Long-forgotten Guardians prospect poised to be everyday player with Rays in 2026

Remember Richie Palacios? While he made it to the big leagues with the Guardians in 2022 and ended up appearing in 54 games, he always seemed like a second fiddle behind some of the other Guardians rookies who made their debut in 2022. 

That sentiment came even more true after the season when the Guardians designated him for assignment, which set off a three year run where he bounced around baseball and was never able to establish himself as an everyday player. 

That could change in 2026, however, as it seems like Palacios has a chance to be an everyday player with the Rays more than two years after they initially acquired him via a trade with the Cardinals. 

Former Guardians prospect Rochio Palacios could be the Rays everyday second baseman in 2026 

The chance to be a mainstay in an MLB lineup would be a long time coming for Palacios. After being picked in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft (making him the highest-drafted player in the history of Towson University), he missed two straight minor league seasons due to shoulder surgery and the COVID pandemic before being added to the 40-man roster after the 2021 season. 

He made his eventual debut in the 2022 and spent most of the year shuttling between Triple-A and being the 26th man on Cleveland’s MLB roster. 

He struggled in the minors in 2023 and was eventually designated for assignment, which set up his short stint with the Cardinals. St. Louis then traded him to the Rays ahead of the 2024 season, where he ended up playing in 92 games with a .346 on-base percentage with 19 steals. 

Palacios was set to open last season on the Rays’ MLB roster, but he started the year on the injured list due a right ring finger injury. He returned to play in one game in April before suffering a knee injury that kept him out until September. 

He ended up hitting .333 in 17 games, and now stands out as their top internal second base option thanks to Brandon Lowe being traded to the Pirates.

While that picture got a little more muddled after Tampa’s acquisition of Gavin Lux, Palacios should still get plenty of chances to play thanks to his ability to bounce around the diamond. 

There was likely never going to be any room in Cleveland for Palacios, so seeing him succeed elsewhere doesn’t sting as much compared to some other former Guardians prospects who are succeeding in Tampa. 

Palacios has been waiting a long time to finally get a chance to prove he should be in the lineup every day, but it seems like he’s going to get that opportunity this season.