2017 DRaysBay Community Prospect No. 16

We’re just a few weeks away from spring training, and we’re now halfway through this year’s community prospects list. The Rays are known for their pitcher development, but there are only five arms in the first 15. Will someone have a breakout season on the mound to shake things up in 2017?

Just one tester this poll. Enjoy your weekend.

OF Eleardo Cabrera (L/R, 5'11 195, 21 in 2017)

2016 statistics with rookie-level Princeton: 270 PA, .311/.375/.466, 7 HR, 21 XBH, 8-for-12 SB, 6.3 BB%, 27.0 K%

Cabrera burst onto the domestic-league scene in 2016 with a strong season for Princeton. He led the Appalachian League in hits, tied for the league lead in homers and was among the team leaders in many offensive categories. However, it's his strong arm and outfield defense that are his calling cards. He makes good contact and has some speed, but he has to work on his approach.

LHP Genesis Cabrera (6'1 170, 20 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green: 116 IP, 3.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 9.8 BB%, 19.6 K%

As one of the 10 youngest pitchers in the Midwest League, and second youngest to throw 100-plus innings, Cabrera enjoyed a solid 2016 season with the Hot Rods. According to 2080 Baseball, his fastball touches the mid-90s with a promising breaking ball and changeup. He struggled down the stretch, which could certainly be a result of fatigue, as he set a career high in innings by 86 2/3 frames. He should cut down on his walks a bit, but he wasn't hopelessly wild.

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.

OF Jake Fraley (L/L, 6'0 195, 22 in 2017)

2016 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 239 PA, .238/.339/.364, 7 3B, 33-for-42 SB, 10.9 BB%, 14.2 K%

Fraley's pro career got off to an atrocious start, but a scorching August that saw him collect 12 of his 17 extra-base hits created a much more respectable stat line. Whether he was hitting or not, he was stealing bases whenever he had the chance. He only needed 55 games to lead the entire organizations in steals. His speed also makes him a very good defender in center field. He has to maintain his patient approach at the plate and excel at putting the ball in play to fully utilize his athleticism.

RHP Austin Franklin (6'3 215, 19 in 2017)

2016 statistics with the Gulf Coast League Rays: 43 1/3 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.1 BB%, 22.7 K%

Franklin was the Rays' third-round pick from a Florida high school, and he made a good impression in his pro debut. His best pitch is an above-average curveball that helped him strike out nearly a batter an inning. With his size, he throws an average-or-better fastball in the low-90s that will generate ground balls at a nice clip. He has to develop his changeup and build up his workload, like any other young pitcher.

RHP Taylor Guerrieri (6'3 195, 24 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Double-A Montgomery: 146 IP, 3.76 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 7.6 BB%, 14.7 K%

Guerrieri finally had a completely healthy season in 2016, and he threw a career-high 146 innings with the Biscuits. That healthy season, however, apparently came with diminished fastball velocity. His strikeout rate was the lowest of his career, and his walk rate was also the highest. He still works with a solid breaking ball and changeup, and he still gets a lot of balls on the ground. Maybe the fastball will come back in his second season off surgery.

OF Joe McCarthy (L/L, 6'3 225, 23 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green and Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 430 PA, .285/.398/.430, 32 XBH, 8 HR, 19-for-24 SB, 14.2 BB%, 15.8 K%

The Red Scare started the season with a conservative assignment to the Midwest League, but he ended up playing more games in the Florida State League with Charlotte. McCarthy spent most of the early months only playing first base, but he was back in his natural outfield spots later. He adds value in the field and on the bases with decent athleticism. At the plate, he makes good contact and really knows the strike zone. How much power he'll hit for in games remains an open question.

C David Rodriguez (R/R, 6'1 215, 21 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green: 472 PA, .240/.321/.349, 26 XBH, 9 HR, 9.3 BB%, 18.6 K%

Rodriguez threw out an absurd 56 percent of attempted basestealers, and he has the potential to develop into a contributor both at and behind the plate. Like many young catchers, he still has to clean up his mechanics defensively, but that should come with more experience. In the batter's box, he owns a patient approach and puts his bat on the ball. He does have a bit of power potential.

RHP Ryne Stanek (6'4 180, 25 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham: 102 2/3 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 11.2 BB%, 26.3 K%

After two more underwhelming months in the rotation, Stanek moved to the bullpen and was effective firing triple-digit heat in short stints. Someone whose only exposure to him was the Futures Game probably didn't come away impressed, but his fastball and slider are both swing-and-miss pitches that can make him effective in high-leverage situations. Before he makes the majors, he has to improve his command and control.

SS Carlos Vargas (R/R, 6'3 170, 18 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Dominican Summer League Mariners: 256 PA, .242/.344/.391, 7 HR, 12.5 BB%, 13.7 K%

Seattle signed Vargas for $1.625 million in 2015, and he quickly made an impact in his pro debut. While he may be hard-pressed to stay at shortstop when he gets bigger, he has the power potential to profile elsewhere on the diamond. His swing is geared for power, and adding strength certainly won't hurt. If he's able to maintain a low strikeout rate when he comes to the U.S. in 2017, he'll be a dangerous hitter.

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.

LHP Ryan Yarbrough (6'5 205, 25 in 2017)

2016 statistics with Double-A Jackson: 128 1/3 IP, 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 5.9 BB%, 19.0 K%

In his second full pro season, Yarbrough earned Southern League Pitcher of the Year honors thanks to his outstanding work with Jackson. He doesn't blow anyone away with overwhelming stuff, but what he can do is use his sinker with average velocity to generate ground balls, which helped him even have success in the dreaded Cal League in 2015. His changeup is his best secondary offering, but he has to improve his breaking ball. He throws a lot of strikes.