Today’s preview features the Salt River Rafters who finished second in the AFL East in 2015 (16-13).

The Rafters feature players from the following major league teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers.

Baseball Factory Alumni

Chris Ellis

Chris Ellis (RHP) – Parent Club: Atlanta Braves

Ellis was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third round of the 2014 Draft out of the University of Mississippi, spending 2014 & 2015 in the Angels organization before being traded to the Braves in the deal that sent shortstop Andrelton Simmons to Anaheim in November, 2015.

Ellis went 11-9 with a 3.90 ERA and the ability to get hitters out with his fastball, racking up 132 strikeouts in 140 2/3 innings pitched in ’15. He followed that up with a 12-9 mark between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett with a 4.49 ERA in 28 starts this season.

Baseball Factory saw Ellis at the Team One South event back in June of 2010 where he showed an outstanding fastball, topping out at 90 MPH with loose, easy arm action as scouts declared he would be an impact pitcher at the next level and beyond.

Spencer Turnbull

Spencer Turnbull (RHP) – Parent Club: Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers selected Turnbull in the second round out of the University of Alabama in 2014 and the Mississippi native has not disappointed, as he finished this season at High-A with Lakeland.

Turnbull, who also participated in the 2010 Team One South Showcase, has the body type to be a durable pitcher as he featured an effortless delivery and fastball in the upper 80s during the event.

After an 11-3 campaign in 2015 where he spent the entire season with West Michigan, Turnbull battled back from a right shoulder impingement suffered before spring training to make a handful of starts to get his innings up in rookie ball with Tigers West and East. He finished the season with Lakeland where he made six starts, posting a 3.00 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 30.0 innings pitched.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Turnbull reported his shoulder felt fine as he saw a rise in his velocity, coinciding with a return to solid health. The opportunity to pitch in the Arizona Fall League will provide him more assurance and innings under his belt heading int0 2017.

Grayson Greiner

Grayson Greiner (C) – Parent Club: Detroit Tigers

Yet another Tiger prospect featured in this article is the Columbia, SC native who was the team’s third round selection in 2014 out of the University of South Carolina.

Hitting for a solid average and showing power, Greiner jumped three levels very quickly this season, starting out at Lakeland, Double-A Erie in June and finishing the season with Triple-A Toledo. Grayson hit .293 overall with 15 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 42 RBI in 91 games.

We saw the potential that Greiner had with his glove and the bat, named an Under Armour Pre-Season All-American in 2010 showing sound skills with his hands and footwork behind the plate during the event. Five months later at the 2010 Team One South event, scouts saw a player with a pro body with pop times in the 1.9 range and an explosive bat with power.

JaCoby Jones

JaCoby Jones (OF) – Parent Club: Detroit Tigers

Jones had a feel good moment in the majors during his first game after being called up, August 30th against the Chicago White Sox. Jones, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2013 amateur draft and later traded to Detroit in July of 2015, drove in the go-ahead run with his family in the stands to give the Tigers an 8-4 victory.

Before his call-up, the 2009 Under Armour All-American hit .257 in 99 games between Erie and Toledo, with 20 doubles, seven triples, seven homers, 43 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

During the All-America Game, Jones showed as a fast-twitch, athletic outfielder with above average arm strength and speed.

Brett ‘Maverick’ Phillips

Brett Maverick Phillips (OF) – Parent Club: Milwaukee Brewers

Phillips was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 Draft out of Seminole High School in Seminole, FL by the Houston Astros. He was later traded to the Brewers, becoming their No.2 Prospect in the organization. While his average was much lower in 2016 (.229) than in 2015 (.309), the Brewers have to be pleased with his power, blasting 16 homers at Double-A Biloxi while driving in 62 runs in 124 games.

We first saw Phillips at an Under Armour Baseball Factory College PREP event in Sanford, FL back in July of 2009, showing as a solid, young outfielder with a strong, accurate arm and good fundamental ideas in the outfield. Three months later, Phillips played in the prestigious Arizona Freshman/Sophomore Fall Classic where he went 3-for-9 at the dish and great instincts on the base paths.