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Previous winner
SS Alejandro Pie (R/R, 6’4 175, 19 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Dominican Summer League Rays 1: 253 PA, .289/.361/.342, 24/32 SB, 11 XBH, 4.3 BB%, 18.2 K%
Pie was one of the Rays’ top two signings in the 2018-19 international period, and he was decent in his pro debut — although his 5.9 HBP% is likely unsustainable. Despite his size and potential for growth, he could stick at shortstop thanks to his athleticism. If not, he has the arm to play anywhere on the field. With that size comes power potential, but he hasn’t shown much of it yet.
We’re almost at the end of the top 30, and there’s not a single player who was in the organization last year but not ranked who has reached the 2021 list yet. By this time last poll, there were already four.
2021 Community prospect list
| Rank | Player | Votes | Total | Percentage | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Votes | Total | Percentage | Last season |
| 1 | SS Wander Franco | 24 | 39 | 61.5% | 1 |
| 2 | OF Randy Arozarena | 33 | 33 | 100.0% | 9 |
| 3 | IF Vidal Brujan | 20 | 34 | 58.8% | 3 |
| 4 | RHP Luis Patino | Special | election | N/A | |
| 5 | LHP Shane McClanahan | 11 | 29 | 37.9% | 6 |
| 6 | RHP Shane Baz | 19 | 28 | 67.9% | 4 |
| 7 | DH/LHP Brendan McKay | 19 | 31 | 61.3% | 2 |
| 8 | OF Josh Lowe | 9 | 27 | 33.3% | 5 |
| 9 | IF Xavier Edwards | 14 | 34 | 41.2% | 8 |
| 10 | IF Taylor Walls | 10 | 28 | 35.7% | 15 |
| 11 | RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. | 10 | 27 | 37.0% | 11 |
| 12 | C/OF Heriberto Hernandez | Special | election | N/A | |
| 13 | RHP Cole Wilcox | Special | election | N/A | |
| 14 | SS Greg Jones | 13 | 25 | 52.0% | 12 |
| 15 | SS Carlos Colmenarez | Special | election | N/A | |
| 16 | C Blake Hunt | Special | election | N/A | |
| 17 | RHP Joe Ryan | 14 | 25 | 56.0% | 13 |
| 18 | LHP Josh Fleming | 11 | 21 | 52.4% | 26 |
| 19 | RHP JJ Goss | 8 | 25 | 32.0% | 16 |
| 20 | RHP Seth Johnson | 15 | 25 | 60.0% | 24 |
| 21 | RHP Nick Bitsko | 10 | 25 | 40.0% | N/A |
| 22 | 3B Kevin Padlo | 17 | 27 | 63.0% | 14 |
| 23 | SS Alejandro Pie | 6 | 20 | 30.0% | 31 |
| 24 | SS Alika Williams | 7 | 18 | 38.9% | N/A |
| 25 | IF Osleivis Basabe | 6 | 17 | 35.3% | N/A |
| 26 | RHP Taj Bradley | 5 | 18 | 27.8% | 22 |
| 27 | C Ford Proctor | 5 | 18 | 27.8% | 40 |
| 28 | RHP Drew Strotman | 12 | 20 | 60.0% | 32 |
| 29 | LHP Ian Seymour | 6 | 17 | 35.3% | N/A |
| 30 | LHP John Doxakis | ||||
| 31 | IF Esteban Quiroz | ||||
| 32 | OF Jhon Diaz | ||||
| 33 | IF Pedro Martinez | ||||
| 34 | OF Nick Schnell | ||||
| 35 | RHP Michael Mercado | ||||
| 36 | SS Abiezel Ramirez | ||||
| 37 | RP Ryan Thompson | ||||
| 38 | RHP Sandy Gaston | ||||
| 39 | LHP Michael Plassmeyer | ||||
| 40 | IF Curtis Mead | ||||
| 41 | OF Niko Hulsizer | ||||
| 42 | OF Moises Gomez |
IF Osleivis Basabe (R/R 6’1 165, 21 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Arizona League Rangers and short-season Spokane: 176 PA, .323/.352/.398, 5 3B, 7 XBH, 7/9 SB, 4.5 BB%, 11.9 K%
Basabe was acquired alongside teammate Heriberto Hernandez in the trade that sent Nate Lowe to Texas. He’s a different player though. He’s a high-contact hitter who rarely strikes out. He’s also a good athlete with a good arm who can play across the infield and could play center field if necessary. Although he makes hard contact, in-game power hasn’t been there yet.
