Tampa Bay Rays

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: The Rangers signed Basabe with some of the bonus room they had acquired in their attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani. Texas, then traded him to the Rays in a six-player deal that sent Nate Lowe to the Rangers. Basabe has shown an intelligent, heady approach at the plate and in the field, but he's not the twitchy athlete he appeared to be when he signed out of Venezuela.

Scouting Report: Basabe is a career .316 minor league hitter who didn't look out of place as a teenager playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. As one of the youngest players in the Southern League, his .333 batting average was best in the league among hitters with 200 or more plate appearances. Basabe hits the ball hard with a level swing that produces tons of contact and hard line drives, but few lofted fly balls. Unless he revamps his swing, he projects as a plus hitter with below-average power. Basabe rarely misses a hittable pitch in the strike zone. Defensively, he has only average hands and feet and an average arm, but he slows the game down, rarely rushes himself and has a quick release that allows his arm to work at second or third base.

The Future: It says something for Basabe's development that the Rays added him to the 40-man roster while trading Xavier Edwards to the Marlins. Basabe should compete for a spot with Triple-A Durham in spring training. His baseball IQ and bat-to-ball skills could get him to St. Petersburg before his 23rd birthday.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 40. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: As a freshman at Stanford, Jones played special teams for the Cardinal football team in addition to baseball. He focused full-time on baseball in 2021 and 2022, helping lead Stanford to the College World Series--he had a three home run game in the super regional and also homered in Omaha. After being drafted in the second round by the Rays, he was sent to Low-A Charleston where he helped them win the Carolina League title.

Scouting Report: Jones has strength, he glides to balls in the outfield with a graceful gait and plus speed and he seems to embrace being in the spotlight. The big question facing Jones is whether he's going to hit enough for his other tools to play. He's a streaky hitter with a choppy swing, but when he's hot, he can carry a team. He hit 15 of his 21 home runs for Stanford in the final 27 games of the season, including a six-game home run streak. Jones is comfortable working counts and should consistently get on-base. Jones is physically mature and maxed out, but he's just started focusing on baseball full-time, so there's some developmental projection remaining. Defensively he's a plus defender in center with plus speed. His arm is fringe-average.

The Future: Jones is yet another in the Rays' large collection of athletic center fielders with power, defense, speed and some hit tool questions. With Shane Sasaki on the same development path, Jones will likely start playing corner outfield spots in 2023 just to ensure the Rays can spread innings around.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Run: 60. Field: 60. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Track Record: The Rays made one of the most surprising picks of the 2022 first round when they drafted Isaac with the 29th pick and signed him to the slot-recommended $2.548 million bonus. Isaac had missed the entire 2021 summer showcase circuit because of a broken bone in his foot, meaning MLB teams got very few chances to see him face top-level pitching. The track record of players with Isaac's profile of prep prospects who missed the summer showcase circuit is concerning. Recent other examples among first round picks include Austin Beck, Keonic Cavaco, Connor Scott and Jordyn Adams. All four have been disappointments as pros.

Scouting Report: The Rays are extremely confident in Isaac's bat, as that's his standout and only carrying tool. He is a massive (6-feet, 240 pounds) first baseman who is a below-average runner and currently a below-average fielder at first base. He actually looks more comfortable in the outfield, but with his frame and speed, is unlikely to stick there as a pro. If Isaac hits like the Rays believe, none of that will matter. Isaac has exceptional power potential with top-of-the-scale raw power that matches up with almost anyone. He also has shown bat-to-ball skills and the ability to use the whole field, but that was largely in games against non-competitive pitching.

The Future: Isaac had just 21 plate appearances with the Rays' Florida Complex League team in his pro debut, so it will be 2023 before evaluators get a feel for what he can do. He's a high-risk prospect, but one with a middle-of-the-lineup, home-run champ ceiling.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 65. FIeld: 40. Run: 30. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Low

Track Record: Rene Pinto made his MLB debut on April 26, 2022. He's also the second-longest employed Ray on the 40-man roster. Pinto signed with the Rays out of Venezuela in 2013. Only 2012 signee Yonny Chrinos has been a Ray longer among players on the current 40-man roster. Because he's a late-bloomer, Pinto was only added to the 40-man roster before the 2022 season, so he used only his first option while shuttling back-and-forth from Durham to Tampa Bay and back.

