Even though the Rays lost 12-3 to the Tigers, there was a particularly touching event on Saturday involving their top prospect, Xavier Isaac.
This was his first game back after undergoing brain surgery last year. In the eighth inning, the 22-year-old managed to hit a single into the right-field seats, which sparked a joyful celebration among his teammates.
“It was fantastic. The atmosphere in the dugout was electric. Everyone was high-fiving and congratulating him,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash during a press briefing. He added, “The results don’t really matter.”
“Whenever he gets positive feedback or some kind of reward for all the hard work he’s done, I hope he can see it as a special moment. I know we all will remember it fondly,” he remarked.
Isaac, who was picked 29th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2022 MLB Draft, had “lifesaving” surgery to remove a brain tumor in July 2025, which kept him off the field as a first baseman for over eight months.
“Honestly, just being back on the field and being the first one was amazing. I hadn’t played defense for the last two years, so it felt really good to be back,” Isaac shared. “And I got the hit. I felt a huge sense of relief.”
Before his surgery, Isaac last played for Double-A Montgomery, a time he has described as “the scariest moment” of his life.
Isaac commented, “The moment I learned about the surgery, I just stopped worrying about baseball altogether.”
Currently, he is in spring training with the Rays as a non-roster invitee, gearing up for his fifth professional season.
While he performed well in both Low-A and High-A during the 2023-24 season, his performance dipped last season, something he acknowledges might be tied to his brain tumor.
“Mentally, I felt absent last year. It was different, something was off and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was,” he reflected, adding that this likely contributed to his struggles.
According to MLB.com, Isaac was ranked as the Rays’ No. 9 prospect in 2025.
