The Rays have benefited from quite a few high-ranking draft picks over the years, some of which have resulted in the acquisition of the very best arms in baseball. Though the years, pitching has normally been a strength of this team, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing at all. If anything, the team has perfected its ability to draft, sign, and develop pitchers at an outstanding rate. One that’s well ahead of the majority of MLB.
Plenty of people have wondered what made the Rays focus so much on pitching so much over time. I link it all of the way back to the 1999 MLB draft, when they selected Josh Hamilton 1st overall.