2015 DRaysBay Community Prospect #26

We've had five straight hitters, but my guess is that ends here.

1. SS Daniel Robertson (42.9% in special election)
2. SS Willy Adames (91.6%)
3. OF Steven Souza (52.6%)
4. RHP Taylor Guerrieri (51.4% in runoff)
5. RHP Alex Colome (68.8%)
6. 2B Ryan Brett (51.2% in runoff)
7. C Justin O'Conner (70%)
8. SS Adrian Rondon (36.6%)
9. RHP Brent Honeywell (31.0%)
10. 1B Casey Gillaspie (36.6%)

11. LHP Enny Romero (35.1%)
12. IF Andrew Velazquez (58.8%)
13. RHP Nathan Karns (36.4%)
14. LHP Blake Snell (57.9%)
15. OF Mikie Mahtook (48.5%)
16. LF Justin Williams (55.6%)
17. C Nick Ciuffo (58.1%)
18. RHP Burch Smith (32.4%)
19. RHP German Marquez (36.4%)
20. RHP Ryne Stanek (36.4%)

21. OF Boog Powell (28.6%)
22. 2B Kean Wong (29.4%)
23. 1B Jake Bauers (45.7%)
24. IF Jake Hager (21.2%)
25. 1B Patrick Leonard (22.2%)

RHP Matt Andriese (6'3 210, 25 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 3.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7.2 BB%, 19.3 K%

Andriese was solid with the Bulls in 2014, his first year in the organization after being acquired from San Diego in the Alex Torres trade. He throws strikes with various pitches, and he can get ground balls with his average fastball. None of his pitches are better than average though, so he has to locate his changeup and breaking ball well to have success.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Triple-A Durham.

IF Tim Beckham (R/R, 6'0 195, 25 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Triple-A Durham: .258/.281/.290, 2 2B, 3.1 BB%, 21.5 K%

Clearly, Beckham's return from knee surgery was not very good. Barely getting 100 plate appearances in a season is probably the last thing he needed at this point in his career. He has to get experience playing other spots in the infield to prepare himself for a utility role and find a way to tap into his above average raw power in games.

Also, Buster Posey

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Triple-A Durham.

RHP Buddy Borden (6'3 210, 23 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Kannapolis: 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.1 BB%, 23.1 K%

Borden has shown a lot of improvement in recent years, dating back to the start of his career at UNLV. Acquired from Pittsburgh for Sean Rodriguez, Borden works with an average fastball and potentially plus curveball. His changeup has to get better for him to stick in the rotation.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Class A-Advanced Charlotte.

RHP Jose Dominguez (6'0 200, 24 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Triple-A Albuquerque: 33 1/3 IP, 3.24 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 11.9 BB%, 25.8 K%
2014 statistics with Los Angeles: 6 1/3 IP, 11.37 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 10.0 BB%, 26.7 K%

Dominguez was acquired from the Dodgers in the Joel Peralta deal, and he certainly adds some arm strength to the Rays' bullpen. In limited big league innings so far, his heater has averaged 97.9 MPH, and he has touched triple digits. He has to improve his breaking ball and throw more strikes, but the potential for a late-inning reliever is there.

OF Johnny Field (R/R, 5'10 190, 23 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Bowling Green and Class A-Advanced Charlotte: .300/.376/.488, 56 XBH, 23/31 SB, 8.7 BB%, 19.2 K%

Field earned the Rays' minor league player of the year honor. He hit for contact with a patient approach and nice power with good play in the outfield. His tools aren't overwhelming, but his energy helps them play up and could help him reach the big leagues.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Double-A Montgomery.

RHP Dylan Floro (6'2 175, 24 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: 178 2/3 IP, 3.48 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 3.2 BB%, 15.0 K%

Floro won't blow anyone away with his stuff, but he pounds the strike zone and is a ground ball machine. He pitches to contact, but that can work with a good defense behind him. In 346 career minor league innings, he's only allowed eight home runs. Double-A is typically the test for pitchers with his profile, and he certainly appeared to have passed it.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Triple-A Durham.