RHP Taj Bradley (6’2 190, 20 in 2021)
2019 statistics with rookie-level Princeton: 51 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 8.8 BB%, 26.5 K%
Bradley was one of the youngest players available in the 2018 draft and offers upside. His fastball is in the low-90s, and his secondary pitches are inconsistent. However, his athleticism suggests he will be able to improve. Since he signed, his curveball has already shown improvement. Baseball America’s report last year lauds his coachability ($).
OF Jhon Diaz (L/L, 5’11 160, 18 in 2021)
Signed in 2019
Diaz was the Rays’ top signing in the last international period, and he was ranked No. 18 in the class by MLB.com. The Yankees were expected to sign him, but the deal fell through, giving the Rays an opportunity. He’s known for his performance in games, but he has good tools too. At the plate, he should make consistent contact with a nice plate approach and potential for average power. In the field, he could play a decent center field.
LHP John Doxakis (6’4 215, 22 in 2021)
2019 statistics with short-season Hudson Valley: 32 2⁄3 IP, 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 8.5 BB%, 23.8 K%
Doxakis had a strong pro debut after the Rays made him a second-round pick in 2019, which isn’t surprising considering his success in college baseball’s toughest conference. He’s an advanced pitcher who throws strikes with a deceptive delivery. His stuff is just average across the board, although Baseball America’s postdraft report ($) has a little higher velocity than its predraft report ($). He also throws a slider and changeup.
RHP Sandy Gaston (6’3 200, 19 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Gulf Coast League Rays: 27 IP, 6.00 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 20.9 BB%, 24.0 K%
Thanks to his great velocity, Gaston was able to earn a $2.61 million bonus from the Rays. He’s been able to touch triple digits for a couple years now, but the rest of his game needs significant refinement. He could cut his walk rate in half, and it may still be too high. He also throws a curveball and changeup.
IF Esteban Quiroz (L/R, 5’6 199, 29 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Triple-A El Paso: 366 PA, .271/.384/.539, 19 HR, 44 XBH, 14.2 BB%, 22.4 K%
Quiroz was acquired in the trade that sent Tommy Pham to San Diego. He’s not very big, but he’s hit for a lot of power in affiliated ball — 26 homers and 57 extra-base hits in 128 games since the Red Sox signed him prior to the 2018 season. He gets on base with a good walk rate. He’s played a few different positions, but it will be his bat that carries him.
LHP Ian Seymour (6’0 210, 22 in 2021)
Drafted in 2020
Seymour was comically good for Virginia Tech before the pandemic shut the season down. He struck out more than half the batters he faced in 20 1⁄3 innings, even though he doesn’t have dominant stuff. His fastball is average, but his changeup is potentially plus. His slider needs improvement. He also showed growth in his walk rate throughout his collegiate career.
RHP Drew Strotman (6’3 195, 24 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Class A-Advanced Charlotte: 16 IP, 5.06 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 12.3 BB%, 17.8 K%
Strotman got his pro career off to an excellent start in 2017 and 2018 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Even though he hasn’t pitched above Class A, the Rays added him to the 40-man roster this winter. According to a report from Baseball America correspondent Marc Topkin ($), he’s throwing in the mid-90s and added a cutter. He also throws a slider and changeup.
SS Alika Williams (R/R, 6’2 180, 22 in 2021)
Drafted in 2020
Williams was one of the top defensive infielders in the draft, and sticking at shortstop shouldn’t be an issue. On a team with the best college baseball players in the country, Baseball America ranked him as the No. 8 prospect (BA $), noting he had surprising success at the plate. He walked more than he struck out at Arizona State, but the pop he showed with Team USA was unexpected.