2015 MLB draft: Rays select OF Garrett Whitley

With the No. 13 pick in the draft, the Rays selected outfielder Garrett Whitley from Niskayuna High School in New York. I wrote about him somewhat recently:

CF Garrett Whitley, New York H.S. (18 Y.O. 6'1 195, R/R- committed to Wake Forest)

Best tool: Whitley is a plus runner, maybe better.

Analysis: Whitley has the potential for four above-average or better tools. His bat speed is top of the line, and his approach is advanced compared to his peers. He covers ground in center field and should be able to handle the position as a professional. His arm is below average.

Stock: Toolsy players from the northeast typically give teams pause in the first round, but Whitley's performance on the showcase circuit has removed some of the uncertainty. He may not even be available to the Rays.

Tools (potential grades, not present) per MLB.com:

Hit: 55
Power: 55
Speed: 60
Field: 55
Arm: 50

Ranks on draft boards:

Baseball America: 7
MLB.com: 17
Baseball Prospectus: 7
FanGraphs: 15
ESPN: 11

ESPN scouting report ($)

Baseball Prospectus' Christopher Crawford reacts:

13. Tampa Bay Rays

Garrett Whitley, OF, Niskayuna HS (N.Y.)

This might be my favorite pick of the draft. I had Whitley as the seventh best player in the draft, and procuring his services with the 13th pick is a solid move. The right-handed hitting outfielder has plus-plus speed and is a lock for center field. While there's a lot of work to be done with the approach, he's also got above-average to plus hit and power tools. He likely fell because of the northeast bias, but I think we've seen that guys from the northeast can do alright. Whitley isn't as talented as that one guy from New Jersey, but the upside is as good as any prep player not named Brendan Rodgers.

Baseball America's Ben Badler reacts:

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 2m2 minutes ago

Garrett Whitley was the No. 7 prospect on the BA 500. Rays got him at No. 13. Plus tools with pitch recognition? That's a good recipe.

MLB.com video

FanGraphs video

The Rays pick next at No. 52.

Hard to disagree with this pick. Good talent and value.