Willy Vasquez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #25 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: In 2022, the Rays had a pair of high-ceiling shortstop/third base prospects at their Port Charlotte, Fla., complex. It wasn’t hard to find evaluators who thought Vasquez was the better prospect than teammate Junior Caminero. Caminero found another gear in 2023, rocketing from High-A Bowling Green to the major leagues, while Vasquez struggled at High-A Bowling Green. But while he no longer compares to Caminero, Vasquez is still young enough to forge his own path to Tampa Bay.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez still has the tools and potential to be an everyday regular, but he’ll need to take a significant step forward. He has excellent bat speed, plus raw power and the potential to be an above-average third baseman. Otherwise, he remains a step behind. Vasquez’s swing can get too long at times, and he has a hitch, which disrupts his timing. He has exceptional raw power but struggles to hit the ball in the air enough for it to play in games. Vasquez has moved to third base, but could still end up at second, where his long limbs and plus arm might be a better fit.
  
  The Future: Vasquez spent his winter in the Dominican League to get more seasoning. He faces a crucial year as he heads to Double-A Mongtomery. A bounce-back season would make a case for a spot on the 40-man roster, but he needs to make more consistent quality contact and lift the ball more frequently.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #15 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Vasquez was one of the Rays' breakout prospects in 2021. He impressed in the Florida Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs. Returning to Charleston to start 2022, he struggled at the plate in the first half of the season, but hit .320/.380/.553 from July 1 til the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez's aggressiveness at the plate caused him issues in 2022, especially early in the season. But he showed some improvements and adjustments as the season wore on. He has consistently shown plus-plus raw power, and his max exit velocities are top tier (114-115 mph), although he hits a lot of screaming ground balls. He struggles with pitch recognition and chasing sliders away, but his hand-eye coordination is excellent. Defensively, the development of Carson Williams meant Vasquez played much more third base in 2022. That's a better long-term fit for him as he projects as a plus defender with a plus arm at third and a fringe-average defender at shortstop. He's an average runner.
  
  The Future: Vasquez has clear flaws that he needs to improve, but the foundation is there to be an everyday regular in the majors as a third baseman with the power and glove to be a very productive player. He impressed in Australia to add further at-bats during the winter. He should jump to Bowling Green in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 60. Run: 50. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: When Vasquez signed with the Rays in 2019, he was expected to be a third baseman in a Rays international class full of shortstops. Two years later, Vasquez is proving to be the most polished shortstop of that signing class. After an excellent pro debut in the Florida Complex League, he was promoted to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs and helped the RiverDogs win their league title by ripping a bases-clearing three-run triple in the deciding game.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez has the building blocks to be an above-average offensive player. He has above-average bat speed and has shown the ability already to drive a ball at 110-111 mph exit velocities at his best. He had nearly as many walks (20) as strikeouts (27) in the FCL in his pro debut and has a chance to be an above-average hitter with average power. Vasquez could outgrow shortstop, but he shows the body control, range and hands to stick there if he continues to make defensive development a focus. He’s gotten bigger and stronger without losing any agility and has the above-average arm strength to make all the throws. Vasquez shows a solid understanding of the game at a young age and has developed into a team leader.
  
  The Future: Vasquez has one of the best combinations of offensive and defensive potential among the Rays’ many shortstop prospects. He should open at Low-A in 2022.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Vasquez was one of the Rays' breakout prospects in 2021. He impressed in the Florida Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs. Returning to Charleston to start 2022, he struggled at the plate in the first half of the season, but hit .320/.380/.553 from July 1 til the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez's aggressiveness at the plate caused him issues in 2022, especially early in the season. But he showed some improvements and adjustments as the season wore on. He has consistently shown plus-plus raw power, and his max exit velocities are top tier (114-115 mph), although he hits a lot of screaming ground balls. He struggles with pitch recognition and chasing sliders away, but his hand-eye coordination is excellent. Defensively, the development of Carson Williams meant Vasquez played much more third base in 2022. That's a better long-term fit for him as he projects as a plus defender with a plus arm at third and a fringe-average defender at shortstop. He's an average runner.
  
