Rays place three on Baseball Prospectus Mid-Season Top-50

The Rays have not gotten much respect from national media in recent years for the quality of their prospects.

In the past, the hope of Taylor Guerrieri's arm might break into the Top-50 but recent trades have finally garnered some respect for two key players, and the pitcher you're excited for has made an appearance as well. No, not Honeywell, the other one!

Here's your Rays representatives on Baseball Prospectus's Mid-Season Top-50.

36. SS Willy Adames (Prev. 94)

Developmental Update: Chalked up by many as a secondary piece in last summer's blockbuster David Price trade, Adames has continued the progress made during his 2014 breakout campaign. Blessed with good bat speed and raw power, a feel for contact, and the ability to defend at shortstop long term, Adames' 2015 development has included a much-improved approach at the plate. That shift has allowed Adames to translate his offensive gifts to game situations more consistently, and as a result his stock is continuing to rise. -Mark Anderson

Prior to the season, I predicted a Top-50 ranking for Willy Adames in the prospect rankings and came up short when national lists came out, placing him in the lower portion of the Top-100's. BP had Adames at 94 to start the season, so his leap is an impressive admission. The more eyes we get on Adames, the higher he will rise.

38. SS Daniel Robertson (66)

Developmental Update: Smart players can find ways to work around physical limitations; Robertson is a smart player. His ability to stick at shortstop for the time being is thanks in large part to his ability to read the ball very well off the bat and smart pre-pitch positioning. Robertson also displays feel for the strike zone and some intriguing power, which give him a chance to be a solid-average contributor at the highest level. -Mauricio Rubio

The centerpiece of the Ben Zobrist trade has reasonably stayed high in expectations and ranking, and that despite a broken hamate bone keeping him sidelined in the summer. His thick arms confirm suspicions of "intriguing power" so that's fun to follow. I'm looking forward to him getting back on the field.

44. LHP Blake Snell (N/A)

Developmental Update: The former supplemental first-rounder (2011) continues to miss bats at elite levels thanks to an array of potential plus pitches coming at hitters from well atop his tall, left-handed frame. His control is still lacking, and will need to be improved upon at some point soon, but the stuff continues to dominate hitters despite his movement through the Rays system. -Jeff Moore

The Rays aren't exactly overflowing with left handed arms at the moment, but Blake Snell stands above the rest in the system not for his handedness but his talent. He cruised through High-A ball, and is now carving it up with the Biscuits.

Snell, vying to become the lone "success" thus far of the famed 2011 draft (sorry Mikie Mahtook), could find himself in the Rays Rotation by mid-season 2016. Sure there's still Tyler Goeddel and Granden Goetzman, but the jury is out on either blossoming. Blake Snell is rising, and it's been splendid to follow.

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Also of note in this list is the player at 43 who the Rays recently traded away to the Nationals: SS Trea Turner, the key piece flipped for RF Steven Souza Jr. At the time the Rays were looking for a full replacement for Wil Myers, but it's interesting to wonder what could have been if they held onto Turner and deployed David DeJesus in right.