Ian Seymour #23

Selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of Virginia Tech…was the school’s highest-drafted player since Joe Saunders (first round) in 2002...Led the Hokies with 40 SO over four starts as a senior during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, ranking fourth in the nation with 17.70 SO per 9 IP...Ian is the eldest of three children…his brother, Elliott, is a pitcher for Colby (Maine) College while his sister, Isabelle, was a talented high school tennis player and now works as a registered nurse...He is looking to become the first Virginia Tech alum to suit up for the Rays…coincidentally, Rays President, Baseball Operations Erik Neander graduated from the school in 2005… because the 2020 Minor League season was cancelled, Ian was able to complete his degree online after being drafted by the Rays…he chose to major in biology because of the flexible career paths the degree offers...Ian’s favorite Minor League ballpark is Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, home of the Rays Class-A affiliate, the Charleston RiverDogs, because of the city’s dedicated fanbase, the beautiful surrounding area and easy access to the beach…named after Charleston’s longest-serving mayor, the facility was constructed in 1997 and is located along the banks of Ashley River...During his rehab from Tommy John surgery, Ian implemented the FlexGrip Pro, a grip-training device used by several major league clubs that optimally targets and strengthens muscles and tendons from the fingertips through the elbow.

2024

Named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Rays baseball operations department...Went 9-4 with a 2.35 ERA (145.1IP, 38ER), .187 opponent average (97-for-518), 0.95 WHIP and 162 strikeouts in 27 starts between Double-A Montgomery (17GS) and Triple-A Durham (10GS)…promoted on July 23...Named a Southern League postseason All-Star...Led all Rays minor leaguers in ERA, innings, strikeouts and WHIP while ranking third in opponent average and wins (tied)…his 2.35 ERA was ninth lowest among full-season Minor League pitchers...His 162 strikeouts tied for fifth most among all minor leaguers and ranked fourth among left-handed pitchers...Min. 140 IP, his 0.95 WHIP was the lowest mark by a Rays farmhand since at least 2006… it ranked second in the minors behind Austin Peterson (0.89) in the Guardians organization... Earned Organizational Pitcher of the Month honors for both April and May, going 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA (53.2IP, 14ER) and 70 strikeouts across 10 starts...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect in the Rays system following the season...Added to the Rays 40-man roster on Nov. 18.

2023

Made 16 starts across four levels of the organization in his return from Tommy John surgery, pitching to a 1.50 ERA (42.0IP, 7ER), lowest among Rays farmhands (min. 40.0IP)…Opened the season on the injured list before a July 4-28 rehab assignment with the FCL Rays… had stints with Class-A Charleston (July 28–Aug. 29), Class-A Bowling Green (Aug. 29–Sept. 14) and Double-A Montgomery (Sept. 14–season’s end)…Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 17 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

2022

Started five games for Double-A Montgomery before undergoing June 8 Tommy John surgery, performed by Dr. Keith Meister...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in the Rays system following the season.

2021

Went 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA (55.1IP, 12ER) in 14 appearances (13GS) across three levels of the Rays system in his professional debut...Named the Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 14 prospect in the Rays system following the season…the publication also tabbed him as having the Best Changeup in the organization.