Scouting Report: Pinto fits the profile of an MLB backup catcher thanks to arm, power and defense. And he doesn't fit the profile of a starting catcher because of his struggles to consistently make contact. His significant swing-and-miss issues at the plate ensures he gets to that power only sporadically. Pinto should do better than the 42% strikeout rate he showed in his MLB debut, but his modest bat speed and bat-to-ball skills explain why he projects to be a well below-average hitter. He's a solid game-caller, but only an average receiver. Pinto does a good job of shutting down running games with a plus arm.

The Future: Pinto's 2023 season will largely be determined by the Rays other moves at catcher. Pinto is ready to serve as the Rays' backup catcher, but if the Rays add an external catcher and retain Francisco Mejia, Pinto would likely end up back as the No. 3 catcher for another year thanks to his two remaining options.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 55. Field: 50. Run: 40. Arm: 60.

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.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A rough finish to his junior season at Missouri knocked Misner out of the first round in the 2019 draft, but his power and speed meant he still only lasted to the 35th pick. The Marlins traded him to the Rays for infielder Joey Wendle. In his first season as a Ray, Misner led the Southern League in walks (84) and was third in on-base percentage (.384).

Scouting Report: Misner is a capable center fielder who has speed and power, but his troubles with strikeouts stand between him and a regular spot in the majors. Misner was too passive in 2022. It did help him pile up walks, but it left him behind in counts. Misner faced two strike counts three times as often as he saw three ball counts. Misner has a solid understanding of the strike zone, but his uphill swing path means he has a pretty small window of opportunity to make solid contact. Too often he misses pitches in the strike zone. Misner is a reliable, above-average defender in center field with an above-average arm. An above-average runner from home to first, he shows plus speed underway.

The Future: The Rays are an excellent fit for Misner, as Tampa Bay has shown it is willing to sacrifice some offense for excellent defense from its outfielders. Misner can play center, but as a Ray, he most likely fits as a plus defender in a corner who hits for power and draws walks. The Rays left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 60. Field: 60. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Suarez was a bit of a late-bloomer. The Marlins are one of the more patient teams on the international amateur market, so when Suarez showed quality stuff as a 17-year-old, they were well positioned to sign him for $385,000. He made his pro debut just 10 days after he signed and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the Dominican Summer League. The Rays acquired him as part of a four-player deal that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.

Scouting Report: Suarez is an extremely well-rounded pitching prospect with a chance to have three average or better pitches and above-average control and command. Suarez's maturity, clean arm action and athleticism make it easy for scouts to see him developing as a starting pitcher. He already shows feel for getting ahead of hitters thanks to his ability to land his curveball for strikes and he has a 92-95 mph fastball with the ride to work up in the zone. His changeup is less developed, but has enough promise to project as a future average pitch.

The Future: As soon as he became a Ray, Suarez became one of the team's best young pitching prospects. It's reasonable to expect him to make further velocity gains as he matures. He projects as a solid No. 4 starting pitcher.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Acquired in the 2020 trade that sent Nate Lowe to the Rangers, Hernandez set the Bowling Green single-season home run record with 24, but he also finished third in the South Atlantic League with 155 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Hernandez has hit the ball as hard as nearly anyone in the Rays organization for a couple of years. In 2022 he developed a better ability to lift the ball to hit long home runs rather than just screaming line drives and ground balls. Hernandez is going to have to hit for big power, as he has below-average bat-to-ball skills. He makes solid swing decisions, but trades plenty of swings and misses and strikeouts to hit the ball as hard as he does. A former catcher, Hernandez does not fit the Rays profile for an outfielder thanks to his defensive limitations. He's fringe-average at best in left or right field and isn't capable of playing center field. First base is an option as well, as the Rays haven't regularly played an outfielder who can't play center since Avisail Garcia in 2019.

