Corey Ray

Ray's 27 homers and 37 steals at Double-A do not oversell his power or speed. His hit tool was also accurately represented: he hit .239 with a 29.3 K%. The pitcher-friendly Florida State League suppressed his numbers in 2017. He upped his ISO from .129 to .239, which is much more in line with his pre-draft (Ray was the No. 5 overall pick in 2016) scouting reports. He can go the other way (30.1 Oppo%) and is adept at getting the ball in the air (37.1 GB%), but contact skills are lacking. Despite his 70-grade speed, Ray is a better fit in left than in center, and it is unlikely that a contending team would put up with his defense in center or his bat in a corner. Entering his age 24 season, the big concern is that the paint has started to dry and Ray is what he is -- a player with very exciting raw tools who may never hit big-league pitching. Ideally the Brewers will be able to trade Ray to a rebuilding club, otherwise he may max out as a fourth outfielder.

Ray entered last season as one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but that was about the only thing that went right for him in 2017. He was expected to move up the ranks quickly after being selected fifth overall in 2017 out of the University of Louisville, but even after playing the bulk of his first professional season at the High-A level the year he was drafted, he failed to advance past that level last year while posting an unsightly .679 OPS over 112 games. Contact, and strikeouts in general, were a major issue for Ray. He has a rare combination of plus raw power and 70-grade speed, but has struggled to handle premium velocity and his overall approach needs a lot of work. Ray's physical tools and struggles in pro ball make him incredibly difficult to value in dynasty leagues. Some owners will see a buy-low opportunity while others will be tempted to cut their losses. Unless he can be flipped for a surefire top-100 prospect, the pragmatic move is to stay the course for one more year.

Ray made the most of his time in college, as he elevated his draft stock from the 33rd round out of high school in 2013 to fifth overall in 2016, Milwaukee's first selection in the draft. His all-around skill set of speed, power, contact and defense made him a star both for the University of Louisville and the United States national team, which he led in OPS over the summer. Given his experience, the Brewers threw him right into the fire of full-season ball, and he struggled a bit at High-A Brevard County, where he mustered just a .247/.307/.385 batting line. Still, it's far too early in his career to make much of his statistical performance. Ray has the makeup and tools to be a first-division center fielder, even if he's still a few years away from the majors. How he responds to October surgery to fix torn cartilage in his knee could determine his next steps in 2017. Even with the offseason surgery and his lack of initial success, he is a top-three target for dynasty leagues from what was a relatively weak draft class.