Tampa Bay Rays Top 10 Prospects For 2017
The Tampa Bay Rays have seemingly flown under the radar in their rebuild of their minor league system. What do they have down on the farm?
An Introduction
Our minor league top 10 series is coordinated by Benjamin Chase, one of our contributors at Call To The Pen.
He has poured over thousands of minor league games over the course of the year via milb.tv along with speaking with a number of team and independent scouts. These lists are based out of those conversations.
Each system will have prospects from 10 to 1, and then finish with one newcomer to the system that is worth keeping an eye on that is not in the top 10 at this time.
Conversations are certainly encouraged in the comments section on each system as we go along!
After launching the career of Andrew Friedman, the Rays saw him head to Los Angeles to run the Dodgers, and the minor league system was in need of a major talent influx.
Rays System Review
After a tremendous run from 2008-2013 where the Rays won 90 or more games in 5 of 6 seasons, making the playoffs four times, the Rays have finished 4th or worse the last three seasons, though it wasn’t until 2016 that they fully bought into a rebuilding project.
The Rays have struggled with their finances to keep a major league team together, which means they’ve needed to be willing to part with most every guy not named Evan Longoria over the last 10 years.
After launching the career of Andrew Friedman, the Rays saw him head to Los Angeles to run the Dodgers, and the minor league system was in need of a major talent influx. For all of his work in getting value at the major league level, Friedman’s group struggled in the draft, leaving the Rays system fairly dry.
In the last three years, the Rays have used trades to acquire high-upside guys rather than their more traditional “safe” guys that they were known for targeting. A great example was the trade with the San Francisco Giants in 2016 that sent Matt Moore away for infielder Matt Duffy, who could contribute immediately, pitcher Michael Santos, who is a low level guy with excellent pitching feel, and infielder Lucius Fox, who was one of the highest-paid international July 2nd eligible players of all time when the Giants signed him.
The Rays’ system has quietly moved from a system that was in the bottom 5-10 of the league just 3-4 years ago to a system that is already in the top half in the league with plenty of room to grow.
Let’s take a look at the top 10!
Next: #10
10. Jacob Faria, RHP
Birthdate: 7/30/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA
Stats in 2016: 151 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 10.97 BB%, 25.32 K%
A 10th round selection in 2011, the Rays have slowly developed Faria until he took a huge step forward in 2015. Following his two-level jump in 2015, he did the same in 2016, putting him squarely on the organization’s radar going forward.
Faria was a lean, 6’4 righty with an inconsistent fastball when he was selected, and he’s grown into his frame and found consistent velocity as well as a plus change.
Faria has made big strides in all of his pitches, but the one that showed the biggest progress in 2016 was his curve[/p6ullquote]
Faria has made big strides in all of his pitches, but the one that showed the biggest progress in 2016 was his curve, which is a big 12-6 pitch that he keeps in the strike zone but he found himself getting much more swing and miss in 2016 as he kept his arm motion in line with the fastball and change, giving hitters a tough time picking up the pitch out of hand.
Faria has a very solid three-pitch mix that he continues to build up control on, building up consistency in his delivery along the way. He may not grade out as an elite starter, but his sort of pitch combination would work well as a mid-rotation starter or a very solid 7th/8th inning reliever if the Rays choose to move him to the bullpen.
Faria spent 13 starts in AAA in 2016, so it will be interesting to see where he starts 2017. He will have a tough time cracking the Rays opening day rotation, but if he keeps building consistency, he’ll eventually work his way there.
Next: #9
7. Chih-Wei Hu, RHP
Birthdate: 11/4/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA
Stats in 2016: 147 1/3 IP, 2.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6.3 BB%, 18.91 K%
The Minnesota Twins made an inroad into Taiwan in their signing of Hu in 2012. He surpassed anyone’s expectations by jumping to full-season ball in 2014 and doing exceptionally well there. That led the Rays to acquire Hu as part of their Kevin Jepsen trade in 2015.
Hu is a guy like Montgomery teammate Brent Honeywell that throws a rare pitch seen in modern baseball as he uses a palm ball among his pitches.
Hu has a fastball that can flash plus, but sits in the low-90s with excellent movement and can touch 96-97 in short spurts. His primary off speed pitch is his effective slider that flashes plus at times and shows to be his best strikeout pitch, though he added the pitch in the last few years, so he still is inconsistent in his ability to command the pitch.
Hu is a guy like Montgomery teammate Brent Honeywell that throws a rare pitch seen in modern baseball as he uses a palm ball among his pitches
While most would use a palm ball as a replacement for a change up, Hu does utilize both, and they both work well low in the zone as above-average pitches in their best showings. Neither is a swing-and-miss pitch, but they both generate plenty of weak contact.
While he doesn’t have ideal size at 6’1 and 230 pounds, which is not exactly ideal “ace” size, but he does have repeatable mechanics and excellent control that should allow him to profile as a #4 starter.
Hu will likely open 2017 in AAA in what should be a fairly loaded rotation.
Next: #6
4. Joshua Lowe, 3B
Birthdate: 2/2/98 (18 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie
Stats in 2016: .249/.374/.405, 5 HR, 2 SB
One of the more highly regarded third base options in the high school class coming into the draft, and definitely one of the more impressive overall athletes that played in the dirt this draft class, Lowe went #13 overall to the Rays, which surprised some, but not many who had seen Lowe climbing a lot of draft boards as teams saw more and more of him.
