Nick Melotte's Rays Top 20 Prospects

Take a sampling of my "secret sauce" if you will, and a more detailed breakdown of the process that goes into how I rank prospects.

The Grading System

My grading system will be familiar to those who keep up with college football recruiting or played the MLB2K video game series as I use a star rating system from one to five stars with half grades in between. An outline of what each level would represent looks like this, but remember these are examples and not definite.

The cream of the crop. A five star rating is reserved for the elite talents of the minor leagues. These players do not have a glaring weakness and if there is a blemish on their record, it is miniscule. Don't expect to see many of these, as this is reserved for players with the best chance to become super stars or top of the rotation stalwarts. Call this a 75-80 or A rating.

The rest of the elite. A 4.5 star rating encompasses players that are still elite, but not the potential mega stars a five star player would have. Receiving a 4.5 star rating means the player has all-star caliber potential with a good chance of being in a contending team's starting line up and have a long career. A 4.5 star pitcher could be generalized as a future #2 or 3 starter. Equal to 60-70 or A-/B+ type.

Garnering a four star rating means the player has the potential to be a productive major leaguer with an all-star season or two in his career. Four star players should develop into regulars in the lineup, dominant relief arms or a mid-rotation starters. This kind of player may have a true talent level higher but injuries may hold him back from reaching their full potential. Similar to a B/B- or 50-55 rated player.

A player receiving 3.5 stars projects to see time as starters in the majors, but more than likely on a team out of the playoff picture where a below-average season once in awhile won't kill them. Innings eating strike throwers would fall into this category, as would set up men and defensive-oriented starters. This would be a 45 or B-type of player.

Three star players are your 4th outfielders and relievers with live arms and control problems. Hitters who may lack enough tools to hold down a starting gig, futures as a platoon players, and swing men types capable of spot starting would be three star players. Recent IFA's with little or no track record usually are included here as well. A low 45/high 40 grade or C+/C type player would fall here.

Not every one gets to collect MLB paychecks, but some get them every once in awhile. 2.5 star players are your up and down guys who shuttle between the big leagues and AAA. September cups of coffee cielings fall here, as are the injury replacements and players riding the waiver wire. These players aren't expected to make any serious impact. 40 grade players and C type or lower organizational filler.

Anything below 2.5 stars is someone who doesn't project to be a major league player, therefore they are not mentioned.

With the grading system explained, here are the top 20 prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. All ages are for the upcoming 2015 season, and affiliates mentioned are where I project them to begin the year.

Previous Rankings and #1 Prospects

Atlanta Braves - 2B Jose Peraza

Miami Marlins - RHP Tyler Kolek

New York Mets - RHP Noah Syndergaard

Philadelphia Phillies - SS JP Crawford

Washington Nationals - RHP Lucas Giolito

Baltimore Orioles - RHP Dylan Bundy

Boston Red Sox - IF Yoan Moncada

New York Yankees - RHP Luis Severino

Tampa Bay Rays

Due to the lack of 4.5 or 5 star players and a time crunch, there will be no write-ups on the players, but feel free to comment and ask any questions you have about a particular player.

1. SS Willy Adames - 19 years old, A+ Charlotte

2. SS Daniel Robertson - 21 years old, AA Montgomery

3. CF Steven Souza - 26 years old, MLB Tampa Bay

4. C Justin O'Conner - 23 years old, AA Montgomery

5. RHSP Taylor Guerrieri - 22 years old, Low A Bowling Green

6. RHSP Brent Honeywell - 19 years old, Low A Bowling Green

7. LHSP Blake Snell - 22 years old, AA Montgomery

8. 1B Casey Gillaspie - 22 years old, Low A Bowling Green

9. 2B Ryan Brett - 23 years old, AAA Durham

10. RHSP Alex Colome - 26 years old, MLB Tampa Bay

11. LF Justin Williams - 19 years old, A+ Charlotte

12. SS Andrew Velazquez - 20 years old, A+ Charlotte

13. RHSP Dylan Floro - 24 years old, AAA Durham

14. CF Mikie Mahtook - 25 years old, AAA Durham

15. CF Johnny Field - 23 years old, AA Montgomery

16. RHSP Jacob Faria - 21 years old, A+ Charlotte

17. RHSP German Marquez - 20 years old, A+ Charlotte

18. LHSP Enny Romero - 24 years old, AAA Durham

19. SS Adrian Rondon - 17 years old, GCL Rays

20. RHSP Ryne Stanek - 23 years old, A+ Charlotte

Honorable Mentions (three star players, in no particular order) - 1B Jake Bauers, 1B Patrick Leonard, SS Cristian Toribio, LF Hunter Lockwood, RF Taylor Motter, 3B Richie Shaffer, CF Thomas Milone, SS Hak-Ju Lee, RHP Matt Andriese, RHP Nate Karns, RHP Hunter Wood, RHP Greg Harris, LHP Grayson Garvin, RHP Jaime Schultz, RHP Henry Centeno, RHP Nolan Gannon, RHP Burch Smith, and RHP Jose Mujica.

	Tampa Bay Rays	Age	Pos	Team	Stars
1	Willy Adames	19	SS	A	4
2	Daniel Robertson	21	SS	A+	4
3	Steven Souza	26	CF	MLB	4
4	Justin O'Conner	23	C	AA	4
5	Taylor Guerrieri	22	RHSP	R	4
6	Brent Honeywell	19	RHSP	R+	4
7	Blake Snell	22	LHSP	A+	4
8	Casey Gillaspie	22	1B	A-	4
9	Ryan Brett	23	2B	AA	3.5
10	Alex Colome	26	RHSP	AAA	3.5
11	Justin Williams	19	LF	A	3.5
12	Andrew Velazquez	20	SS	A	3.5
13	Dylan Floro	24	RHSP	AA	3.5
14	Mikie Mahtook	25	CF	AAA	3.5
15	Johnny Field	23	CF	A+	3.5
16	Jacob Faria	21	RHSP	A	3.5
17	German Marquez	20	RHSP	A	3.5
18	Enny Romero	24	LHSP	AAA	3.5
19	Adrian Rondon	17	SS	DNP	3.5
20	Ryne Stanek	23	RHSP	A+	3.5

Team Codes: AAA - Durham Bulls, AA - Montgomery Biscuits, A+ - Charlotte Stone Crabs, A - Bowling Green Hot Rods, A- - Hudson Valley Renegades, R+ - Princeton Rays, R - GCL Rays, DSL - Dominican Summer League Rays, VSL - Venezuelan Summer League Rays.