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2016 DRaysBay Community Prospect No. 21

Chih-Wei Hu storms from behind to reach the list

Jim Donten

I'm pretty sure I actually have the list correct this time.

1. LHP Blake Snell (95.2%)
2. SS Willy Adames (59.1%)
3. 1B/OF Jake Bauers (60.6% in runoff)
4. RHP Brent Honeywell (50.0%)
5. RHP Taylor Guerrieri (57.5%)
6. SS Daniel Robertson (64.3%)
7. RHP Jacob Faria (69.0%)
8. 3B Richie Shaffer (64.9%)
9. OF Garrett Whitley (44.7%)
10. OF Mikie Mahtook (39.0%)

11. 1B Casey Gillaspie (42.1%)
12. OF Justin Williams (56.4% in runoff)
13. UT Taylor Motter (42.1%)
14. SS Adrian Rondon (54.1%)
15. C Chris Betts (63.2%)
16. LHP Enny Romero (51.5%)
17. 3B Kevin Padlo (special election)
18. 2B Ryan Brett (32.4%)
19. C Justin O'Conner (29.2%)
20. RHP Chih-Wei Hu (33.3%)

RHP Andrew Bellatti (6'1 190, 24 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 46 1/3 IP, 5.24 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 7.5 BB%, 22.1 K%
2015 statistics with Tampa Bay: 23 1/3 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 10.5 BB%, 19.0 K%

It's hard to talk about Bellatti's career without mentioning the serious maturation he had to go through after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter and serving several months behind bars. It's been quite the journey for Bellatti, but he made his ML debut in 2015. He bounced between Tampa Bay and Durham but ended up performing better while in the majors. Bellatti sports a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a solid-average slider that gets some good movement. While hope remains that he can turn into a back-end starter, at this point he may destined to be a relief arm.

OF Johnny Field (R/R, 5'10 195, 24 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: 491 PA, .255/.329/.447, 51 XBH, 14 HR, 18-for-21 SB, 7.3 BB%, 22.2 K%

Even as a less-reputed prospect, Field has enough tools to succeed in games. While Field has about average speed, he has the natural instinct to play center field nonetheless. He also succeeds on the basepaths even with his lack of plus speed, converting a majority of his stolen base attempts. The bat speed is decent, but he really flashed some power this season. Most scouts see Field as a fourth outfielder, but if he keeps performing well in games he could elevate his stock.

RHP Brandon Koch (6'1 205, 22 in 2016)

2015 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 32 1/3 IP, 3.06 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 3.9 BB%, 36.4 K%

Koch was the first pitcher the Rays drafted in 2015. The former Dallas Baptist closer was actually better than expected. While he walked a lot of batters in college with his high-effort delivery, he cut down on his free passes as a professional. With a mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider, he has the stuff to pitch in the back of a major league bullpen if he's around the strike zone.

3B Patrick Leonard (R/R, 6'4 225, 23 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: 514 PA, .256/.350/.408, 45 XBH, 10 HR, 11-for-14 SB, 10.5 BB%, 25.1 K%

After a slow start, Leonard recovered and finished with another solid campaign. He has above-average raw power, but he is yet to top the 14 home runs he hit in a short-season league in his pro debut with the Royals several seasons ago. He swung and missed too much in 2015 and may be held back by mediocre bat speed, but a move back to third base helped his value.

OF Joe McCarthy (L/L, 6'3 215, 22 in 2016)

2015 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 214 PA, .277/.362/.337, 9 XBH, 18-for-21 SB, 8.5 BB%, 10.8 K%

The Rays picked McCarthy in the fifth round in 2015 from Virginia. He missed most of the college season due to back surgery but was able to play in Hudson Valley. One of McCarthy's best tools is his above-average speed, and he uses it aptly on the basepaths. However, his fringy arm limits him to left field. At the plate, McCarthy is projected to have an average hit tool. He also has above-average raw power, but he needs to incorporate the lower part of his body into his swing more often in order to fill that hole.

RHP Jaime Schultz (5'10 200, 25 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: 135 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 15.4 BB%, 28.7 K%

Baseball America's Hudson Belinsky raved about Schultz's stuff earlier this offseason, noting, "we're talking upper 90s with really good spin in his back pocket." His impressive strikeout rate certainly reflects that. However, it's impossible to talk about him without looking at that walk rate as well. He walked seven batters in back-to-back games in July, but an 11.7% walk rate over his final eight appearances offers hope of improvement in 2016.

RHP Burch Smith (6'4 215, 26 in 2016)

2015 statistics: Did not play

A forearm injury and eventually Tommy John surgery made 2014 and 2015 lost seasons for Smith. Acquired in the Jake Bauers trade, when he pitches, Smith owns a low-90s fastball and a good changeup. Early in his career, he developed a reputation as a strike-thrower.

RHP Ryne Stanek (6'4 180, 24 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery: 112 1/3 IP, 3.04 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 10.2 BB%, 17.5 K%

Injuries knocked Stanek down draft boards in 2013, allowing the Rays to land him with the No. 29 pick. Despite an effective low- to mid-90s two-seamer and potential plus breaking ball, he did not miss many bats in 2015, even in a relief role late in the season with the Biscuits. Control remains an issue, and that stint in the bullpen may not have just been to maintain his innings.

RHP Cameron Varga (6'2 189, 21 in 2016)

2015 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 57 2/3 IP, 2.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 4.5 BB%, 16.1 K%

Despite being one of the older prep pitchers in the 2014 draft, Varga has significant upside. His strikeout rate did not reflect it, but he has good stuff with a pair of potential plus pitches in his low-90s fastball and breaking ball. He's also an athlete who already throws a lot of strikes. His changeup is a work in progress as he gets ready to take on full-season ball in 2016.

IF Andrew Velazquez (S/R, 5'8 175, 21 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 203 PA, .290/.343/.360, 11 XBH, 5-for-13 SB, 7.4 BB%, 26.1 K%

Velazquez came over with Justin Williams in the trade that sent Jeremy Hellickson to Arizona, but a broken hamate cost him a large part of the season. Whether it was the injury or not, he was not the same player in 2015. Most notably, he was poor on the bases, and his walk rate went down while his strikeout rate went up. After playing the outfield as an amateur, as a professional he's seen time all around the infield.

2B Kean Wong (L/R, 5'11 190, 21 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 438 PA, .274/.319/.332, 14 2B, 15-of-21 SB, 6.6 BB%, 14.8 K%

Despite improving his walk and strikeout rates compared to 2014, Wong's numbers were down in 2015, including a 44-point dip in BABIP. However, he was one of the 10 youngest players in the Florida State League. Oddly enough, he batted over 100 points better against lefties. He'll never hit for a lot of power, but he makes consistent contact and is a decent athlete.

RHP Hunter Wood (6'1 175, 22 in 2016)

2015 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green and Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 106 1/3 IP, 2.20 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 6.1 BB%, 27.6 K%

Wood started the season piggybacking Brent Honeywell's starts, and his own great performance earned him a promotion to the Stone Crabs and a permanent spot in the rotation. Part of his success can be attributed to the improvement in his control, as he cut his walk rate significantly from a tough stint with Bowling Green in 2014. In the Arizona Fall League, his fastball averaged 94 mph, and his breaking ball has been described as plus (BA $).