Tampa Bay Rays Top 30

CLICK HERE TO SEE TAMPA BAY'S TOP 30 2020 PROSPECTS

By J.J. Cooper

From 2008-2013, the Tampa Bay Rays made four playoff appearances won one American League pennant and won 90 or more games five times.

The story of the current Rays resurgence remains to be written. Tampa Bay won 90+ games for a second straight season and returned to the playoffs in 2019 with a 96-win season that tied for the second most wins in franchise history.

But it feels more like the beginning of a Rays run than the finish. The farm system remains one of the best in baseball and the Rays boast the best prospect in baseball in teenage shortstop Wander Franco. The club has seen some of its depth whittled away by moves that were necessary to manage a crowded 40-man roster, but the system has the talent and depth to help the big league club in 2020 both through trades and promotions.

Here is our Rays prospects chat.

Here's how we project their lineup in 2023, with their 2023 age in parentheses.

Catcher: Ronaldo Hernandez (25)
First Base: Nate Lowe (27)
Second Base: Xavier Edwards (23)
Third Base: Wander Franco (22)
Shortstop: Willy Adames (27)
Left Field: Brandon Lowe (28)
Center Field: Vidal Brujan (25)
Right Field: Austin Meadows (28)
Designated Hitter: Ji-Man Choi (31)

No. 1 Starter: Blake Snell (30)
No. 2 Starter: Tyler Glasnow (29)
No. 3 Starter: Brendan McKay (27)
No. 4 Starter: Brent Honeywell (28)
No. 5 Starter: Shane McClanahan (25)
Closer: Shane Baz (24)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Tampa Bay's Top 10, click here. 

Best Hitter for Average: Wander Franco
Best Power Hitter: Moises Gomez
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Wander Franco
Fastest Baserunner: Vidal Brujan
Best Athlete: Greg Jones
Best Fastball: Shane Baz
Best Curveball: Shane McClanahan
Best Slider: Shane Baz
Best Changeup: Brent Honeywell
Best Control: Brendan Mckay
Best Defensive Catcher: Roberto Alvarez
Best Defensive Infielder: Taylor Walls
Best Infield Arm: Jermaine Palacios
Best Defensive Outfielder: Josh Lowe
Best Outfield Arm: Tanner Dodson

CLICK HERE TO SEE TAMPA BAY'S TOP 30 2020 PROSPECTS