By the time the Rays were on the clock in the first round of the MLB Draft, an early trend already had emerged.

The first eight position players taken Sunday night all had been shortstops. Six of them were high school players who will almost certainly never play for their college program of choice.

With the 14th overall pick, the Rays added a number to each tally.

Daniel Pierce, an 18-year-old shortstop from the Atlanta metro area, became the Rays’ highest draft pick since 2017.

“It’s exactly what I wanted,” Pierce said on a conference call. “I think it still (hasn’t) hit me yet … I’m just in a really good place right now and excited.”

A University of Georgia commit, Pierce was MLB.com’s 13th-ranked prospect and seventh-best prep prospect entering the draft. Baseball America had him as the No. 10 high school player and the 24th overall prospect.

Chuck Ricci, director of amateur scouting for the Rays, said Pierce impressed at a pre-draft workout despite his luggage, including his bat and cleats, getting lost after flight delays.

“You know he’s a good infielder when he traveled on the plane and didn’t check his glove,” Ricci said. “The way he handled that for me was a big plus.”

Pierce was prolific in his senior season at Mill Creek High School under the tutelage of his father, Paul.

The right-handed hitter batted .451 with a .605 on-base percentage and .939 slugging percentage with 10 doubles, three triples and eight home runs in 82 plate appearances. He drew 33 walks and struck out only nine times.

Amidst a crowded class of high school infielders, Pierce said he thinks he stood out to the Rays because he projects as capable of playing shortstop long term.

MLB.com grades Pierce as a well-rounded infielder with above-average speed and average fielding, arm and hit tools. His power is graded as just below average but is noted to have the potential to develop into a 15-homer threat in the big leagues.

Pierce, 6 feet, 184 pounds, models his game after Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who was picked second in the 2019 draft and won a Gold Glove in 2024.

“I think I (have) a chance to be a true five-tool player,” Pierce said.

With the 42nd overall pick, the Rays took Brendan Summerhill, an outfielder from the University of Arizona.

Summerhill, a Chicago native, played three seasons with the Wildcats. Over the course of a 124-game career, he hit .323 with a .424 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage while primarily playing in centerfield.

While he was frequently on base, Summerhill rarely rounded them all, hitting only 14 home runs in 465 career at-bats.

MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds said Summerhill must hit for power more frequently to play as an MLB outfielder, adding that his 6-3, 195-pound frame should serve him well.

He entered the draft ranked 16th by MLB.com.

“He looks like the guys (you see) when you turn on the TV and watch Major League Baseball,” said University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello on the broadcast. “I think they might have got a steal here.”

“He’s far from the finished project,” Ricci said. “But I think on both sides, offensively and defensively, he’s really heading in the right direction.”

The Rays took another high school shortstop with their next pick, 18-year-old Cooper Flemming of Aliso Niguel High School in Southern California at 53rd overall.

Flemming, a bit larger than Pierce at 6-3, 190, was ranked as the 82nd prospect on MLB.com and is committed to Vanderbilt. One of his best attributes is his arm which, if he adds muscle, might lead him to play third base, said MLB Network’s Jim Callis.

Ricci said Flemming is an excellent shortstop and there are no plans to play him elsewhere but added he “has a chance to be a really good defender all around the infield.”

“Cooper really impressed, not just with his bat-to-ball, but his maturity,” Ricci said. “There was no doubt he was ready to take on the challenge out of high school.”

With the 67th pick, the Rays selected Dean Moss, their first-ever pick from IMG Academy in Manatee County. The 19-year-old primarily played centerfield in high school and is a strong left-handed batter. In 2025, he hit .471 with a .611 on-base percentage. He is committed to LSU.

“He’s been on our radar for quite some time,” Ricci said.

The Rays drafted Taitn Gray, a 17-year-old, switch-hitting catcher and corner outfielder with above-average power, at No. 86.

“Most guys with this kind of raw power don’t have the contact skills that Taitn does,” Ricci said.

MLB Draft

Monday, Atlanta

Streaming: 11:30 a.m. Rounds 4-20, mlb.com

Rays Day 1 picks

Player, position, school, round (pick)

Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS (Ga.), first (14th)

Brendan Summerhill, CF, Arizona, competitive balance A (42nd)

Cooper Flemming, SS, Ganesha HS (Calif.), second (53rd)

Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy, supplemental second (67th)

Taitn Gray, C, Dallas Center-Grimes HS (Iowa), third (86th)

• • •

Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.

Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.