3B/OF Tyler Goeddel (R/R, 6'4 186, 22 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: .269/.349/.408, 6 HR, 39 XBH, 20/29 SB, 9.6 BB%, 20.5 K%

Goeddel has been a steady performer in the minors, and 2014 was his best season yet. He's athletic with a bit of power potential and average tools across the board. If he can get stronger and turn some of his doubles into home runs, he'd really profile at a corner position.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Double-A Montgomery.

OF Bralin Jackson (R/L, 6'2 183, 21 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Short-Season Hudson Valley: .279/.349/.384, 17/21 SB, 18 XBH, 9.7 BB%, 24.7 K%

The start of Jackson's pro career was entirely unremarkable, but he had a solid season in the very hitter-unfriendly New York-Penn League. He played more right field than center in 2014, and if that continues, he'll have to hit more consistently. He has the bat speed to do it. As a left-handed person, I don't like that he betrays us by batting right-handed.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Class A Bowling Green.

SS Hak-Ju Lee (L/R, 6'2 170, 24 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Triple-A Durham: .203/.287/.276, 12/17 SB, 14 XBH, 10.4 BB%, 24.1 K%

Lee's return from torn knee ligaments was nothing short of a disaster. Now with a full season under his belt since the injury, maybe he can regain some of his speed since it's a key part of his offensive game with little power to speak of.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Triple-A Durham.

LHP C.J. Riefenhauser (6'0 180, 25 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 57 2/3 IP, 1.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.4 BB%, 22.1 K%
2014 statistics with Tampa Bay: 5 1/3 IP, 8.44 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 12.5 BB%, 8.3 K%

Riefenhauser continued to excel out of the bullpen in 2014 and earned a brief shot in the big leagues. He embarrassed left-handed batters with the Bulls, limiting them to a .435 OPS. His fastball/breaking ball combo makes him effective, and if he can throw more strikes against righties, he could provide some serious value in multiple-inning stints.

He's expected to compete for a spot in the major league bullpen in 2015.

RHP Mark Sappington (6'5 209, 24 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A-Advanced Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas: 6.02 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 15.0 BB%, 32.6 K%

Acquired from the Angels for Cesar Ramos, Sappington was much more effective in relief in 2014. Out of the bullpen, his strikeout rate was 37.4%, and his walk rate was down to 7.6%, although he was pitching at a level he had previously had success at. His plus fastball and average breaking ball give him a shot at a nice career in relief.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Double-A Montgomery.

3B Richie Shaffer (R/R, 6'3 218, 24 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: .222/.318/.440, 19 HR, 51 XBH, 11.4 BB%, 24.2 K%

Coming out of college, Shaffer was expected to have a good hit tool and above average power, but only the power has really materialized since his first professional season. He can play both corner infield spots and maybe play a corner outfield too. He has a pretty patient approach, but if he can't put the ball in play more, he's a limited player.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Triple-A Durham.

CF Andrew Toles (L/R, 5'10 185, 23 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: .261/.302/.337, 18/28 SB, 12 XBH, 5.5 BB%, 14.2 K%

2014 was a complete lost season for Toles. No one seems to know why he sat out most of the season, and the wrist injury late in his season didn't help. If he's on the field, he has game-changing speed and plays a good center field. His plate approach seemed to be a bit better with Charlotte, but he clearly did not live up to expectations.

I have no idea where he's expected to start the 2015 season.

RHP Cameron Varga (6'2 189, 20 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Rookie Gulf Coast League Rays and Rookie Princeton Rays: 33 1/3 IP, 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 5.8 BB%, 18.0 K%

After being drafted in the second round by the Rays, Varga pitched well enough in the GCL to get a late-season bump to Princeton. He has a good fastball and breaking ball, but as an older player against poor competition in high school, he still has a lot to prove.

He's expected to start the 2015 season with Class A Bowling Green.

You can find more detailed scouting information (with some subscriptions necessary) at Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs, Minor League Ball, MLB.com, ESPN and plenty of other places.