According to MLB Pipeline, the Tampa Bay Rays have the number one farm system in baseball once again.
The Rays took the top honors while the Detroit Tigers finished second and the Seattle Mariners third.
The Rays also have the number one prospect in all of Major League baseball for the second consecutive season.
Wander Franco is the Ray’s top prospect and has been the last two seasons, but will start the season in the minor leagues.
Franco hitting .222 on the spring will make his MLB debut sometime this season at Tropicana Field. There are bound to be injuries or even some trades that will free up some playing time for Franco.
Pitcher Luis Patino acquired from San Diego in the Blake Snell trade, is the number two Rays prospect, while Randy Arozarena comes in at number three.
Rounding out the top ten prospects in the Rays organizations are Vidal Brujan, Brendan McKay, Shane McClanahan, Xavier Edwards, Shane Baz, Taylor Walls, and Greg Jones.
When taking into all account all 30 MLB teams, here is how the Rays prospects rank,
- Shortstop Wander Franco
- Pitcher Luis Patino
- Outfielder Randy Arozarena
- Infielder Vidal Brujan
- Pitcher Brendan McKay
- Pitcher Shane McClanahan
- Infielder Xavier Edwards
- Pitcher Shane Baz
Why were the Rays selected as the number one farm system in baseball? Talent and depth.
No less than six of the top prospects should make their debut with the Rays this season, while an additional handful of prospects are on track to make their debut in 2022.
The talent level and the organization’s depth are reasons that pitcher Chris Archer decided to come back with Tampa on a one-year deal.
“It’s just crazy how talented the Rays farm system is,” Chris Archer said. “That was part of the draw in coming back, knowing that not only the 25 to 35 guys that we’ll use in the season are good. We’re super, super deep, too. So if things do happen and someone needs to step up, we’ve got guys ready.”
Rays outfielder Kevin Keirmaier also weighed in on how deep the Rays organization is. Our farm system is what it is. It’s ranked No. 1 for a reason. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen more depth in a Minor League system, and then the talent you have in the big leagues; what a great combo to have. You’ve got a lot of guys who are waiting for their names to be called. But man, the Rays, they have an eye for talent in many regards.”
With Ray’s top prospect Wander Franco and top pitching prospect, Shane McClanahan, assigned to the minor league camp, both of these prospects will hear their names called sooner rather than later in Tampa.
—The Rays announced earlier this week that Tyler Glasnow would be the opening day starter in Miami against the Marlins. Glasnow went 5-1 with a 4.08 ERA during the 2020 season.
Glasnow joins a rotation of Chris Archer, Ryan Yarbrough, Rich Hill, and Michael Wacha.
-The over/under is out on the projected win totals for the 2021 season. And the Rays are projected at 86 wins. I am putting my money on the over as the Rays will win more than 86 games.
According to Vegas, the Dodgers at 103.5 wins, the Yankees at 97, San Diego at 93.5, and Atlanta at 91 are the projected win totals for the top four teams.
