The Tampa Bay Rays have signed center fielder Theo Gillen, the No. 18 overall selection in the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Gillen, 18, hit .415 with four doubles, six triples, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 38 runs and 29 stolen bases as a senior in 2024. He earned First Team High School All-American honors from Baseball America following the season. The two-time First Team All-Central Texas selection helped Westlake to the District 26-6A title and Class 6A state tournament during his junior campaign in 2023, marking the school’s first trip to the tournament since 2009.
Originally committed to the University of Texas, Gillen is the second Westlake High School product to be drafted in the first round, joining Kelly Gruber (10th overall) in 1980. Gillen, Gruber and Calvin Schiraldi (1980, No. 423) are the only players to be drafted directly out of Westlake.
Gillen is the 12th outfielder selected by the Rays in the first round, including the first since Nick Schnell in 2018. Other notable selections include Delmon Young (2003), Rocco Baldelli (2000) and Josh Hamilton (1999).
Gillen was one of 21 selections made by the Rays in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft and the 19th to sign, joining 2B Émilien Pitre (Rd. 2) , C Nathan Flewelling (Rd. 3), RHP Nate Knowles (Rd. 4), RHP Jacob Kmatz (Rd. 5), RHP Janzen Keisel (Rd. 6), RHP Ryan Andrade (Rd. 7), RHP Jayden Voelker (Rd. 8), LHP Garrett Gainey (Rd. 9), RHP Trey Pooser (Rd. 10), RHP Cade Citelli (Rd. 11), SS Jack Lines (Rd. 12), OF Connor Hujsak (Rd. 13), RHP Ryan Schiefer (Rd. 14), OF Derek Datil (Rd. 15), 1B Brady Marget (Rd. 16), RHP Andres Galan (Rd. 17), LHP Dominic Niman (Rd. 18) and 3B Tony Santa Maria (Rd. 19).