Lowe was a very good pitcher in high school as well, and he was considered a late first round selection as a pitcher, so his arm plays up well at third base. However, he has a natural feel for the position on top of the arm that should allow him to be a plus defender at the position.
(Lowe) has a natural feel for (third base) on top of the arm that should allow him to be a plus defender at the position
Lowe showed his across the board athletic ability that has him rated with plus raw power and current plus speed. He made a lot of loud contact at both rookie levels that he played at in 2016, generating a lot of positive scouting reports about future power.
While Lowe may lose a step as he ages, he has a very athletic build that allows his natural speed to play up as he is able to generate extra base hits, though he likely won’t be a great base stealer as he’s more a guy with great speed at top gear but not great first-step quickness.
Lowe should get a chance to experience full-season ball in 2017, whether it’s to open the season or by the end of the year.
Next: #3
3. Jake Bauers, OF
Birthdate: 10/6/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA
Stats in 2016: .274/.370/.420, 14 HR, 10 SB
Bauers is a guy who came to the Rays in the Wil Myers trade, and many were thinking he was a bat-only sort of guy that didn’t really have a great defensive path.
Instead, Bauers has really shown that he could be a corner outfielder with ease, handling both corner positions very well, and he also showed what could be considered elite first base defense in his time there as well, so while his bat may be his carrying tool, it won’t be his only one for sure.
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Bauers has a very compact, direct swing from the left side that generates a lot of contact and allows him to spray the ball throughout the field. His raw power in batting practice is obvious, but he’s not translated it purely into game showing yet, though he has made strides each season in that area, and hitting 43 extra base hits in AA as a 20 year old is nothing to throw water on.
Bauers has excellent pitch recognition, and he has done well keeping his strikeout rate low for a guy who will likely be a middle of the order sort of hitter while also showing the ability to take a walk.
Bauers will likely move up to AAA in 2017, and his path to the majors will likely depend on whether the Rays want to see him at 1B or a corner outfield spot, but he can do either one well.
Next: #2
2. Brent Honeywell, RHP
Birthdate: 3/31/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A, AA
Stats in 2016: 115 1/3 IP, 2.34 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 5.52 BB%, 25.83 K%
Honeywell could make a very good argument for #1 in the system, and he’s established himself as a top 25-30 prospect in the entire system.
Honeywell is known most around the game as the guy who throws a screwball. Because the pitch is so rarely seen, the fact that he even throws it is notable, but he actually is quite good with the pitch, able to locate the pitch very well.
Honeywell is not just a “trick pitch” sort of guy, either. He has a fastball that he can run up to 96-97 but sits more in the low-90s with effective movement throughout a game.
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On top of his screwball, he has a change that is a plus offering and gets plenty of weak contact and some swing and miss. His curve has become more consistent, but it’s certainly his fourth pitch in the mix.
Honeywell has a very smooth delivery, and he’s maintained that as he has filled out into his frame after being drafted in 2014 as a long, lanky high schooler.
He seemed to get even better after he moved up to AA in 2016, and going to the Arizona Fall League just dialed up his notice even further as scouts seeing him there raved about his competitiveness.
He’ll likely start at AAA in 2017, and there’s a good chance that he’ll get the first call to fill a hole in the Rays rotation opened due to injury or poor performance.
Next: #1
Newcomers To Keep An Eye On: Jake Fraley and Ryan Boldt, OF
Birthdate: Fraley – 5/25/95 (21 years old), Boldt – 11/22/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: short season A for both
Stats in 2016: Fraley – .238/.339/.364, 1 HR, 33 SB; Boldt – .218/.280/.276, 1 HR, 8 SB
Fraley and Boldt are both polished college bats that could end up showing very well in the long-term outfield plans for the Rays. With both having similar offensive and defensive profiles, it seemed fitting to put them together here.
Fraley is a guy who was excellent with LSU, the best player on that roster, ranking among the SEC leaders in steals runs, hits, and triples. He has tremendous defensive ability that should allow him to play center field going forward.
Boldt was a guy that was highly scouted out of high school before he tore the meniscus in his right knee in his senior year of high school, costing him a chance to be a likely first-round pick. He went to Nebraska and was very solid there, leading to a 2nd round selection for the Rays.
Fraley has elite speed and a solid hit tool. He’s never going to hit for much power, but his pitch recognition is excellent, which should allow him to profile as a leadoff type of hitter going forward.
Boldt has an interesting case in build and future. He has a very good stroke from the left side that generates excellent raw power but has not translated that to game power.
Boldt was a true plus-plus runner before he tore up his knee but is now more a fringe-plus runner. He does have tremendous instincts in the outfield that he could translate well to center field or left field, though his average arm would likely not translate to right.
Both played together in 2016 in the New York-Penn League, and they’ll likely move to low-A together in 2017. It will be interesting to see how these two excellent college players translate their college success in the Rays system.
Next: Mariners Top 10 Prospects
Agree? Disagree? Someone you have a question about from the system? Leave a comment down below!