth High School (N.C.) and is ranked as the Rays No. 18 prospect by MLB.com.
Class-A Bowling Green MVP: Catcher Nathan Flewelling
Flewelling, 19, hit .243/.364/.452 (98-for-403) with 17 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, and 68 runs in 106 games for Bowling Green. The backstop recorded a 19-game on-base streak between June 14 and July 8. Over that stretch, he produced a .328/.505/.672 (22-for-67) line with three doubles, one triple, six home runs, 12 RBI, and a 1.177 OPS. He reached base safely in 90 of 106 games with the Hot Rods.
The native of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada was one of three qualified South Atlantic League (SAL) catchers to post a .360 on-base percentage or better, ranking 17th among all SAL hitters. He was selected in the third round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Joseph High School (Alberta, Canada) and is currently ranked as the No. 65 minor league prospect and the No. 4 prospect in the Rays organization by MLB.com.
Class-A Charleston MVP: Infielder Cooper Flemming
Flemming, 20, produced a .298/.379/.450 (133-for-447) slash line in 116 games with Class-A Charleston. He added 29 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 79 RBI, 51 walks, and 16 stolen bases. The infielder registered a team-best 30-game on-base streak between July 17 and Aug. 23, that included a 12-game hitting streak from Aug. 4-18, tied for the longest by a RiverDog all season. The on-base streak was tied for the eighth longest at the Single-A level in 2026.
The No. 83 minor league prospect and No. 5 prospect in the Rays organization (MLB.com), Flemming was selected in the second round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Aliso Niguel High School (Calif.).
Rookie-level FCL Rays MVP: Infielder Andreimi Antunez
Antunez, 19, went 50-for-192 (.260) in 53 games in the Florida Complex League (FCL) with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 40 RBI, 40 runs, 35 walks, 12 stolen bases, and a .397 on-base percentage. A year after being named DSL Tampa Bay MVP, the infielder launched seven home runs in the FCL, tying the most by an FCL Ray in a single season since at least 2005, matching Kaleo Johnson in 2018. He also ranked highly in the FCL in RBI (tied for fifth), hits (ninth), runs (10th), and total bases (10th).
The native of Valencia, Venezuela was promoted to Class-A Charleston on July 28 at the conclusion of the FCL season. Antunez was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2024. MLB.com rates the 19-year-old as the No. 19 prospect in the Rays organization.
Rookie-level DSL Rays MVP: Infielder Brayan Rodriguez
Rodriguez, 17, batted .311 (61-for-196) with 10 doubles, one home run, 51 RBI, 26 walks, 33 stolen bases, and a .401 on-base percentage in 53 games during his first professional season with DSL Rays and DSL Tampa Bay. He ranked highly among qualified DSL batters in RBI (eighth), hits (10th), and stolen bases (tied for 10th). The infielder produced the two longest hitting streaks by a DSL Rays player this season, with a 10-game streak between June 30 and July 14 and a nine-game streak between June 1-12. A first-time DSL midseason All-Star, he led all of the organization’s Dominican Summer League prospects on both clubs in hits and RBI. The Caracas, Venezuela native was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2026.
Rookie-level DSL Tampa Bay MVP: Outfielder Maykel Coret
Coret, 18, slashed .303/.407/.491 (53-for-175) with six doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 36 RBI, 42 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, and an .898 OPS across 46 games. He produced a 14-game on-base streak from June 9 through July 3, which included an eight-game hitting streak (June 11-23). His seven home runs were the most by a Rays farmhand in the DSL since 2022. The La Romana, Dominican Republic native was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2025.
