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2024 draftee Tyler Bell declines to sign with the Rays

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Tampa Bay Rays draftee SS Tyler Bell, the No. 66 overall pick leading the Competitive Round B between the second and third round of the 2024 MLB Draft, has announced he will not sign a professional contract.

All in! #Bigbluenation pic.twitter.com/N00g3IEvep

— Tyler Bell (@BellTyler28) July 31, 2024

A switch hitter out of Lincoln-Way East HS (Frankfort, IL), Bell was widely considered a higher rated prospect than now-fellow alumni of Kentucky SS/2B Emilien Pitre, who the Rays drafted at No. 58.

By reaching for Pitre in the second round and taking relatively unexpected picks in rounds 4-10, there was some thought that the Rays may find cost savings to put together the right asking price to land Bell.