2015 DRaysBay Community Prospect #20

For the second straight poll, votes were spread among a lot of different players, but German Marquez emerged as the favorite.

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%)

1B Jake Bauers (L/L, 6'1 195, 19 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Fort Wayne: .296/.376/.414, 8 HR, 29 XBH, 10.9 BB%, 17.1 K%

Acquired in the Wil Myers trade, Bauers doesn't really fit the typical first base profile. Nevertheless, Baseball America ranked him as the 20th best prospect in the Midwest League. For such a young hitter, he has a strong approach at the plate and can hit any kind of pitch, and he makes a lot of contact. He also plays a good first base.

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

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 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 an 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 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.

IF Jake Hager (R/R, 6'1 170, 22 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: .271/.316/.376, 35 XBH, 6.1 BB%, 18.6 K%

Hager rebounded nicely from a shoulder injury that limited him in 2013, although he did struggle at the end of 2014 with the Biscuits. He has average tools, but he does have a good chance to stay at shortstop. He struck out at a career-high rate in 2014, and he could start walking a bit more too.

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

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.

1B Patrick Leonard (R/R, 6'4 225, 22 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: .284/.359/.448, 13 HR, 44 XBH, 14/14 SB, 9.5 BB%, 20.8 K%

After an underwhelming 2013 with Bowling Green, Leonard was promoted to Charlotte anyway and had a very good season. He still didn't show the same power he did in his only season in the Royals organization, but he hit well with a good approach. He may never get a chance to play third base again if he keeps playing at the same level as Goeddel, who was born the same day as Leonard.

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

OF Boog Powell (L/L, 5'10 185, 22 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Beloit and Class A-Advanced Stockton: .343/.451/.435, 18 XBH, 16/31 SB, 16.0 BB%, 13.9 K%

Acquired in the Ben Zobrist trade, Powell had a breakout 2014 season, albeit clouded a bit by a PED suspension. Across those two levels and in a stint in the Arizona Fall League, he performed roughly the same. He offers consistent contact and a really patient approach. He has some speed, but his stolen base efficiency certainly doesn't reflect that.  Whether he can stay in center field or not is an open question.

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

RHP Ryne Stanek (6'4 180, 23 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Bowling Green and Class-A Advanced Charlotte: 57 2/3 IP, 4.06 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 7.5 BB%, 20.7 K%

Stanek made his long-awaited debut in 2014 after the 2013 first-rounder had to get hip surgery due to an injury in college. He showed the same stuff he did at Arkansas  with a fastball that can touch the mid-90's, above average breaking ball and usable changeup. Shoulder fatigue cut his season short, and it appears that health could be a barrier for his potential to start.

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

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.

2B Kean Wong (L/R, 5'11 190, 20 in 2015)

2014 statistics with Class A Bowling Green: .306/.347/.370, 21 XBH, 13/20 SB, 5.9 BB%, 16.1 K%

Wong certainly excels at putting the ball in play. That hit tool can carry him to the majors even if he's never too impressive in other areas. He should still be able to play second base adequately and steal a base or two.

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

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.