Tampa Bay Rays: Predicting the 4th Overall Pick in the MLB Draft

The 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft is slated for June 12.  The Tampa Bay Rays are picking fourth overall after a disappointing 68-94 finish in 2016.

There’s no question that there has been a lack of success in the draft with Tampa Bay Rays, but where does the blame fall?  The scouting department’s lack of ability to find future big leaguers?  The organization’s lack of ability to develop talent?  It’s hard to say.

However, the past is the past and the draft is a mere month or so away.  With the Tampa Bay Rays currently sputtering and disappointing once again this year due to the lack of solidarity in the bullpen, this is a very important draft for a franchise that has a majority of its top prospects looming in Durham.

The Tampa Bay Rays need one thing, and thing only at this spot in the draft:  an elite college bat.

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There are going to be numerous of possibilities floating around at fourth overall.  Hunter Greene, a two-way player in the prep ranks hailing from Notre Dame HS (CA) is likely going to go in the top-three, if not first overall.  Greene has been seen has the unanimous top prospect as far as pure talent goes in this class.

However, Pavin Smith is the guy that stands out to me the most in this slot.  Smith, a junior 1B/OF from the University of Virginia who has the potential to hit for power without striking out a ton.

Smith is currently hitting .352 with 10 home runs and just seven strikeouts in 179 at bats.  Yes, just seven.  That type of discipline and vision will bode well for a quick advancement through the minors.

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• Tampa Bay Rays give richest contract in franchise history to Wander Franco
• Rays: Just how good was Randy Arozarena’s rookie season?
• Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino stands out despite low batting average
• Tampa Bay Rays’ playoff loss comes despite ‘playing better than they played’
• Rays’ Randy Arozarena turns back the clock with timeless memories

This pick could work perfectly for Tampa Bay Rays.  As of right now, the first basemen of the ‘future’ include Jake Bauers and Casey Gillaspie.  Gillaspie, the Rays first rounder in 2014 from Wichita State, has been very underwhelming since turning pro and is currently hitting .209 in 91 at bats in AAA.  Gillaspie will never be more than quadruple-A player.

Bauers on the other hand, has done nothing but hit since being acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second Wil Myers trade.  If the Rays draft Smith, this will ultimately shift Bauers back into the corner-outfield alongside Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr.  Unlike Gillaspie, Bauers is a guy with a bright future in St. Petersburg.

With the team under-performing once again, it will be likely to see a trade of an arm (Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Alex Cobb) by the deadline unless the team picks it back up and begins to perform to their full ability.

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The Rays could very easily go college arm at number four, but ultimately Smith, the left-handed slugger from the University of Virginia is undoubtedly the best fit for Tampa Bay.