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The Tampa Bay Rays prospect Justin Williams, recently ranked No. 9 by Baseball America, is having a strong Arizona Fall League showing, slashing .324/.366/.595 with a 7.3 BB% and 12.2 K%, and drawing some attention nationally.
The 21-year-old has recorded a hit in eight of his nine AFL games, including multi-hit games in four of those contests, giving him a.411 wOBA and 151 wRC+ in an otherwise formidable environment.
You can watch him discuss hitting in the Arizona Fall League here:
Williams enjoyed a breakout 2016 in the Rays’ system, slashing .295/.318/.447 with 10 HRs and 59 RBIs between Class-A and Double-A. Below you can check out the former second-round pick from the 2013 draft in action.
Infielder Kean Wong, 21, is also having a strong AFL campaign, slashing .294/.368/.353 with four RBIs in nine games.
A fourth round pick from 2013, and younger brother to All-Star St. Louis Cardinals infielder Kolten Wong, Kean Wong has shown a capability with the bat in his four minor-league seasons as he sports a career slash line of .290/.336/.361, with a 6.1 BB%, 14.2 K%, and overall production of .333 wOBA with a 109 wRC+.
After never hitting more than three homers in a single season, Wong showed some power at Double-A in 2016, swatting five HRs for the Montgomery Biscuits. The Hilo, Hawaii native — just like Castillo — is not currently among the Rays’ top 30 prospects on mlb.com.
Watch some of his plate appearances from the AFL below.
With their strong performances, Williams and Wong have increased their perceived value to the Rays organization this fall.