  The Future: Vasquez has clear flaws that he needs to improve, but the foundation is there to be an everyday regular in the majors as a third baseman with the power and glove to be a very productive player. He impressed in Australia to add further at-bats during the winter. He should jump to Bowling Green in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 60. Run: 50. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Vasquez was one of the Rays' breakout prospects in 2021. He impressed in the Florida Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs. Returning to Charleston to start 2022, he struggled at the plate in the first half of the season, but hit .320/.380/.553 from July 1 til the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez's aggressiveness at the plate caused him issues in 2022, especially early in the season. But he showed some improvements and adjustments as the season wore on. He has consistently shown plus-plus raw power, and his max exit velocities are top tier (114-115 mph), although he hits a lot of screaming ground balls. He struggles with pitch recognition and chasing sliders away, but his hand-eye coordination is excellent. Defensively, the development of Carson Williams meant Vasquez played much more third base in 2022. That's a better long-term fit for him as he projects as a plus defender with a plus arm at third and a fringe-average defender at shortstop. He's an average runner.
  
  The Future: Vasquez has clear flaws that he needs to improve, but the foundation is there to be an everyday regular in the majors as a third baseman with the power and glove to be a very productive player. He impressed in Australia to add further at-bats during the winter. He should jump to Bowling Green in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Field: 60. Run: 50. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: When Vasquez signed with the Rays in 2019, he was expected to be a third baseman in a Rays international class full of shortstops—the official MLB stats portal incorrectly lists him as a catcher. Two years later, Vasquez is proving to be the most polished shortstop of that signing class. He&#39s gotten bigger and stronger without losing any agility. After an excellent pro debut in the Florida Complex League, he was promoted to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs and helped the RiverDogs win their league title by ripping a bases-clearing three-run triple in the deciding game.
  
  Scouting Report: In 2014, the Rays acquired another Willy (Adames) in a trade with the Tigers. At the time, Adames was seen by many as someone who would outgrow shortstop, but he kept working on his agility to ensure he could remain at the position. Vasquez has a similar battle to fight, as he could outgrow shortstop, but he shows the body control, range and hands to stick there if he continues to make defensive development a focus. At the plate, Vasquez has the building blocks to be an above-average offensive player. He has above-average bat speed and has shown the ability already to drive a ball at 110-111 mph exit velocities at his best. Vasquez shows a solid understanding of the game at a young age and has developed into a team leader.
  
  The Future: The Rays have a slew of shortstop prospects in the lower levels of the minors, but Vasquez has one of the best combinations of offensive and defensive impact potential. He should be ready for Low-A in 2022, having gotten a brief glimpse of what it&#39s like to play in front of crowds to wrap up 2021.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: When Vasquez signed with the Rays in 2019, he was expected to be a third baseman in a Rays international class full of shortstops. Two years later, Vasquez is proving to be the most polished shortstop of that signing class. After an excellent pro debut in the Florida Complex League, he was promoted to Low-A Charleston for the playoffs and helped the RiverDogs win their league title by ripping a bases-clearing three-run triple in the deciding game.
  
  Scouting Report: Vasquez has the building blocks to be an above-average offensive player. He has above-average bat speed and has shown the ability already to drive a ball at 110-111 mph exit velocities at his best. He had nearly as many walks (20) as strikeouts (27) in the FCL in his pro debut and has a chance to be an above-average hitter with average power. Vasquez could outgrow shortstop, but he shows the body control, range and hands to stick there if he continues to make defensive development a focus. He’s gotten bigger and stronger without losing any agility and has the above-average arm strength to make all the throws. Vasquez shows a solid understanding of the game at a young age and has developed into a team leader.
  
  The Future: Vasquez has one of the best combinations of offensive and defensive potential among the Rays’ many shortstop prospects. He should open at Low-A in 2022.