2021 DRaysBay Community Prospect List special election: Blake Snell Trade Edition

We are placing up to three prospects

Previous Winner

LHP Josh Fleming (6’2 220, 25 in 2021)

2020 statistics with Tampa Bay: 32 ¹⁄₃ IP, 2.78 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 5.4 BB%, 19.2 K%

Fleming has pitched pretty well in his pro career, and he earned a chance to make his major league debut in 2020. He made appearances in the ALCS and World Series. Baseball America rated his changeup as the best in the organization, but among his secondary pitches, he used his slider more in the majors. He has always thrown a lot of strikes, and he continued to do so with the Rays.

Fleming leaps from 26 to 15 this season, and one has to wonder if that is too low, should the lefty prove himself worthy of the Rays rotation again in 2021.

Here’s where the Top-15 stands:

The trade of Blake Snell to the San Diego Padres has returned three prospects that Baseball America had ranked in their top ten, including RHP Luis Patiño who is a top-ten prospect in all of baseball at some sites.

So it’s time for another Special Election — but this time with three players to consider. We will begin with the big fish

Here’s how this will work.

All three prospects with rookie eligibility are being considered in this poll: RHP Luis Patiño, RHP Cole Wilcox, and C Blake Hunt.

Under each player’s name, reply with the position on the list you think each player should occupy.

For Example: A comment under Patiño for “2nd” indicates you are voting for the pitcher to go between Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena on the list. A comment under Hunt for “10th,” between Taylor Walls and Brent Honeywell Jr. This will count as one vote.

If someone has already provided the position on the list you’d like to vote for, respond to that comment with a +1.

Please consider each player you are voting for on this list independent of the other candidates. In the unlikely event you think two of the players up for vote slot together at a place on the list, explain which you have above the other in the Discussion section and we will take that into consideration.

Because of the wide variety of opinions in these votes, we’ll average each selection and place each player based on that score.

Let’s get to the voting!

RHP Luis Patiño (6’1 192, 21 in 2021)

2020 statistics with San Diego: 17 ¹⁄₃ IP, 5.19 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 16.5 BB%, 24.7 K%)

Patiño was the headliner in the Blake Snell trade. He was one of the youngest pitchers in the league, but the Padres trusted him enough to include him on their playoff roster. He has the stuff to be an elite pitcher. His fastball averaged 96.8 mph, albeit mostly in relief. His slider and changeup can both be above-average pitches as well. Like a lot of young pitchers, he’ll need to throw more strikes.

RHP Cole Wilcox (6’5 232, 21 in 2021)

Drafted in 2020

Wilcox’s $3.3 million bonus was a record for a third-round pick because he was a first-round talent. He could’ve been a first-round pick in 2018 as well, but he was determined to go to Georgia, where he impressed in limited innings as a sophomore this season. His mid-90s fastball and hard slider at least give him an opportunity to be a high-leverage reliever. Whether he starts is up to the development of his changeup and control.

C Blake Hunt (R/R, 6’3 215, 22 in 2021)

2019 statistics with Class-A Fort Wayne: 376 PA, .255/.331/.381, 5 HR, 29 XBH, 9.3 BB%, 17.8 K%

The Rays are still in search of a long-term catcher, and Hunt has the defensive ability they look for. Even though he’s big for the position, he can receive and throw, and he has the intangible qualities teams value behind the plate. How much will he hit? He has power potential and doesn’t strike out an overwhelming amount, but his hit tool lags behind his others.