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Brent Honeywell unseated Willy Adames as the team’s top prospect in the eyes of the community. I don’t think I expected a new player at No. 1 when last year’s was still eligible, but Honeywell has topped both Baseball America’s and Baseball Prospectus’ lists for the organization.
2018 Community prospect list
| Rank | Player | Votes | Total | Percentage | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Votes | Total | Percentage | Last season |
| 1 | RHP Brent Honeywell | 24 | 33 | 72.7% | 2 |
| 2 | SS Willy Adames | 23 | 24 | 95.8% | 1 |
| 3 | 1B/LHP Brendan McKay | 16 | 34 | 47.1% | N/A |
| 4 | OF Jesus Sanchez | 26 | 35 | 74.3% | 9 |
| 5 | 1B/OF Jake Bauers | 29 | 39 | 74.4% | 4 |
| 6 | OF Justin Williams | 24 | 35 | 68.6% | 17 |
| 7 | IF Christian Arroyo | 19 | 38 | 50.0% | N/A |
| 8 | OF Garrett Whitley | 15 | 36 | 41.7% | 15 |
| 9 | LHP Anthony Banda | Special | election | N/A | |
| 10 | RHP Jose De Leon | 15 | 33 | 45.5% | 3 |
| 11 | OF Joshua Lowe | 13 | 30 | 43.3% | 7 |
| 12 | SS Lucius Fox | 16 | 36 | 44.4% | 13 |
| 13 | SS Wander Franco | 13 | 35 | 37.1% | N/A |
| 14 | RHP Austin Franklin | 17 | 33 | 51.5% | 22 |
| 15 | RHP Tobias Myers | 11 | 32 | 34.4% | N/A |
| 16 | 2B Nick Solak | Special | election | N/A | |
| 17 | RHP Michael Mercado | 7 | 27 | 25.9% | N/A |
| 18 | 1B/OF Joe McCarthy | 9 | 33 | 27.3% | 25 |
| 19 | 2B Brandon Lowe | 7 | 31 | 22.6% | N/R |
| 20 | RHP Chih-Wei Hu | 8 | 28 | 28.6% | 6 |
| 21 | RHP Jaime Schultz | 9 | 32 | 28.1% | 12 |
| 22 | C Ronaldo Hernandez | 11 | 30 | 36.7% | N/R |
| 23 | RHP Diego Castillo | 9 | 25 | 36.0% | 50 |
| 24 | RHP Yonny Chirinos | 12 | 28 | 42.9% | 41 |
| 25 | 2B Vidal Brujan | 10 | 28 | 35.7% | N/R |
| 26 | RHP Ryne Stanek | 8 | 25 | 32.0% | 20 |
| 27 | LHP Resly Linares | 7 | 26 | 26.9% | 47 |
| 28 | LHP Genesis Cabrera | 12 | 27 | 44.4% | 23 |
| 29 | 3B Kevin Padlo | 9 | 27 | 33.3% | 14 |
| 30 | LHP Ryan Yarbrough | 13 | 29 | 44.8% | 19 |
| 31 | LHP Brock Burke | N/R | |||
| 32 | RHP Drew Strotman | N/A | |||
| 33 | SS Jermaine Palacios | N/A | |||
| 34 | C Brett Sullivan | 26 | |||
| 35 | C Nick Ciuffo | 24 | |||
| 36 | OF Ryan Boldt | 38 | |||
| 37 | IF Carlos Vargas | 27 | |||
| 38 | 3B Adrian Rondon | 11 | |||
| 39 | LHP Travis Ott | 40 | |||
| 40 | RHP Curtis Taylor | N/A |
SS Willy Adames (R/R, 6’0 200, 22 in 2018)
2017 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 578 PA, .277/.360/.415, 30 2B, 10 HR, 11-of-16 SB, 11.2 BB%, 22.9 K%
Despite a slow start in which he batted .230 with a .309 on-base percentage through two months, Adames’ 2017 season ended up remarkably similar to his 2016 campaign with Montgomery. In addition to his solid defense at shortstop, he has a plate approach that’ll allow him to bat at or near the top of a major league lineup, and he has some power potential as well. He’s knocking on the door of the majors and should be the Rays’ starting shortstop sooner rather than later.
1B/OF Jake Bauers (L/L, 6’1 195, 22 in 2018)
2017 statistics with Triple-A Durham: 575 PA, .263/.368/.412, 31 2B, 13 HR, 20-of-23 SB, 13.6 BB%, 19.5 K%
Like Adames, Bauers’ 2017 season with Durham was very similar to his 2016 with Montgomery, although it is perhaps notable that his strikeout rate was a new career high. Despite that, his hit tool is still his best, and that’s what will get him to the majors. He’s able to wait for his pitch and make good contact. His 45 extra-base hits tied a career high, and he could have average power. After two seasons of experimentation in the outfield, he seems more and more like a regular first baseman.
1B/LHP Brendan McKay (L/L, 6’2 212, 22 in 2018)
2017 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 149 PA, .232/.349/.376, 4 HR, 14.1 BB%, 22.1 K% — 20 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 6.8 BB%, 28.8 K%
The Rays chose McKay with the No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft, giving them the opportunity to develop a unique two-way talent. Maybe it’s not likely that he’s still pitching and hitting when he reaches the majors, but he’s talented in both roles. No one knows what will happen.
On the mound, his fastball leads a group of three above-average pitches that includes a breaking ball and changeup. He throws strikes and would move through the system quickly as a starter. At the plate, he makes good contact with above-average power potential.
OF Jesus Sanchez (L/R, 6’3 210, 20 in 2018)
2017 statistics with Class-A Bowling Green: 512 PA, .305/.348/.478, 15 HR, 48 XBH, 6.3 BB%, 17.8 K%
On a Bowling Green team filled with some of the organization’s best talent, particularly in the outfield, Sanchez stood out in all phases of the game. His .305 average was actually the lowest of his career so far. He has great hand-eye coordination and does not strike out often despite his fairly aggressive approach. He has above-average power potential, which is enough to profile in a corner outfield spot, where he’ll be a quality defender with solid athleticism and arm strength.