The Future: Hernandez was left off the 40-man roster and unprotected and unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He remains an intriguing power prospect, but as he heads to Double-A, he need to make strides defensively and find a little more adjustability to his swing.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A draft-eligible sophomore who broke out at UNC-Wilmington in 2019, Jones has long been considered a promising prospect with very loud tools, but injuries and inconsistency have hampered his production.

Scouting Report: Jones had struggled in a late-season promotion to Double-A Montgomery in 2021, but that was a month after a strong half season at High-A Bowling Green. His 2022 season was much more troubling for his development. Jones has a level, flat swing that should help him make plenty of contact, but he swings through hittable pitches. He has a better righthanded swing than lefty with more consistency and more power. Jones has plus raw power (although it doesn't always play in games), a plus arm and plus-plus speed. He makes highlight plays defensively, but also struggles at times to make routine plays. Jones has only played shortstop with the Rays, but some scouts have long believed he could be even better in center field. Jones is a career 86% basestealer. Jones has battled shoulder, knee and quad injuries. His 79 games played in 2022 was actually a career high.

The Future: The pandemic did Jones no favors, as he didn't reach full-season ball until he was 23-years-old, but he has to start speeding up his development. The Rays demonstrated their continued faith in Jones by adding him to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the MLB Rule 5 draft. But Jones will turn 25 before the 2023 season begins. He'll need to make significant strides in his contact ability and his defensive consistency.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 45. Run: 70. Field: 55. Arm: 60

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: White has been developed to be a closer. He finished off games at Pearl River (Miss.) JC for two years, served as a setup man at Mississippi State and then moved right back into serving as a closer in pro ball. He climbed four minor league levels in 2021, and seemed ready to compete for a spot in the Rays bullpen, but he tore his ulnar collateral ligament and had Tommy John surgery in April 2022.

Scouting Report: White has the stuff to be a moment-of-truth reliever if he returns to his pre-injury form. As a short righthander with an extremely lively 94-98 mph fastball that consistently gets above hitters' bats at the top of the zone, White also mixes in a low-80s plus slider and a developing splitter. His changeup is below-average, but does keep lefties on their toes. White doesn't try to work the corners, but his fringe-average control is enough as he has enough stuff to beat hitters in the zone even if he's not painting the corners.

The Future: White was expected to be part of the Rays' bullpen in 2022 before his elbow injury caused a delay to those plans. The Rays still added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason, figuring that someone with his back-of-the-bullpen stuff would be nabbed if left to the Rule 5 draft. He should be ready to return by May or June, and could play a factor in the Rays bullpen in the second half of 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Slider: 60. Splitter: 45. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Illinois State has had a number of impressive future big leaguers in recent years, led by Paul DeJong and Owen Miller, but it's been quite a while since they had a slugger like Cermak. Cermak hit 19 home runs, which was the most by a Redbird hitter since 1999. A third baseman as a freshman, Cermak found a home in center field, where he had a knack for making highlight-caliber plays.

Scouting Report: Cermak fits a lot of the attributes the Rays look for in their outfield prospects. He's a center fielder with a plus arm that could capably fit in a corner as well. He's also an above-average runner. Cermak has plenty of bat speed and looks to do damage with plus power. He can get too aggressive, as he'll need to better lay off sliders off the plate in pro ball.

The Future: Cermak got a seven-game stint in the Florida Complex League to start to get acclimated to pro ball. He'll get a much heavier workload in 2023. He projects as a power-oriented well-rounded center fielder.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Georgia Tech's single-season batting average leaderboard is a remarkable who's who. Jay Payton's .434 is the Yellow Jackets' single-season record. Coming into 2022, Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, Riccardo Ingram and Jason Varitek were the rest of the top five. But Simpson, a transfer from Alabama-Birmingham, just missed breaking Payton's record with a .433 junior season that led the nation by 22 points.

