Rays Prospect Nathan Flewelling Looks to Build on Debut Season

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Nathan Flewelling, a 22-year-old catcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, made his MLB debut in 2025 at just 18 years old. Flewelling, the Rays' 94th overall pick in 2024, had a solid debut season, hitting .229/.393/.336 with 6 home runs and 9 stolen bases in 439 plate appearances. With plus zone awareness at the plate and strong defensive skills behind it, Flewelling could develop into a 50-60 grade power hitter with 50 grade defense, making him an intriguing prospect to follow.

Why it matters

The Rays have a history of developing young talent, and Flewelling's early MLB debut at just 18 years old shows the organization's willingness to be aggressive with their top prospects. If Flewelling can build on his debut season and continue to improve his offensive production, he could quickly rise up prospect rankings and become a key part of the Rays' future plans.

The details

In his debut season, Flewelling caught 75 games and served as the designated hitter in 26 more. He showed a strong eye at the plate, walking 20.3% of the time while striking out 27.6% of the time. His 126 wRC+ indicates he was 26% better than the league average hitter. Flewelling also showed some speed, swiping 9 bases. Defensively, his ability to call games and frame pitches are already considered plus tools.

• Flewelling made his MLB debut in 2025 at 18 years old.
• He played 75 games behind the plate and 26 games as the designated hitter.

What’s next

A strong season with the bat at High-A could vault Flewelling into Top-100 prospect consideration.