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Brent Honeywell, Willy Adames lead Rays prospects in Baseball America’s top 100

McKay, Bauers, Sanchez, Franco also make list; only one team had more than six.
 
Published Jan. 22, 2018

The Rays had two players in the top 20 and six overall in Baseball America's annual ranking of the game's top 100 prospects.

RHP Brent Honeywell heads the Rays contingent at No. 14 with shortstop Willy Adames at No. 19.

The other ranked Rays are 1B/LHP and 2017 top draft pick Brendan McKay (39),  1B Jake Bauers (45), OF Jesus Sanchez (49) and SS Wander Franco (96).

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Honeywell, Adames and Bauers played together last season at Triple-A Durham and all will be in spring training this year and likely to play in the majors at some point, though not likely at the start of the season.

McKay, the top pick of the 2017 draft from Louisville, is likely to be a two-way player at Class A Charlotte, and should be joined there by Sanchez, who played last season at Bowling Green. Franco was just signed in July as 16-year-old.

Having six players in the top 100 is second best, with only the Braves, who have top prospect OF Ronald Acuna and seven  others, ranking higher. The other ranked Braves are: Luiz Gohara (23), Mike Soroka (27), Kyle Wright (34), Ian Anderson (42), Austin Riley (54), Kolby Allard (65), Max Fried (72).

RELATED: Sweet swing has Bauers poised for stardom

Other teams with six on the list are:

Brewers: Lewis Brinson (18), Keston Hiura (47), Brandon Woodruff (61), Corbin Burnes (74), Monte Harrison (75), Brett Phillips (80)

Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. (9), MacKenzie Gore (26), Michel Baez (28), Luis Urias (32), Cal Quantril (52), Adrian Morejon (66).

Yankees: Gleyber Torres (6), Estevan Florial (38), Justus Sheffield (41), Miguel Andujar (59), Albert Abreu (77), Chance Adams (81).

Notably missing for the Rays are INF Christian Arroyo, who was the headliner of the trade return from San Francisco for Evan Longoria, and SS Lucius Fox, who played in the All-Star Futures Game last July.