Minor League Baseball

Tampa Bay Rays Send Top Prospects Carson Williams, Chandler Simpson to Minors

Shortstop Carson Williams and outfielder Chandler Simpson won't be on the Tampa Bay Rays' Opening Day roster, as the pair of top prospects have been reassigned to minor league camp.

Sam Connon

Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (96) steals second be during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park.
Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (96) steals second be during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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With the regular season fast approaching, the Tampa Bay Rays made a handful of notable roster moves Wednesday afternoon.

Among the players who lost their spots at the Rays' major league spring training camp were shortstop Carson Williams and outfielder Chandler Simpson. The pair of top prospects, who were non-roster invitees, will close out the spring in minor league camp, as will catcher Kenny Piper.

Meanwhile, catcher Logan Driscoll, outfielders Jake Magnum and Kameron Misner, right-handed pitchers Cole Sulser and Jacob Waguespack were optioned to Triple-A Durham.

Williams enters 2025 ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rays' farm system, per MLB Pipeline. He ranks as the No. 9 overall prospect in baseball, highest of all pure shortstops.

In 12 Grapefruit League games this spring, the 21-year-old hit .281 with a .749 OPS while playing his signature brand of high-level defense.

Simpson isn't a Top 100 prospect like Williams, but he is widely recognized as the fastest player in the minor leagues. MLB Pipeline has him ranked No. 7 among Tampa Bay's top prospects.

The 24-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Rays this spring, batting .240 with a .536 OPS. He stole three bases, legged out multiple infield singles and flashed plenty of leather in the field.

Williams went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Rays' Spring Breakout game against the Boston Red Sox last week, while Simpson went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Both Williams and Simpson are projected to make their respective MLB debuts in 2025. Neither will be doing so on Opening Day, though, so they will have to prove themselves in the minors again before earning a big league promotion this spring or summer.

Related MiLB Stories

  • ORIOLES OPTION MAYO, BASALLO: The top two prospects in Baltimore's farm system have been sent back to the minors, and Coby Mayo isn't hiding his frustration. CLICK HERE
  • NATS RETURN REIFERT: Minor league reliever Evan Reifert, who the Nationals selected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, has officially been sent back to the Rays. CLICK HERE
  • TIGERS OPTION JUNG: Instead opening the regular season as the Detroit Tigers' starting third baseman, top prospect Jace Jung will instead return to the minors. CLICK HERE

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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