Rays Added Caden Bodine to Taxi Squad
The club promoted its top catching prospect following a stellar minor league campaign.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Baseball
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The Tampa Bay Rays have added catcher Caden Bodine to their taxi squad at Tropicana Field. Bodine, the organization's No. 3 ranked prospect, joins the major league group to gain experience in pregame meetings and bullpen sessions.
Why it matters
The team aims to familiarize high-ranking prospects with major league routines to ensure they are prepared for potential injury coverage. This integration serves as a developmental milestone for young players within the organizational hierarchy.
Bodine posted a combined .342/.410/.517 slash line with 17 home runs and 99 RBIs across 117 games this season. He demonstrated plate discipline by recording 52 walks against only 34 strikeouts.
The players
Caden Bodine
He is a highly touted catching prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays who was the 30th overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Theo Gillen
He is the No. 2 ranked prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays and a co-winner of the Minor League Player of the Year award.
Kenny Piper
He is a catcher who was optioned to the Triple-A level by the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Liam Hicks
He is one of the two active catchers currently listed on the Tampa Bay Rays' major league roster.
Nick Fortes
He serves as an active catcher on the major league roster for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The details
Bodine, who was traded to the Rays in December 2025, played for four different affiliates during the 2026 season. He will participate in team operations through the weekend while the club maintains Liam Hicks and Nick Fortes as its active major league catchers.
Timeline
December 2025: Caden Bodine was traded to the Rays.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Kenny Piper was optioned to Triple-A.
Friday, September 18, 2026: Bodine joined the taxi squad at Tropicana Field.
Sunday, September 20, 2026: The Rays will present Minor League player awards.
Season Trajectory
This roster move signals the club is shifting focus toward evaluating its top-tier prospect pipeline for the upcoming season. It establishes a developmental bridge for Bodine to transition from high-level minor league play into the professional standard expected in the major leagues.
Bodine's presence on the taxi squad indicates he is currently the organization's primary emergency option behind the plate. His addition comes immediately after Kenny Piper was sent down, effectively tightening the organization's depth chart at the position.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates the organization's commitment to prioritizing the development of elite prospects during the final stretch of the season. Fans should monitor Bodine's integration as a potential indicator of his trajectory for next spring.
What happens next
The Rays are scheduled to present their Minor League player awards before the series finale on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the current outlook for the team, see the latest updates in Baseball.
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