Scouting Report: Simpson is a true throwback as a contact hitter who relies heavily on his top-of-the-scale speed. His speed is a true game changer. He scored from second on a sacrifice fly in a college game in 2022 without an error. He also was one of the hardest hitters in college baseball to strike out. Simpson played second base in college, where his sidearm throwing motion was somewhat stressed. The Rays moved him to left field immediately, where he has the speed to cover massive amounts of ground. He could

The Future: Simpson is the type of player who barely exists in the current pro game. He has bottom-of-the-scale power, but he has the speed to beat out hits on ground balls hit to shortstop or third base. The new pickoff rules, pitch clock and bigger bases all should help Simpson raise havoc on the basepaths.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 20. Run: 80. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Colmenarez was the Rays' top target and one of the top prospects in the 2020 international amateur class that got delayed to a Jan 15, 2021 signing date. After an injury-marred 2021 season in the Dominican Summer League, Colmenarez sandwiched two poor months around an excellent July (.302/.413/.453) in his domestic debut in the Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Colmenarez was seen as one of the more advanced hitters in his signing class, but he's struggled with pitch selection and approach at times as a pro. He needs to get better at recognizing and hitting breaking balls. Defensively, Colmenarez has lived up to expectations. He has above-average range and a plus arm, and he showed reliability as well, making only three errors in 23 games.

The Future: Colmenarez's logical next step is Low-A Charleston, but he needs to take more controlled swings and a better approach if he's going to handle the jump to a significantly more advanced level. He still has the potential to be an everyday regular as a lefthanded hitting shortstop who's capable of handling the defensive responsibilities, but he's likely to be a one-level a year prospect.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Field: 55. Run: 55. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Sasaki was the Rays' most improved prospect in 2022. Before the season began, he appeared on track to be an org player as an outfielder who could run and play center field, but didn't hit with enough authority to project as a big leaguer. Before 2022, Sasaki would normally lose weight throughout the season. He added 10-15 pounds of good weight and then maintained it through the season while making better swing decisions. He was one of the best players on Baseball America's 2022 MiLB Team of the Year.

Scouting Report: Sasaki is a top or bottom of the order table setter who knows that's what he is. His improved strength now allows him to line balls to the gaps, but he's not a home run threat. Sasaki has also improved his pitch recognition and become more selective, staying in the strike zone. His two-strike approach is now what you want in a He's an above-average defender in center field with a fringe-average arm. That might not be enough to play center for the Rays, as they are a team that wants top-of-the-scale defenders in center, but it will play for a lot of teams.

The Future: Sasaki put himself on the prospect radar with his breakout season, but he needs to now build on that.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 70. Field: 55. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Johnson was one of Duke's best relievers in 2021. He moved into the rotation as Duke's Friday night starter for 2022, but he struggled in the new role, even if he continued to show solid stuff and the ability to both miss bats and throw strikes. The Rays acquired him and Santiago Suarez in the November 2022 trade that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.

Scouting Report: Johnson was hit hard for a pitcher with quality stuff. His average fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95 as a starter and he's touched 97 as a reliever. It doesn't have particularly notable movement characteristics, so it's better as a pitch to set up his secondaries more than it is a bat-misser on its own. His low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup both also have promise to be above-average pitches or better. He will sometimes tip his changeup by slowing his arm speed, but it has tumble and fade when he throws it properly. His slider has plenty of sweep and bat-missing potential.

The Future: Johnson's success has come as a reliever, not as a starter, but the Rays see Johnson having starter traits, and they will continue to develop him as such.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: A $10,000 senior sign as a 2017 Twins 10th-round pick, Faucher's development has been entirely as a reliever. He pitched in the bullpen at Southwestern (Calif.) JC, the closer for UC Irvine and a reliever in five seasons in the minors before he made his MLB debut on May 9, 2022. The Rays acquired Faucher along with DH Nelson Cruz for Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman in July 2021.

Scouting Report: When Faucher was drafted, he threw a low-90s fastball and a low-80s slider. Now, his slider sits in the same velocity range as he fastball did coming out of school. Faucher's hard 88-91 mph slider is a plus pitch with sweep but very modest depth, producing chases and swings and misses from righties. His mid-80s curveball has flashed plus potential, especially against lefthanded hitters, with vertical depth but he seemed to lose confidence in it in 2022. Faucher's mid-90s fastball is only average, and becomes less effective when he's behind in counts and hitters can hunt for it. Faucher's control and command are only fringe-average and he struggles at times to throw strikes. He searched for a comfortable spot on the pitching rubber all year, going from the first base to third base side of the rubber.

