Jake Fraley Bio
Jake Arnold Fraley is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A native of Frederick, Maryland, Fraley has played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays, building a reputation for speed, on-base skills, and dependable outfield defense. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 and made his MLB debut in 2019, establishing himself as a versatile contributor across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Jake Arnold Fraley was born on May 25, 1995, in Frederick, Maryland. He grew up in a close-knit family and is a Christian. Fraley has an older sister named Lauren, two younger brothers, Andrew and Brandon, and two younger sisters, Hallie and Megan Myers. His younger brother, Brandon, also pursued baseball and attended Caravel Academy, reflecting the family’s deep connection to the sport.
Fraley attended Caravel Academy in Bear, Delaware, where he starred for the school’s baseball team. As a junior, he batted .536, and as a senior he hit .492. In his senior year, Fraley was named to Louisville Slugger’s All-American first team and the All-State first team, establishing himself as one of the top high school outfielders in the country.
After high school, Fraley enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers. As a freshman in 2014, he batted .372 and was recognized as a Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. During his college summers, Fraley played for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining valuable experience against top amateur competition.
Path to Professional Baseball
Fraley’s strong performance at LSU positioned him as a promising prospect for the MLB draft. The Tampa Bay Rays selected him with the 77th overall pick of the 2016 MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional career. His combination of speed, plate discipline, and defensive instincts made him an attractive target for the organization.
Following the draft, Fraley began working his way through the minor leagues with the goal of reaching the majors. He spent time in various levels of the Rays’ system, including the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades and the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, before eventually being traded and earning his first opportunity in the big leagues. His progression through the minor leagues prepared him for the challenges of Major League Baseball.
Jake Fraley Career
Minor League Years (2016–2019)
Fraley spent the 2016 season with the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades, where he batted .238 with one home run, 18 RBI, and 33 stolen bases in 55 games. In 2017, he played for the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs but appeared in only 26 games due to injury, posting a .170 batting average. The following year, Fraley returned to the Stone Crabs and had a breakout season, batting .347/.415/.547 with four home runs, 41 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 66 games.
During the 2017–18 offseason, Fraley played in the Australian Baseball League for the Perth Heat. He batted .361/.449/.680 in 40 games, setting league records with 50 runs scored and 39 stolen bases. That international experience helped him refine his game and prepared him for an eventual major league opportunity.
Seattle Mariners Era (2019–2021)
On November 8, 2018, Fraley was traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of a deal that sent Mike Zunino, Guillermo Heredia, and Michael Plassmeyer to the Rays. He began 2019 with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers before being promoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in June. The Mariners selected his contract on August 20, 2019, and he made his MLB debut the following day against the Tampa Bay Rays, going on to bat .150 in 12 games that season.
Fraley’s 2020 season was limited to seven games during the abbreviated campaign, in which he recorded four hits in 23 at-bats. In 2021, he became a more regular contributor, hitting his first career home run on June 6 against the Los Angeles Angels. Later that month, he made a memorable leaping catch against the Detroit Tigers to rob Isaac Paredes of a walk-off home run, then delivered a go-ahead single in the 11th inning to seal a 9–6 victory. Fraley finished 2021 batting .210 with 9 home runs, 36 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 78 games.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2022–2025)
On March 14, 2022, Fraley was traded to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a package that included Justin Dunn, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips, in exchange for Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker. In his first season with Cincinnati, he appeared in 68 games, batting .259/.344/.468 with 12 home runs, 28 RBI, and four stolen bases.
In 2023, Fraley made 111 appearances for the Reds and slashed .256/.339/.443 with 15 home runs, 65 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, though his season was interrupted by a right knee injury that landed him on the injured list in May. He returned to action in late July. Fraley played 116 games in 2024, hitting .277/.330/.386 with five home runs, 26 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. In 2025, he made 67 appearances for Cincinnati, batting .232/.332/.387 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and four stolen bases, before being designated for assignment on August 17, 2025.
Atlanta Braves Era (2025)
On August 19, 2025, Fraley was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. In nine appearances for Atlanta, he went 7-for-23 (.304) with no home runs or RBI, providing a brief stint with a new organization. On September 14, Fraley was placed on the injured list with a strained right oblique muscle and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 17, officially ending his season.
Tampa Bay Rays Return (2025–2026)
On November 6, 2025, Fraley was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays, the organization that originally drafted him. He was designated for assignment by the Rays on November 18 after several prospects were added to the 40-man roster, and was non-tendered on November 21, making him a free agent. Just four days later, on November 25, Fraley re-signed with the Rays on a one-year contract. On May 18, 2026, the Rays announced that Fraley would require sports hernia surgery and would miss 6-to-8 weeks as a result.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Fraley’s career came on June 9, 2021, when he robbed Isaac Paredes of a walk-off home run with a leaping catch against the Detroit Tigers, then delivered a go-ahead single in the 11th inning. His first career home run on June 6, 2021, off Griffin Canning of the Los Angeles Angels, was another significant milestone. In the 2017–18 Australian Baseball League season, Fraley set league records with 50 runs scored and 39 stolen bases for the Perth Heat.
Jake Fraley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jake Arnold Fraley was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland, in a large and supportive family. He has an older sister, Lauren, two younger brothers, Andrew and Brandon, and two younger sisters, Hallie and Megan Myers. His brother Brandon also played baseball and attended Caravel Academy, the same school where Jake starred as a high school standout. The Fraley family has remained close, and several of his siblings have been part of his support system throughout his baseball career.
Fraley married Angelica Caceres on October 21, 2016, in Miami, Florida, and the couple has two children. An Ancestry.com test revealed that Fraley is a descendant of Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, which influenced a dugout celebration the Cincinnati Reds adopted in 2023 featuring a Viking outfit, partly inspired by bullpen pitcher Luis Cessa’s comments about his appearance.
2025 Season Performance
Fraley’s 2025 season was marked by movement between organizations. He began the year with the Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 67 games and batting .232/.332/.387 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and four stolen bases. After being designated for assignment on August 17, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves two days later and went 7-for-23 in nine appearances before a strained right oblique muscle ended his season in mid-September.
Following the 2025 campaign, Fraley was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on November 6. Although he was briefly designated for assignment and non-tendered, he re-signed with the Rays on November 25, 2025, on a one-year contract. The 2025 season highlighted Fraley’s resilience and adaptability as he transitioned between three different teams while continuing to contribute offensively and defensively.
