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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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10. Justin Williams, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/20/95 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Montgomery Biscuits
2017 Stats: .301/.364/.489, 409 PA, 14 HR, 6 SB, 37/69 BB/K

Info: Williams originally was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd round in 2013 out of high school in Louisiana as one of the youngest players in the 2013 draft. He was assumed to need multiple years of rookie ball to develop, but instead, he jumped all the way up to the Midwest League in his draft season.

Injuries and pushing too fast really led to struggling over the next two seasons, spending most of his time in the Midwest League over three seasons, so rather than getting his development time in rookie ball, he got it playing in the Midwest League, first with the Arizona organization and then with the Rays after he was traded as part of the Jeremy Hellickson deal.

While the talent is obvious for Williams, his struggles to stay on the field hurt his prospect value.

After his third year in the Midwest League, the Rays sent him to the Australian Baseball League, and he completely took off from there. After hitting .342/.398/.582 in the ABL over 47 games, he hit .295/.318/.447 with high-A Charlotte and AA Montgomery in 2016.

In 2017, Williams took a significant step forward, hitting .301/.364/.489 with 38 extra base hits over 96 games. The 96 games were a concern, and that has been one of the big knocks on Williams. While the talent is obvious for Williams, his struggles to stay on the field hurt his prospect value.

Williams doesn’t have a defined spot defensively as he has more of an average arm and is an average runner, which could allow him to end up in left field eventually, but he needs to be able to remain healthy to access that incredible raw power that he displays in batting practice shows.

9. Brandon Lowe, 2B

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/6/94 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, AA Montgomery Biscuits
2017 Stats: .298/.375/.493, 468 PA, 11 HR, 7 SB, 49/91 BB/K

Info: Lowe would have gone higher than the 3rd round of the 2015 draft if it were not for the broken leg he suffered in his final game of his collegiate career, roughly a week before the draft. He was projected as a late 1st round selection or early 2nd rounder before the injury.

Coming from college, Lowe had a very strong approach at the plate with impressive bat speed and the ability to get the bat to ball. His power was average and his speed fringe average, so his primary value was going to be in his contact ability and perhaps some additional power creeping into his smooth left-handed swing.

While he hasn’t developed over-the-fence power, Lowe has developed a very consistent power swing to the gaps. He hit 39 doubles this year, spending most of the time in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. He also was 23 for nearly half of the season, so there are some concerns about how much ceiling still exists for Lowe.

He is not going to wow with the glove by any means, but he’s not a guy who will hurt the team defensively either. The Rays could push him some in 2018, hoping to see him spend much of the year in AAA Durham, with time in Tampa if he shows well in AAA.

Next: #7 and #8

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