2017 DRaysBay Community Prospect No. 8

The voting wasn’t close, but the poll for No. 7, won by Jacob Faria, had our highest participation yet this season. Right now, there’s a good mix of close-to-ready prospects and players lower in the minors who maybe have higher ceilings. Different ranking philosophies should be on full display during the next few votes.

Have a happy new year.

OF Johnny Field (R/R, 5'10 180, 25 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham: 491 PA, .273/.322/.453, 51 XBH, 12 HR, 16-for-24 SB, 6.1 BB%, 21.6 K%

After losing Tyler Goeddel and Joey Rickard in last year's Rule 5 draft, the Rays risked losing another right-handed-hitting outfielder this time around, but they were able to retain Field. He has already had a lot of success in the upper minors with a .776 OPS in nearly 1,000 plate appearances at Double A and Triple A. He may not stand out tools-wise, but he's a grinder who can fake it in center field and show some gap power.

3B Kevin Padlo (R/R, 6'2 205, 20 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green: 509 PA, .229/.358/.413, 16 HR, 41 XBH, 14-for-23 SB, 15.5 BB%, 26.3 K%

Padlo was acquired in the minor league portion of last year's trade that sent Jake McGee to Colorado, and his second attempt at full-season ball was much better than his first, despite a slow start. He already hits for power, particularly to his pull side with many of his home runs going to straightaway left field. He should play above-average defense with a strong arm. Perhaps he could hit for a higher average if he got a little more aggressive early in counts.

IF Daniel Robertson (R/R, 6'1 205, 23 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 511 PA, .259/.358/.356, 29 XBH, 11.4 BB%, 19.6 K%

Since a hand injury in 2015, Robertson has kind of muddled along at the plate. For a player with his feel for contact, it's disappointing to bat just .259, which was his worst average since his pro debut season. He did, though, finish the season hot, batting .282 with a .425 OBP and 10 extra-base hits in his final 23 games. His power will likely be limited to mostly doubles. He got more experience playing third base and second base in addition to his usual shortstop in 2016.

SS Adrian Rondon (R/R, 6'1 190, 18 in 2017)

2016 statistics with rookie-level Princeton: 210 PA, .249/.301/.430, 19 XBH, 7 HR, 6.2 BB%, 27.6 K%

Rondon's pro debut as a 16-year-old in 2016 was poor, but he followed up with a much better sophomore season. He really showed off his power potential and cut down on his strikeouts. However, he still has a lot of work to do in that regard and could stand to make more contact. He began playing third base in instructs which could be where he ultimately ends up as he grows older.

OF Jesus Sanchez (L/R, 6'2 185, 19 in 2017)

2016 statistics with the Gulf Coast League Rays and rookie-level Princeton: 226 PA, .329/.351/.549, 25 XBH, 7 HR, 4.0 BB%, 19.0 K%

Adrian Rondon headlined the Rays' 2014 international class, but Sanchez could be his equal now. He has the power potential and arm to profile at any position in the outfield, so it's not the end of the world if he moves off center field. Unlike a lot of young hitters, it's not all projection for him; he came to the U.S. in 2016 and kept on hitting. He's a decent athlete. At some point, he may need to become more patient, but his approach hasn't hurt him yet.

RHP Jaime Schultz (5'10 200, 26 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 130 2/3 IP, 3.58 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 12.3 BB%, 29.5 K%

For most of 2016, Schultz was in much more control than usual, and that's always been the key to his development. He has two plus-or-better pitches which have allowed him to strike out 160-plus batters in consecutive seasons. After leading the minors in walks in 2015, he cut down quite a bit but still has work to do. He has missed time with injuries as a professional and amateur, so he still has time to straighten out his mechanics and stick in the rotation.

CF Garrett Whitley (R/R, 6'1 205, 20 in 2017)

2016 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 292 PA, .266/.356/.379, 21-for-26 SB, 20 XBH, 10.3 BB%, 25.7 K%

After a poor pro debut and rough start to 2016, anxiety began to set in among fans in regard to Whitley, but with a July stretch of hits in eight of nine games sparked the raw outfielder to a nice finish. He's patient, but he needs to cut down on his strikeouts to tap into his offensive tools. His impressive bat speed gives him plus power potential, and he has the athleticism and arm to be an above-average center fielder.

OF Justin Williams (L/R, 6'2 215, 21 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery: 358 PA, .295/.318/.447, 30 XBH, 10 HR, 3.1 BB%, 15.6 K%

It feels like Williams has been around forever already, but he was only 17 when Arizona drafted him in 2013. Long dinged for his aggressive plate approach, he's now in the upper minors, where we'll get a better idea of if he can make it work. He started tapping into his very good power potential a little more with Montgomery, and despite that approach, he regularly makes hard contact and doesn't strike out a lot. He can probably be an average defensive corner outfielder.