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Tampa Bay Rays: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 27: A Rays hat and glove sit at the end of the dugout during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on February 27, 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 27: A Rays hat and glove sit at the end of the dugout during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on February 27, 2009 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /
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We have reached the point of the offseason where prospect lists abound. We continue our top 10 prospects for every team with the Tampa Bay Rays!

Our team top 10 prospect lists at Call to the Pen are spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten prospects for the Tampa Bay Rays.

This season, we will be going through teams by division, in order of record. The AL East will be first, followed by the AL Central and AL West. Then the focus will shift to the National League in the same order.

The format will be as it was last season for the same lists, with a system review, which will include last season’s list. The top 10 will follow in reverse order, two players per page in order to give adequate space to each player. Major trades or international signings will lead to an updated top 10!

Finally, don’t go away after #1 is revealed as each list will also contain a player either signed in the 2017 international free agent class or drafted in 2017 that isn’t part of the top 10 and should be tracked. Last season’s mentions in that area made over half of the top 10s this season, so this is a great way to get to know a player who could be making a big splash in the organization.

System overview

Last year’s list

For a few years, the Rays have been more of a middling system, ranking between #10 and #20 the last three years on my own personal list. Last year, the Rays ranked #14 in my rankings published here on Call To The Pen.

The Rays have done an exceptional job in the last two seasons re-directing their system emphasis to get top-end talent and then allowing that talent to push itself up the system rather than force time lines on players. While those absolute elite talents may not show up a ton on this top 10 right now, they do add significant depth to the farm system.

The Rays finished tied with two other teams (Angels and Royals) at 5 games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card in 2017. The system will allow them to believe that their best times are still ahead of them!

Let’s take a look at that system….

Next: #9 and #10

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