Rays outfield prospect Xavier Isaac was limited to 41 Double-A games in 2025, and he didn’t play after June 25 due to what was thought to be a continuation of the wrist and elbow injuries that hampered him earlier in the season. However, Isaac revealed in an Instagram post that he actually underwent a “life saving” brain surgery on July 3, following a routine brain scan for what seemed to be just a dehydration issue. The specific nature of the surgery wasn’t detailed, and Isaac asked the Rays to keep news of the procedure private.
Fortunately, Isaac said he has “fully recovered” and is ready to resume his career. MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes that Isaac “is expected to be ready for Spring Training,” and that some on-field work has already begun since Isaac took part in a hitting camp along with other Tampa Bay prospects.
Selected with the 29th overall pick of the 2022 draft, Isaac has hit .262/.378/.489 with 46 home runs over 1064 plate appearances in pro baseball. Isaac cracked the Double-A level for the first time in 2024 and was still had an .812 OPS over 175 PA with the Montgomery affiliate in 2025 before his season was abruptly ended, even though he struck out in 52 of those 175 trips to the plate.
Isaac has drawn top-100 attention from multiple outlets over the last two seasons, with MLB Pipeline the most bullish by ranking Isaac as the 51st-best prospect in baseball heading into the 2025 season. While his 2025 numbers are hard to really evaluate due to both his injuries and lack of playing time, Isaac’s ability to make consistent contact was a question mark for pundits even prior to this year. Isaac has plenty of power and exit velocity when he’s able to make contact and get the ball into the air, but he’ll need to do this on a more consistent basis in order to keep making his way up the minor league ladder.
Of course, the higher priority right now is just that Isaac (who turns 22 in December) is healthy following what he described as “the scariest moment of my life.” Isaac gave thanks to his loved ones, the Rays, and the Duke University Medical team for helping him through the ordeal, and said that he now has “a new purpose, a new fire, and a heart full of gratitude” as he returns to action.
“This comeback isn’t just about baseball — it’s about life. Every day. Every breath. Every swing. Here’s to recovery, resilience, and the next chapter,” Isaac wrote.
Scary stuff. Glad the young man is okay.
Wow! Best wishes to that young man.
Hoping to see Issac in the show at some point. In a sea of negativity it’s always a breath of fresh air seeing someone like him overcome adversity.
So lucky the doctors conducted a brain scan and caught it! All my best to Xavier Isaac. Good luck both health-wise and career-wise going forward!
Ya. “Routine brain scan” not really a thing in my world. Baseball probably saved his life. Hope he has a great career.
Sounds like an aneurysm
Brainscan with Edward Furlong is a good film.
Rays are toast this season.
The B Lowe / J Lowe show is back.
Yandy is getting old and losing steam. Still no production out of the C. Bench depth is the weakest its been in years. Farm is thin too.
Isaacs could have potentially plugged in this season but I’d say brain surgery keeps you in the minors, no need to put mental stress on him, even if he is fully recovered.
A Yandy Diaz trade makes sense. Trade Yandy to the Fish, could net a nice return.
Yandy Diaz
-for-
Jacob Berry
Kemp Alderman
Joey Volini
Fish might make that trade. Berry could be in the bigs this season. He is unprotected Alderman has big power potential and Volini is a player the Rays can work with.
Yandy hit .300 with 25 HRs and an OPS of almost .850, probably his 2nd or 3rd best season, not sure if that would be considered running out of steam, plus Alderman could be a piece but zero interest in Berry.
He is getting old, running out of steam Id say has more to do with losing than his production.
Everybody giving up on Berry, he looks like a player to me. Only 25, has first round pedigree and has steadily improved in minor leagues. I’d take him in the Rule 5 draft certainly. I think he has a late breakout.
Volini has some nice numbers early in his professional career, gaudy K/BB, has a starters repertoire. He could be a nice add.
Yandy definitely has some trade value at 12M in ’26 w/ a 10M option. Fish have the prospects. I like my trade, might be a little light, could add another pitching prospect but it would be a nice trade for both teams.
Already pulling for this kid, let’s go!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Exactly who do the baseball gods actually pray to ?
They pray to the one and only true God, just like the rest of humanity should.
I’m glad that his thankfulness was directed at the real people who played a role in his surgery and recovery.
I didn’t notice him thanking his surgeons professors at the various universities they all attended.
Wow that’s scary. Glad he is recovered. Hope he can pick up where he left off.
Elon Musk brain chip company, Neuralink, could make him into a super cyborg pitcher with an arsenal of lights-out Terminator pitches.
The only problem with the chip they haven’t worked out the issue where at anytime anywhere you start yelling “GET IN THE CHOPPA” that and the desire to drink mass quantities of Vhooner Schooner E M has been quoted as saying We are thisclose to solving it.
Health healt health! Really puts everything we talk about here in perspective. But if getting back in the game is helpful him in his recovery godspeed!
Whew, scary stuff.
What a relief. Hopefully he has a long and fruitful career and life.
Damn! A real life/non-meme “well that escalated quickly” situation for him. So glad to hear he’s recovered. Wish him the best in 2026!
Jesus! Definitely happy he is alright:)
Wow. Rockies Arizona Fall League/AAA player Braylan Wimmer had brain surgery less than 2 weeks ago. He says he wants to be ready for Spring Training.