Tampa Bay Rays 2016 Top 10 Prospects: Where Are They Now?

4. Jake Bauers

Jake Bauers was drafted in the seventh round of the 2013 draft by the San Diego Padres. In 2014, he hit .296 with eight homers and 64 RBI in just 112 games. Following the season, the Padres cashed in on Bauers potential. They traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal that put Wil Myers in a Padres uniform.

He began his journey through the Rays’ system with the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.He was promoted to AA-Montgomery that season. In total, he appeared in 128 games and slashed .272/.342/.418 with 11 homers and 74 RBI.

His numbers were similar in his age-20 season in 2016 at AA-Montgomery. He slashed .274/.370/.420. He was showing a propensity to get on base and developing power. He had hit 32 doubles the previous year and added 28 more in 2016.

He opened the 2017 season in AAA-Durham where he blasted 31 doubles, 13 homers, 63 RBI, and stole 20 bases. He once again posted a solid on-base percentage with a .368.

He opened 2018 in Triple-A again, slashing .279/.357/.426 and was called up to the big clu. Bauers hit 11 homers in 323 at-bats with the Rays. He drove in 48 runs, walked 54 times, and stole six bags. He finished his first run in the Majors with a .201/316/.384 slash line.

Yandy Trade

The Rays were able to trade Bauers in the offseason for Yandy Diaz. Bauers struggled in Cleveland last season with a .226/.312/.371 slash and found himself in Triple-A.

Meanwhile, Yandy Diaz served as a key piece in the Rays 96-win season and subsequent playoff run, as he hit two homers in the AL Wild Card game.