XAVIER ISAAC NEWS

Underwent brain surgery in July Isaac revealed Friday that he underwent brain surgery in July, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Isaac's last game at Double-A Montgomery came on June 25, but he had asked the Rays not to divulge details of his medical status during the season. However, Isaac revealed the cause of his absence in an Instagram post Friday, noting that the brain surgery was "life-saving." Isaac recently attended a hitting camp and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training. The first baseman slashed .201/.366/.446 with nine home runs in 41 contests for Montgomery in 2025 and will likely need another full year of seasoning in the minors in 2026.

NOVEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Rays having 'a year to forget' in minors due to injuries, poor play Tales | Top prospects Carson Williams, Brayden Taylor and Xavier Isaac are among those not making expected progress.

AUGUST 17 • TAMPABAY.COM

Back on IL Double-A Montgomery placed Isaac on the 7-day injured list July 6 with an undisclosed injury.

Impact This is Isaac's second injured list stint of the year, as he missed the first two weeks of the season with an elbow injury. He also missed almost two weeks in early May with an undisclosed injury but he didn't land on the IL that time. Isaac most recently played June 25 and it seems the elbow injury he suffered in spring training may be affecting his play as well as his availability this season. He's slashing .201/.366/.446 with nine home runs, a 29.7 percent strikeout rate and a 19.4 percent walk rate in 41 games for the Biscuits.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Isaac started at DH and went 0-for-1 with three walks Thursday for Double-A Montgomery. He had not played since May 4 due to undisclosed reasons.

Impact Isaac wasn't placed on the injured list or any other roster exemption, so it's not clear if he was nursing an injury. Isaac is slashing .229/.460/.543 with two home runs and one stolen base in 12 games this year.

MAY 16 • ROTOWIRE

Missing in action Isaac has not played for Double-A Montgomery since May 4 due to an undisclosed injury.

Impact Isaac dealt with an elbow issue in spring training and spent 11 days on the injured list in early April with the injury, so this latest absence could be related. Isaac is slashing .235/.435/.559 with two home runs and one stolen base in 11 games this year. He has a 32.6 percent strikeout rate after logging a 40.6 percent strikeout rate in 31 games at Double-A to close 2024.

MAY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Enjoying three-game hitting streak Isaac (elbow) is 4-for-10 with one home run, four RBI and two runs scored over his last three games at Double-A Montgomery.

Impact Isaac, who began the 2025 campaign on the 7-day injured list due to an elbow injury suffered during spring training, got off to a tough 2-for-20 start at the dish in his first six appearances. However, he's turned the corner of late, racking up three extra-base hits over his last three games, including his first home run of the year.

APRIL 29 • ROTOWIRE

Could return in late-June 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.

Impact 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 it looks like he'll end up missing about six weeks due to the injury. 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.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Spring Breakout game 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.

Impact 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.

MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins spring lineup 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.

Impact 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.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

MRI comes back negative Isaac is expected to resume hitting in a few days after an MRI on his left elbow came back negative, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The first base prospect has seen more outfield reps early on in camp, which contributed to some soreness in his elbow. It will be a little while before Isaac resumes throwing, but the good news is he should be fine. He's likely to begin the season at Double-A Montgomery.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Precautionary MRI on elbow Isaac will undergo a precautionary MRI on his left elbow, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Impact 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.

FEBRUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Garners spring invite The Rays have extended Isaac an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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 real 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.

JANUARY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Moved up to Double-A Isaac has been promoted from High-A Bowling Green to Double-A Montgomery, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to action for Bowling Green 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.

Impact 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.

JUNE 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined with undisclosed injury Isaac has not played in a game for High-A Bowling Green since June 13 due to an undisclosed injury.

Impact 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.

JUNE 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Two homers in Spring Breakout game Isaac hit two home runs in Saturday's Spring Breakout game, an 8-8 tie against Minnesota, despite being limited to DH this spring due to a sore ankle, MLB.com reports. His second h...

Impact It doesn't sound like an injury to be worried about for the regular season. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound lefty slugger has huge raw power, but he didn't sell out for it in his first full pro season, logging a 21 percent strikeout rate at Single-A and at High-A. He hit 19 home runs with a .916 OPS between the two levels. Isaac could be big-league ready in a year or two, and the main question is whether he will be platooned at the highest level since he had a .697 OPS in 94 plate appearances against southpaws.

MARCH 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE