Taylor Walls

Walls' minor-league reputation as an elite defender with a good eye and speed continues to ring true in the big leagues, though he's failed to build on it. He produced 10 DRS between shortstop, second and third base last season and had a 12.7 percent walk rate and 22 steals in 99 games. The switch-hitter was otherwise forgettable offensively with eight homers, 36 RBI, 50 runs and a .201/.305/.333 slash line. A 28.3 percent hard-hit rate and 3.3 percent barrel rate also don't paint a pretty underlying picture. Walls' ceiling seems to be trending toward that of a utility infielder, and he could still provide some niche fantasy value with steals if he sees enough playing time. The availability of Wander Franco remains up in the air heading into 2024 after finishing last season on administrative leave, leaving the Rays with a major gap at shortstop. Walls will surely be in the mix, but top prospect Junior Caminero could be the favorite for the job. Read Past Outlooks