Rays outfield prospect Xavier Isaac was restricted to 41 Double-A video games in 2025, and he didn’t play after June 25 as a consequence of what was regarded as a continuation of the wrist and elbow accidents that hampered him earlier within the season. Nevertheless, Isaac revealed in an Instagram put up that he truly underwent a “life saving” mind surgical procedure on July 3, following a routine mind scan for what appeared to be only a dehydration problem. The particular nature of the surgical procedure wasn’t detailed, and Isaac requested the Rays to maintain information of the process personal.
Happily, Isaac stated he has “absolutely recovered” and is able to resume his profession. MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes that Isaac “is anticipated to be prepared for Spring Coaching,” and that some on-field work has already begun since Isaac took half in a hitting camp together with different Tampa Bay prospects.
Chosen with the twenty ninth total choose of the 2022 draft, Isaac has hit .262/.378/.489 with 46 house runs over 1064 plate appearances in professional baseball. Isaac cracked the Double-A stage for the primary time in 2024 and was nonetheless had an .812 OPS over 175 PA with the Montgomery affiliate in 2025 earlier than his season was abruptly ended, regardless that he struck out in 52 of these 175 journeys to the plate.
Isaac has drawn top-100 consideration from a number of retailers during the last two seasons, with MLB Pipeline probably the most bullish by rating Isaac because the 51st-best prospect in baseball heading into the 2025 season. Whereas his 2025 numbers are exhausting to essentially consider as a consequence of each his accidents and lack of enjoying time, Isaac’s means to make constant contact was a query mark for pundits even previous to this 12 months. Isaac has loads of energy and exit velocity when he’s in a position to make contact and get the ball into the air, however he’ll want to do that on a extra constant foundation as a way to hold making his manner up the minor league ladder.
After all, the upper precedence proper now’s simply that Isaac (who turns 22 in December) is wholesome following what he described as “the scariest second of my life.” Isaac gave due to his family members, the Rays, and the Duke College Medical group for serving to him by means of the ordeal, and stated that he now has “a brand new goal, a brand new hearth, and a coronary heart stuffed with gratitude” as he returns to motion.
“This comeback isn’t nearly baseball — it’s about life. Every single day. Each breath. Each swing. Right here’s to restoration, resilience, and the subsequent chapter,” Isaac wrote.
