2016 DRaysBay Community Prospect No. 1

Welcome to the 2016 edition of the community prospect list! For five straight years, we've held these polls to create a consensus top prospect list for the fanbase.

Here are the rules established by our previous host, Michael:

For this year's list, the rules will be the same as before. Cast a "+1" vote as a reply to the prospect listed that you think is best. The player receiving the most votes is announced the winner of the spot. Each poll will be open for voting for a two day period, and the goal is to create a top 30 list.

A few notes to remember.....

1. Please vote for the prospect that you believe to be the best. Even if the player does not have a good shot at winning, I encourage you to vote for the best prospect. Runoffs are the times to vote for the prospect you like who has the best shot of winning.

2. If you want to vote for someone who is not listed, reply "(player name) +1" to "Others." If you think someone should be added to the list, reply with their name to the comment reading "Testers." They will then be added to the pool of contenders for the next poll.

3. There are many ways in which to decide who you want to vote for. Things such as scouting reports, statistics, age relative to league, position, and pedigree should all be considered. How you weigh these will determine your pick.

4. Discussion is encouraged. Perhaps the best part of doing this list, for me, is engaging in the many conversations. It helps everyone to make a better choice, to reevaluate their take on a player, and to share their views with others.

You may remember runoffs in previous years taking place when votes were close between two players. We decided during last offseason's list that it would be best to only do runoffs when there is a tie.

My intention is to start a new poll every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, starting next week.

It should be another interesting year of voting. We'll start with seven prospects to choose from.

SS Willy Adames (R/R, 6'1 180, 20 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 456 PA, .258/.342/.379, 34 XBH, 10-for-11 SB, 11.8 BB%, 27.0 K%

As the third-youngest player in the Florida State League, Adames' first full season in the organization was a solid one. He has a superior plate approach compared to other hitters at his age, but at some point, he will have to cut down on his strikeouts. He has potential for five average-or-better tools, but an elbow injury that ended his season prematurely is something to keep in mind for 2016.

1B Jake Bauers (L/L, 6'1 195, 20 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery: 534 PA, .272/.342/.418, 45 XBH, 9.4 BB%, 13.9 K%

Bauers was certainly not the focus of last winter's three-team trade with the Rays, Padres and Nationals, but he has quietly emerged as a solid prospect. He has a great approach, and while his future power production is up in the air, his ISO improved by 28 points. He's a good defender at first base, but an experiment in the outfield in the Arizona Fall League could really improve his stock.

RHP Taylor Guerrieri​ (6'3 195, 23 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green and Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 130 1/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 5.1 BB%, 24.6 K%

Honeywell is known for his screwball, but he's far more than a one-trick pony. While many young pitchers have trouble with control, his athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery and pound the strike zone. His low-90s fastball could still improve as he gets stronger, and he already has no problem striking out batters. His breaking ball and changeup could also be above-average pitches.

SS Daniel Robertson (R/R, 6'1 205, 22 in 2016)

Robertson's season was hampered by a broken hamate bone that took him 1 1/2 months to recover from. Still, he finished 2015 with a 123 wRC+. Robertson is a hit-first shortstop, and profiles as a contact hitter who will hit some home runs here and there. His speed is fringy but his glove and arm are both solid-average.

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte, Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham: 134 IP, 1.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10.2 BB%, 31.3 K%

Snell emerged as one of the minors' top pitchers in 2015, dominating three levels and putting himself on the cusp of reaching the majors, thanks in large part to improved control. He has to continue that improvement to reach his ceiling, which is quite high with three potential plus pitches: his low-to-mid 90s fastball, slider and changeup.

OF ​Garrett Whitley (R/R, 6'0 200, 19 in 2016)