Isaac (elbow) is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Montgomery and could be activated in late April as he builds up his throwing, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.
He underwent a precautionary MRI on his left elbow back in February and was able to get into spring games in early March, but he aggravated the injury and missed the Spring Breakout game and looks like he'll end up missing about six weeks due to the injury if he avoids further setbacks. Isaac has a lot to prove after striking out at a 40.6 percent clip in his first exposure to Double-A pitching as a 20-year-old.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Sitting out Spring Breakout game
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Isaac won't play Thursday in the Rays' Spring Breakout game against Red Sox prospects due to a sore left wrist/elbow, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Outfielder Matthew Etzel was added to the roster as a replacement for Isaac, who was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday. Isaac first experienced soreness in his left arm in late February, resulting in him being limited to designated hitter duties in his final four Grapefruit League games prior to being reassigned. The Rays had intended to get Isaac some reps in the corner outfield in addition to first base this spring, but the elbow injury has thwarted those plans. Isaac should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season in late March, but it's uncertain whether he'll be cleared to play first base by then.
Isaac (elbow) will start at designated hitter and bat seventh in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He'll see his first spring game action since Feb. 21, after a sore left elbow had limited him in recent workouts. Though the elbow issue no longer seems to be affecting Isaac at the dish, it's unclear when he'll be able to complete his throwing program and resume playing first base and in the outfield. In any case, Isaac doesn't look like he'll require a season-opening stint on Double-A Montgomery's injured list since he'll be able to serve as a DH until he's fully healthy.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: MRI comes back negative
Rotowire
Isaac is expected to resume hitting in a few days after he said Wednesday that an MRI on his left elbow came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The first base prospect has seen more outfield reps early on in camp, which contributed to some soreness in his elbow. While Isaac will need more time before he resumes throwing, the good news is that he should soon be able to get in his usual reps at the plate. He's likely to begin the season at Double-A Montgomery.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Precautionary MRI on elbow
Rotowire
Isaac will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left elbow, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Traditionally a first baseman, Isaac is being worked out in the outfield some this spring and the Rays believe that added stress on his throwing arm is what has caused some soreness. The club is optimistic, however, that Isaac won't miss "too much time," per manager Kevin Cash. Isaac is likely to open the 2025 season at Double-A Montgomery.
The Rays have extended Isaac an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Isaac slashed .264/.370/.480 with 18 home runs and 15 stolen bases over 102 games between High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery in 2024. The 21-year-old isn't a realistic candidate to make the Rays' Opening Day roster, but they hope he'll be a staple in their lineup eventually. Fellow top prospects Carson Williams and Tre' Morgan are among the Rays' other spring training invitees.
Isaac has been promoted from High-A Bowling Green to Double-A Montgomery, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
Isaac won't turn 21 until December but has already reached the Double-A level after slashing .288/.380/.537 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 70 games with Bowling Green. He is arguably the top first base prospect in all of baseball.
Rays' Xavier Isaac: Returns to action for Bowling Green
Rotowire
Isaac (undisclosed) has started in two of High-A Bowling Green's last three games against Asheville, going 0-for-8 with a walk and an RBI.
Before checking back into the lineup Thursday, Isaac hadn't played for Bowling Green since June 13 due to an unspecified issue. Despite his two-week absence, Isaac was never placed on Bowling Green's 7-day injured list. The first base prospect is slashing .298/.384/.556 with 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases across 237 plate appearances in the South Atlantic League this season.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Sidelined with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Isaac has not played in a game for High-A Bowling Green since June 13 due to an undisclosed injury.
Adam Sanford of DRays Bay looked at the video from Isaac's last game and said Isaac appeared fine during his most recent plate appearance and played two innings more in the field before a defensive replacement took his place. Isaac has not been placed on the injured list. He may have been on the cusp of earning a promotion to Double-A, as he was slashing .397/.480/.730 with four home runs, seven doubles and five steals in his most recent 63 at-bats.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Heating up for Hot Rods
Rotowire
Isaac is slashing .257/.350/.495 with six home runs, five steals and a 27.4 percent strikeout rate through 28 games for High-A Bowling Green.
Isaac has been red-hot of late, hitting .349 with four home runs, three doubles and as many walks (eight) as strikeouts over his last 13 games. The one statistical blemish in Isaac's profile coming into the year was his mediocre performance against same-handed pitchers, and that remains a struggle, as he has a .627 OPS against lefties and a .956 OPS against righties this season. Given the 20-year-old slugger is typically a couple years younger than the pitchers he is facing, the hope is that he eventually improves against southpaws enough to play every day.
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