Tyler Goeddel

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #22 prospect in 2016
  When the Rays selected Goeddel (whose brother Erik has pitched in the majors with the Mets) with the 41st overall pick in 2011, they hoped his wiry 6-foot-4 frame would fill out, and that he would grow into more raw power. After four full seasons in the minors, he has not muscled up. In high school, Goeddel was seen as a capable third baseman, with quick feet and above-average arm strength. He ran into some throwing issues at the hot corner and transitioned to the outfield in 2015. The move helped Goeddel's tools resurface. He performed well at Double-A Montgomery, showing slightly more power and the requisite speed to play all three outfield positions. Some evaluators believe that Goeddel's bat could be enough for him to profile in a corner, though center field is not out of the question. He has a sound approach, looking to drive the ball up the middle or to the opposite gap. Goeddel finished his 2015 campaign with a .990 OPS in August, but the Rays still left him off their 40-man roster, exposing him to the Rule 5 draft.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #17 prospect in 2015
  The 41st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Goeddel struggled at the plate in May and June at high Class A Charlotte. A wiry player who possesses above-average power potential, Goeddel became more relaxed as the season progressed and learned from his mistakes. He started trusting his hands, which generate above-average bat speed, and continued to prove capable of driving the ball to all fields. Some scouts project him to a ceiling of an average hitter with average power. Goeddel is an above-average runner with good instincts on the basepaths. He also made steady improvement by learning to slow down his actions at third base, where he has good hands and a strong arm. His next stop should be Double-A Montgomery.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #22 prospect in 2014
  Goeddel made the nearly unprecedented organizational move (for a high school draft pick) of skipping over short-season ball and beginning his pro career at low Class A Bowling Green in 2012. The results suggest why the Rays prefer a more conservative approach. The 41st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Goeddel received the largest bonus ($1.5 million) of the Rays' seven early picks that year. He didn't put up great numbers in his two seasons in the Midwest League but finally started showing progress at the plate during the last several weeks of last year. Tall and lanky with above-average athleticism, he has solid bat speed, but his swing tends to get long. He showed a better ability to drive the ball last year, which should increase as he adds strength. Goeddel has above-average speed and puts it to use on the basepaths with solid instincts. On defense he has a strong arm and good hands but has been error-prone, committing 64 miscues in 205 games (.896 fielding percentage). While he has played exclusively at third base in his first two seasons, the Rays believe he could man any of the four corner positions down the road. The Rays sent Goeddel to play winter ball in Australia following the season to gain more experience, and the organization is confident that he has the tools and makeup to become a contributor at the big league level. A promotion to the high Class A Florida State League is next on the agenda.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #16 prospect in 2013
  The Rays had seven supplemental first-round picks in 2011, and all but one signed at or below Major League Baseball's slot recommendations. The exception was Goeddel, who went 41st overall and landed a $1.5 million bonus to pass up his UCLA commitment. The younger brother of Mets farmhand Erik Goeddel, Tyler made his pro debut in 2012 in low Class A--an almost unheard of assignment for a Tampa Bay high school draftee. He earned a spot in the Midwest League all-star game and held his own as one of the youngest players in the league. Goeddel has an athletic, projectable frame but needs to get stronger to produce at the plate. He generates good bat speed but tends to get a little long with his approach to the ball because of his lanky body. He could develop into a solid hitter with plus power once he matures physically and shortens his swing. Goeddel runs the bases with above-average speed and instincts, as evidenced by his 30 steals in 35 attempts last season. He also has a strong arm and good hands, with the Rays believing he could play any one of several positions should a need arise. He made 29 errors in 93 games at third base in 2012, but he profiles well there and has the tools to play the hot corner, so he'll stay there for now. Goedel will be one of the younger players in the Florida State League in 2013.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #18 prospect in 2012
  Little did Goeddel know when he participated in the Perfect Game National Showcase in June 2010 that he was performing on the same field his future employer calls home. During his brief stint at Tropicana Field and for the past two years in high school, he showed the ability to be a premier player with his easy athleticism and lean, projectable body. The brother of Mets minor league righthander Erik Goeddel, Tyler turned down a scholarship to follow in his sibling's footsteps at UCLA to sign for $1.5 million as the 41st overall selection in last June's draft. His bonus was nearly twice MLB's guideline for his slot and more than what the Rays paid three of the four players they drafted ahead of him. Goeddel employs a tall stance at the plate and tends to wrap the bat yet generates excellent bat speed with his aggressive swing. He barrels the ball consistently and drives pitches from gap to gap, with scouts believing he will hit for above-average power as his body matures. A shortstop in high school who projects as a third baseman in pro ball, Goeddel has the tools to play virtually anywhere on the field. He has plus speed and arm strength, sure hands and moves well for a player his size. Because he didn't sign until the Aug. 15 deadline, Goeddel has yet to make his pro debut. He'll do so at Princeton in June.