RBLR Rays Roundtable – 4/20/2026 – A Lot To Catch

Rays fans have long searched for a backstop who could provide both stability and star power. However, the narrative is shifting rapidly in 2026. Between the unexpected offensive surge of veteran Nick Fortes and the meteoric rise of teenage phenom Nathan Flewelling in the minors, the Rays suddenly find themselves with a surplus of talent behind the plate. In this week’s roundtable, we break down the defensive improvements in St. Pete and why Flewelling is officially putting the prospect world on notice.

Dustin Teuton (u/FLBoy19) : A Rising Prospect Behind The Plate

The constant churn at catcher for the Rays is nauseating. Toby Hall and his 4.3 fWAR remain the high-water mark for the franchise at the position. Mike Zunino and Wilson Ramos provided great value in their limited runs, but neither stayed long enough to become a franchise piece. Rays fans have been hypercritical of the team’s decisions at catcher for years. In general, the Rays tend to get league-average value at the position, with standout seasons scattered here and there.

Fans usually point to two major failures: first, selecting Tim Beckham over Buster Posey, and second, the Rays’ unwillingness to trade from their stockpile of middle-infield prospects when Sean Murphy was being dangled. With Posey, though, the Rays catch way more flak than they honestly should. Posey was not the proverbial #1 prospect in the draft, nor was he really in the conversation pre-draft. That was centered around the high-ceiling, low-floor Tim Beckham, the best slugger in the draft in Pedro Alvarez, and Eric Hosmer. Was it a poor decision in hindsight? Yes. But at the time, the Rays were an ascending team and swung big on upside. As for Murphy, he is no longer even the Braves’ starting catcher, having been supplanted by Drake Baldwin, and Atlanta traded Shea Langeliers nine months earlier in the Matt Olson deal.

However, the Rays might have finally found their long-term answer in Nathan Flewelling. Flewelling was by no means a risk-free pick; in general, no Canadian amateur ever is. They are usually among the youngest prospects in the draft, the baseball culture is different, and instruction can be limited. They are often raw. Nathan fit all of those boxes. He did not turn 18 until November 2024, five months after the draft. Baseball America ranked him #420 in the 2024 draft. He generated excellent exit velo in the limited showcases he attended, but he was not viewed as a for sure catcher.

The Rays have been aggressive with Nathan from the start. His first taste of pro ball came in the Single-A Carolina League, where he was one of the youngest players in the league. In 2025, surviving was the goal. He needed to prove he was an actual catching prospect while keeping his head above water. His .229 BA and .336 slugging look paltry, but sandwiched between them was a .393 OBP with only a 27.6% SO rate as an 18-year-old facing college-age pitchers. He also posted an excellent batted-ball profile, including a 90th percentile exit velo of 105 mph. His 126 wRC+, when adjusted for age, is closer to a 140 mark. Add in that he threw out 27% of baserunners, already frames well, has an accurate and strong arm, and average pop times, and he already looks like a plus-defensive catcher.

So far in 2026, Flewelling is gearing up to be the biggest breakout prospect in baseball. He has mashed so far in 2026 as a 19-year-old in High-A, with a .316/.381/.711 line, a 184 wRC+, and a sub-26.2% strikeout rate. His wOBA is .470, fueled by a .395 ISO that shows he is tapping into more of his high-end raw power. The crazy thing is his BABIP is not ridiculous, sitting at .348, not drastically higher then his .330 mark he showed in 2025. His 4 HRs in 42 PA have nearly equaled the 6 HRs he hit in 461 PA in 2025. Plus he is doing all this as a 19 year-old facing 20-24 year olds. Nathan was named a top 10 Rays prospect and given honorable mention by only Keith Law this offseason, and I suspect by the 2026 midseason update that will change for the rest of the prospect lists.

Sandy (@SandyAndTheRays) : Start Spreading The News

My, how quickly the tides can turn in baseball in just two weeks.

It feels like just yesterday that I was annoyed by the Yankees’ hot start to the 2026 season. They opened the year 7-2 and quickly surged to the top of the AL East, while the Rays lagged behind at 4-5.

But that script has flipped since then, with Tampa Bay gaining ground as New York lost its footing — most notably in a weekend series that saw the Rays sweep the Yankees.

Things haven’t been perfect. There are still glaring issues, from defensive lapses (including a league-leading 19 errors) to a bullpen that’s looked shaky at times — even in the Yankees sweep, the late innings rarely felt comfortable. But it’s been an exciting stretch to be a Rays fan, especially during the six-game win streak (was there ever a moment you thought they might never lose again?).

Jacob Macauley (@raysfarmreport) : Fortes Holding Strong

Plenty of the position groups the Rays rolled into the season with had many question marks surrounding them, but possibly none more than the catcher position. The position that netted the 2025 club 0.3 fWAR (27th) and a 70 wRC+ (28th) was overhauled at last year’s deadline, bringing in veteran glove-first Nick Fortes and long-time Dodgers minor leaguer Hunter Feduccia. Both players struggled quite a bit after joining Tampa Bay, as the Rays production from the position slid to a 67 wRC+ and 0.1 fWAR.

It’s early, but the Rays have already seen substantial growth between the two catchers as they’ve amassed 0.5 fWAR (12th) and a 120 wRC+ (7th). Nick Fortes, in particular, is enjoying a breakout season. Fortes is finding ways to make an abundance of contact; his 88% contact% is a career high, and it’s not coming at the expense of quality contact, as his 43.5% hard-hit% is also a career high. Even with the debut of ABS, Fortes still ranks in the 58th percentile in framing and has won 52% of his challenges this season.

Due to Nick’s early excellence, Feduccia has struggled to win over playing time, but in his brief time, he has shown substantial improvement compared to last year’s group. Hunter’s 79 wRC+ is up by 40 points compared to last year, and it’s early, but his 20% BB% leads the Rays and is 12th in MLB (min 20 PA’s). His usage of ABS still appears to be a work in progress, as he has accumulated -1.1 runs and is 2-4 on the season.

The catching groups’ overall improvement is going to be a huge storyline moving forward. If it is sustainable, this is a huge step forward in fortifying a playoff-caliber roster.

The RBLR Rays Roundtable is a weekly collection of analysis, insight, and perspectives from a cast of writers assembled because of their unique backgrounds and experience. Check this space weekly for new updates and features covering the Tampa Bay Rays, the Rays’ minor league prospects, and more!