​Generally, you should be able to gauge how well a draft class is aging five years down the line. Prospects should have established themselves to some extent and either be in the big leagues already or on the verge of reaching the show. Others will have stalled in their professional journeys and may be pursuing opportunities elsewhere. With the 2026 MLB draft rapidly approaching, let’s look back five years at the Rays’ 2021 draft class.
Entering the 2021 draft, the Rays held the 28th overall pick due to finishing the shortened 2020 season with one of the best records in baseball and earning a second pennant in franchise history; Tampa Bay would actually have two first-round selections (28 and 34) thanks to a supplemental pick. When the draft concluded, the Rays had selected 21 players and managed to sign all of them.
With their first overall selection at pick 28, the Rays chose high school shortstop Carson Williams. Williams is known for his elite defensive ability, possessing one of the best arms in the class and the versatility to stay at shortstop. On offense, there is bat speed and loft in his swing, with the potential for more power as he matures. The Rays are renowned for their development of young hitters, so Williams appeared to be a natural fit for their system.
Williams established himself as the top pick in the Rays’ 2021 draft and, over the years, climbed into the upper echelons of prospect rankings, peaking at No. 7 overall entering the 2024 season. However, he has struggled to make consistent contact against advanced pitching, which has limited his ability to stay in the big leagues. In 44 career games at the Major League level, Williams has posted a line of .155/.204/.302 with a 39.6% strikeout rate and a cumulative fWAR well below zero. Despite the early career bumps, his elite defensive skills and the potential for a strong offensive profile keep him on the radar as a possible big leaguer, should his bat come around.
Beyond Williams, only three other members of the Rays’ 2021 draft class have made it to the big leagues: Kyle Manzardo (3rd round), Mason Montgomery (6th round), and Bob Seymour (13th round). One common thread among these players is that they are all no longer with the Rays.
Manzardo, the 3rd-round pick, represents the clearest case of on-field success among the group—but even his tenure with the Rays did not last long. He was traded in 2023 as part of a push to maximize their postseason chances and to clear room for other internal options at first base. In a broader sense, he continued to show potential at the plate, but the Rays needed to balance development with organizational depth at first base, especially with Jonathan Aranda entrenched at the position and Xavier Isaac advancing through the system. The trade brought Aaron Civale to the Rays, a move aimed at strengthening the major league roster for a postseason push.
Mason Montgomery, selected in the 6th round, spent a significant portion of his time in the Rays’ system as a pitcher who teased big-league potential, particularly in relief roles. He received multiple opportunities and logged time on the Rays’ active roster, flashing the capability to handle high-leverage duties at times. Still, consistency and the ability to translate bullpen upside into sustained Major League performance ultimately left him as a rotationally flexible depth piece rather than a cornerstone.
Bob Seymour, a 13th-round pick, did not carve out a lengthy stay in the big leagues with Tampa Bay. He ultimately moved on after being designated for assignment and released following the 2025 season.
Among the overall class, the bigger narrative is that the Rays did not retain most of their early-round draftees, and only a few players advanced to the majors, with Williams standing as the standout—though his path to the big leagues has not been straightforward. The Rays’ 2021 draft demonstrated both the potential of their development pipeline and the harsh reality that not every drafted player will carve out a lasting major-league career within the same organization.
In hindsight, Manzardo, Montgomery, and Seymour offered some returns, but none became long-term Rays fixtures, and several moved on via trades or releases. The trade of Manzardo for Civale signified a strategic shift as the Rays pursued immediate playoff contention and roster depth rather than extending loyal tenure with these particular draftees. Williams remains the most notable long-term indicator of the class’s upside, while his current major-league presence has been restrained by the challenges of hitting at the highest level.
Looking back five years on the Rays’ 2021 draft, the class illustrates the optimism and risk that come with drafting young talent. It shows how initial promise—defense, arm strength, and offensive projections—must meet the realities of professional development, competition, and organizational needs. For Rays fans, the takeaway is clear: a successful draft class is not measured solely by who reaches the show, but by how the organization leverages the talents of those players, integrates them into its system, and adapts its strategy as players evolve at the highest levels.