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The Tampa Bay Rays are playing typical Rays' baseball this season once again. While they lack the star power that some other teams do, they always seem to be right in the mix every single year.
Heading into Wednesday's games, the Rays hold the top spot in the American League East with their 39-25 record. They are right in line with the New York Yankees, who have also come out strong this season.
While the team is on the right track, there is another reason the fanbase should be fired up, and that's because Tampa Bay holds the No. 2 overall pick for this summer's draft.
MORE: Consecutive series losses cost the Rays their spot in the top five
Rays could use their draft pick on a player they've coveted for years
There are quite a few players who have played their way into being considered as a top-three pick, like Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, Vahn Lackey, or Jackson Flora.
However, there is one name that stands out more than the rest, and that's because this player and the Rays have history, and that is Kentucky's Tyler Bell.
The Lincoln-Way East product was selected by the Rays 66th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, but he did not sign and went on to play college baseball for the Wildcats.
But now, the Rays can circle back and take him with the No. 2 overall pick, per The Athletic's Keith Law.
"Since Tampa Bay took Bell out of high school, it's plausible that they'd still view him in a similar light now that he's raked for two years in college – this year with a bum shoulder, too."
Bell has been proficient in Kentucky. He is a switch-hitter who has the speed and strength to terrorize opposing pitchers at the next level. And scouts are sure that he has the skills to stick at shortstop at the next level, too, which makes him an intriguing option here.
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