Tampa Bay Rays dominate MLBs top ten 2B prospects

The Tampa Bay Rays have two of MLB.com’s top four 2B prospects in their system.

MLB.com has released its top ten prospects at second base. The rich farm system of the Tampa Bay Rays has landed two prospects within the top four of the rankings.

Here’s a quick look at how MLB.com grades prospects:

Scouting grades have been a staple of MLB.com’s prospect coverage for years, and they generally match how clubs grade players as well. Players are graded on a 20-80 scale: 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.

3. Vidal Brujan

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55*

Vidal Brujan was signed for just $15,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2014. He broke out in 2018 leading all of minor league baseball with 112 runs scored and stealing 55 bases.

Over the past two seasons, he has stolen a combined 113 bases. Brujan’s career on-base percentage sits at .377 throughout five seasons in the minors.

Brujan’s highest level of play so far was in Double-A last season. In that season he posted a .266/.336/.391 slash line. He stole 24 bags and was caught eight times.

He’s not much of a slugger with a .417 SLG during his minor league career, the ranginess on defense and potential speed he brings to the table are appetizing.

4. Xavier Edwards

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 30 | Run: 70 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55*

Xavier Edwards is right behind Brujan at the number four spot on the list. Edwards was recently acquired by the Rays in the trade that sent Tommy Pham to San Diego. That same trade also brought Hunter Renfroe to St. Petersburg.

Like Brujan, Edwards clocks in with a 70-speed rating. At only 19-years-old last season, Edwards posted a .336/.392/.414 slash line with the Single-A Fort Wayne Tin Caps.

The Rays are certainly stacked at the position for years to come if you include Brandon Lowe who is the current starting second baseman on the Major League roster.

Time will only tell how the Rays plan to use all of this minor league talent as they move forward. Either way, it’s a good position to be in.

*Copied from MLB.com’s prospect profiles.