Rays deem Honeywell, Gillaspie best on farm

Casey Gillaspie and Brent Honeywell were two of the Rays' first three Draft picks in 2014. The future of the franchise then, they're winning awards together now.

Tampa Bay's No. 2 prospect Honeywell was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year while Gillaspie was honored as Player of the Year on Monday

Honeywell climbed to Double-A for the first time this season, earning the promotion after starting the year 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 10 starts with Class A Advanced Charlotte. After jumping to Montgomery, the 21-year-old went 3-2 with a 2.28 mark in 10 Southern League outings. His combined ERA of 2.34 was tops among Rays prospects with at least 100 innings pitched. In total, the right-hander struck out 117 batters while walking just 25 over 115 1/3 innings.

Undrafted out of high school, MLB.com's No. 40 overall prospect went to the Rays out of junior college with the 72nd overall selection two years ago. The Carnesville, Georgia product made an immediate impression, posting a 1.07 ERA in his first nine appearances that year and going a combined 9-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 24 starts between Class A Bowling Green and Charlotte in 2015.

Gillaspie was one step ahead of Honeywell on the Rays organizational ladder, starting the year by batting .270/.387/.454 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs in 85 games with Montgomery before a promotion to Triple-A Durham. With the Bulls, the 20th overall pick in 2014 hit .307/.389/520 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 47 games.

A product of Wichita State, the switch-hitter set a career high with 18 homers in 2016. Gillaspie was tabbed a Southern League All-Star and ranked fourth on the circuit with 11 homers when he was promoted. The Rays' No. 9 prospect tallied 22 extra-base hits with the Bulls, third in the International League during the second half of the season.

The Rays honored Bowling Green outfielder Zac Law as the winner of the club's Erik Walker Community Champion Award, an accolade given to a Minor Leaguer "who exemplifies teamwork, sportsmanship and community involvement."

Tampa Bay picked Class A Short Season Hudson Valley outfielder Jake Fraley, taken 77th overall in the June Draft, as Baserunner of the Year while his Renegades teammate Joe Serrapica was named Reliever of the Year. Charlotte catcher Nick Ciuffo was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year.