{"id":113402,"date":"2026-02-07T22:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=113402"},"modified":"2026-02-07T22:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T03:48:11","slug":"three-rays-who-could-exceed-expectations-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/07\/three-rays-who-could-exceed-expectations-2026-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Rays Who Could Exceed Expectations This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span>The Tampa Bay Rays are entering the point at which the offseason activity is coming to a close. It&#8217;s all about who you&#8217;ve got and what they can do with that opportunity. Unlike their Bronx counterparts, the New York Yankees, who are largely <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/28\/yankees-re-introduce-cody-bellinger-cashman-challenges-running-it-back-narrative\/\" target=\"_self\">running it back<\/a> with a similar team, the 2026 Rays will have a different appearance than the 2025 roster. Let&#8217;s hope it produces different and better results!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Rays are banking on the top half of their lineup to carry the weaker half. Can <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/caminju01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Junior Caminero<\/a> hit another 40+ home runs after opposing pitchers make their adjustments against him? Does the young pitching staff stay healthy and perform for a full regular season? These questions will eventually be answered, but here are some Rays players who could surpass expectations this season.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 610px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBtZ5pe9gJ\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 2761px; aspect-ratio: 2761\/2209;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Three Rays Primed to Exceed Expectations in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3>Ryan Pepiot<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pepiory01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Pepiot<\/a> had a sneakily disappointing 2025 season, even though he remained healthy for the first time in his young career. He came over in the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/glasnty01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Glasnow<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/12\/14\/dodgers-stars-trade-ace\/\" target=\"_self\">trade<\/a> a few years ago and has been durable since his debut in Tampa Bay. He posted a 3.86 ERA while striking out 24.6% and walking 9% of batters last season. On the other hand, Pepiot&#8217;s average exit velocity of 90.1 MPH and 42.5% hard-hit rate were below league average last season. Worryingly, he yielded a career-high 26 home runs in 167 2\/3 innings last season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ryan Pepiot\u2019s return for <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Rays<\/a> doesn\u2019t go well, nor does game vs. <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BlueJays<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EicCZRctXa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/EicCZRctXa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TBTimes_Rays\/status\/1968152635212767515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Pepiot must prove that he is more than a mid-rotation pitcher. There is reason to be optimistic, with a .259 BABIP that clocks in around his career norms. A .226 xBA placed him in the 70th percentile in baseball. Still only 28, Pepiot is under team control through the 2028 season and making only around $4 million in arbitration. If you squint, you could see the outlines of a <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bazsh01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shane Baz<\/a> 2.0. The Rays can only hope that Pepiot will capitalize on his potential next season.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Taylor Walls<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wallsta01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Taylor Walls<\/a>, 29, will be relied upon early in the season. There is literally no one else on the shortstop depth chart besides one of the Rays&#8217; top prospects. Walls will be ticketed for the everyday shortstop job as the Rays play a difficult early portion of their schedule. He&#8217;s a light hitter but provides an incredible amount of upside on the defensive end. Owner of a .195\/.286\/.298 career batting line, Walls posted a career-best 2.6 WAR last season because of his defensive prowess. Walls even showcased 20+ stolen base abilities a few years ago. Bottom line, the native of Georgia will be the Rays&#8217; answer at shortstop from the outset.<\/p>\n<p>If <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willica02.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carson Williams<\/a> eventually wins the starting shortstop job, then Walls can shift over to second base. Williams, 22, may not be ready for an <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/31\/al-east-prospects-make-roster\/\" target=\"_self\">everyday<\/a> role after he struck out 44 times while batting .172 in 32 games last season. This isn&#8217;t the first time he has posted high whiff numbers in his career. Williams definitely has the right <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/carson-williams-discusses-mlb-debut-rays-at-rookie-program\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mindset<\/a> and should benefit from the experience. Walls will have a lot to prove in the meantime.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cedric Mullins<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mullice01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cedric Mullins<\/a>, 31, was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/05\/rays-find-primary-center-fielder-cedric-mullins\/\" target=\"_self\">signed<\/a> to a one-year, $7 million contract by the Rays in early December. Mullins had a very disappointing 2025 season as the Baltimore Orioles tumbled to the bottom of the American League East division. The Rays will hope for a turnaround after he slashed .216\/.299\/.690 with 17 home runs, 59 RBI, and a 94 wRC+ in 133 games between the Mets and Orioles. His numbers with the Mets completely fell off a cliff.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Cedric Mullins in his one season with the Mets:<\/p>\n<p>42 G<br \/>\n.182 BA<br \/>\n.284 OBP<br \/>\n.565 OPS<br \/>\n2 HR<br \/>\n10 RBIs<br \/>\n8 SB<\/p>\n<p>A swing-and-a-miss from David Stearns. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wdi9G1yZDN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Wdi9G1yZDN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SleeperMets\/status\/1996353467145687445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span>Mullins can still play an incredibly important role for the Rays. He drew walks at a career-high 10% clip (71st percentile). His 35.9% hard-hit rate is a few ticks under his career average. This is still a guy who posted 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases a few years ago. Still only 31, Mullins on a one-year deal is perfect if he provides 2-4 WAR production, as he did prior to 2025. The Rays are counting on Mullins to stabilize their young lineup.\u00a0<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: \u00a9 Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Tampa Bay Rays are entering the point at which the offseason activity is coming to a close. It&#8217;s all about who you&#8217;ve got and what they can do with that opportunity. Unlike their Bronx counterparts, the New York Yankees, who are largely running it back with a similar team, the 2026 Rays will have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5546,"featured_media":113743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1071,35],"tags":[5008,5113,28375,5681,1333,5648,1245],"class_list":["post-113402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rays","category-mlb","category-news","tag-carson-williams","tag-cedric-mullins","tag-junior-caminero","tag-ryan-pepiot","tag-shane-baz","tag-taylor-walls","tag-tyler-glasnow"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5546"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113402"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113744,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113402\/revisions\/113744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}