Intriguing Rays prospects potentially on deck for the Bulls in 2022

While the Durham Bulls 2022 roster has yet to be announced, there is high anticipation and high hopes for the upcoming season. Major League Baseball has announced their top ten Tampa Bay Rays prospects, and there a few big names who could spend some time with the Bulls.

Shane Baz, a former 12th overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates has spent some time with the Bulls in the past and could very well be on the mound for the Bulls again this season. The right-handed pitcher was tabbed as the #1 prospect with the Rays after some stellar performances on the mound so far in his career. Baz has posted a 2.06 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 13 walks at the Double-A and Triple-A level, as well as a 2.03 ERA in three starts with Tampa Bay. Rated the #12 overall prospect by MLB.com, he was acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade from Pittsburgh along with OF Austin Meadows and RHP Tyler Glasnow in exchange for RHP Chris Archer.

Josh Lowe, a former 13th overall pick in 2016 by the Rays appeared in 111 games with the Bulls in 2021 and could see some more action with the team this season. Lowe is listed as the #2 prospect with the Tampa Bay rays. Last season the outfielder generated 117 hits, 76 runs and 22 home runs for the Bulls while stealing 20 bases, becoming the first Durham player to hit 20 or more home runs while stealing 20 or more bases since Justin Ruggiano in 2007. He was also rated the #50 overall prospect by MLB.com entering this season.

Taj Bradley, a former fifth-round pick for the Rays in 2018 is the #3 prospect with the Rays led the minors with a 1.83 ERA over 103 1/3 innings at Low-A and High-A. Last season with the Charleston RiverDogs and the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the right-handed pitcher compiled a 12-3 record on the mound. Bradley put together 81 strikeouts in 12 games with the RiverDogs and 42 strikeouts in three games with the Hot Rods last season. He was selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and was also rated as the #74 overall prospect by MLB.com.

Vidal Brujan is listed as the #4 prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays and could see some more time with the Bulls this season also. In 2021, Brujan made 103 appearances with the Bulls, in the outfield, short stop and second base, accumulating 77 runs off of 102 hits and 12 home runs. Brujan appeared in 10 games for the Rays in 2021. He was signed by Tampa Bay as an international free agent on October 17, 2014.

Greg Jones is listed as the #5 prospect with the Rays and could be assigned to the Bulls for the first time this season. Jones, a former 22nd overall pick by the Rays in 2019 spent time with the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits in 2021. The shortstop plated 48 runs, 13 home runs, and had 27 stolen bases in 56 games with the Hot Rods. In his 16-game stint with the Biscuits, he brought in eight runs, one home run and seven stolen bases. Jones was selected by the Rays in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

Curtis Mead is listed as the #6 prospect with the Rays and could see some more time with the Bulls this season. In 2021, Mead appeared in four games with the Bulls, scoring three runs and batting .429 in 14 at bats. The third/first baseman also spent time with the RiverDogs and the Hot Rods in 2021, batting .408 in 191 at bats with the RiverDogs and .306 in 206 at bats with the Hot Rods. Mead was acquired by Tampa Bay via a trade from Philadelphia on November 20, 2019 in exchange for LHP Cristopher Sanchez.

Xavier Edwards, a former #38 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2018 is listed as the #7 prospect with the Rays. In 2021, the second/third baseman appeared in 79 games for the Biscuits last season and batted .377 in 291 at bats with 40 runs and 27 RBIs also. Edwards was acquired by Tampa Bay via trade from San Diego on December 6, 2019, along with OF Hunter Renfroe and INF Esteban Quiroz in exchange for OF Tommy Pham and INF/RHP Jake Cronenworth.

Seth Johnson, a former #40 overall pick by the Rays listed as the #8 prospect, is a right-handed pitcher who spent last season with the RiverDogs. Williams went 6-6 in his 23-game slate with the RiverDogs and had an ERA of 2.88, giving up 86 runs and registering 115 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched. Johnson was selected by the Rays in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Campbell University.

Carson Williams, a former 28th overall selection in 2021 by the Rays spent his rookie season in the Florida Complex Rookie League with the Rays. In his rookie campaign, the shortstop appeared in 11 games, batting .282 in 39 at bats, scoring eight runs off 11 hits. Williams is listed as the #9 prospect with the Rays.

Willy Vasquez is listed as the #10 prospect with the Rays, and he spent last season with the Florida Complex League Rays and the RiverDogs. While with the FCL Rays, Vasquez appeared in 40 games, batting .288 in 146 at bats. The shortstop plated 26 runs off of 42 hits and 14 stolen bases. He was signed by Tampa Bay as an international free agent on July 29, 2019.

The Bulls will open the 2022 campaign on the road on Tuesday, April 5 to start a six-game series against the Nashville Sounds. The team will have its home opener on Tuesday, April 12th and kick off a six-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at the DBAP.

Full-season, half-season and mini plan packages are now available for the 2022 season, in addition to single-game tickets for all 75 home dates. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit DurhamBulls.com.