The Future: Faucher should fit in the Rays' bullpen mix in 2023 as a reliever with two remaining options.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 45

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Kelly spent two seasons in James Madison's rotation including a year as the school's Friday starter before the Guardians selected him in the 19th round. The Guardians immediately moved him to the bullpen. His lone pro start is as a two-inning opener, but his time as a college starter has helped him battle and show plenty of guile. Even with a crowded 40-man roster, the Rays liked Kelly enough to pay cash to the Rockies to get the Rockies to pick him for them in the Rule 5 draft.

Scouting Report: Kelly is a sidearmer who rarely dominates, but never gets dominated. There's nothing all that flashy about his low-90s sinker, his four-seam fastball or his sweepy average slider. But hitters rarely square Kelly up, and more often, they end up hitting a grounder off his sinker or slider for weak contact. Like a number of sinker-slider righthanders, he's deadly to righthanded hitters but more vulnerable against lefties, although he can drop over a curve to try to give them something else to worry about.

The Future: The Rays love to give hitters different looks when they go to the bullpen. Kelly fits that perfectly, and he was one of the most MLB-ready pitchers available in the Rule 5 draft as a reliever with more than 30 successful outings at Triple-A.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Curveball: 45. Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Guerrero was one of the top position players available in the 2023 international amateur class, as the lefthanded hitter landed a $3.7 million bonus from the Rays. Unlike many 16-year-olds, Guerrero has present physicality with a well-built, 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame.

Scouting Report: Guerrero's game is built around power and offensive impact. Without selling out for power, he generates future plus raw power, with some scouts seeing plus-plus raw power in his future. His batting eye and timing should allow him to get to that power, as he has a relatively mature approach in the box. Guerrero's defense and athleticism are limited. He's already a below-average runner who is limited to the outfield corners, and may eventually end up at first base.

The Future: If Guerrero hits like the Rays' expect, his limited defensive role will not be a big deal at all. He'll head to the Dominican Summer League this summer to make his pro debut.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Field: 45. Run: 40. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Pitchers are rarely top targets on the international amateur market, in part because the track record for those pitchers who land big bonuses is mixed at best, but also because there are many examples of pitchers who seemed to be modest prospects on signining day, but who then blossom in pro ball. Urbina already looks like another example. He was sitting 90-91 mph when the Rays were scouting him, but he's now blossomed into a fireballer who can touch 96-97 mph with his fastball.

Scouting Report: Urbina's potentially plus fastball already sits 93-98 mph and he mixes in a hard 79-81 curveball that could give him a second above-average or better pitch. He has a hard high-80s changeup that is less developed. He shows feel for setting up hitters and hitting his spots, having learned how to succeed with less stuff before his velocity jumped.

The Future: Urbina is many years from Tampa Bay, but he's a teenage arm worth keeping a close eye on. He'll join the Rays' Dominican Summer League team this summer where his mixture of plus stuff and feel for pitching gives him a chance to have instant success.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A massive 6-foot-8 righthander, Vernon is likely to be the last player ever drafted out of North Carolina Central, as the school cut its baseball program at the end of his draft season. He served as a long reliever/spot starter by design in 2022 as it helped him get more innings to work on his delivery.

Scouting Report: He may have started in 2022, but Vernon's effortful and almost violent delivery and long arm action beckon for a bullpen role. Vernon's success is largely thanks to a devastating plus slider. He often shows better control and command of it than his fastball, and Class A hitters were utterly defenseless when he threw it in advantageous counts. Vernon's fastball gives hitters a second above-average pitch to worry about. His struggles to control it sometimes hindered its effectiveness in 2022, but it has outstanding carry with nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break, bushels of run and he sits 94-96 mph while touching 97-98. He has an average changeup as well. It's his below-average control that is his biggest hurdle.

The Future: Vernon has the stuff to be a useful reliever, but there's a lot of refinement still to go. He has smoothed out his delivery somewhat compared to what it was in college, but it still is difficult to repeat. But his stuff is top-shelf.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 65. Changeup: 55. Control: 40.