SB Nation - Jake McGee

The Forgotten Prospect: Jake McGee Would Benefit By Move To Bullpen

Tommy Rancel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:20 -0000

David Price started the season in the headlines. Jeremy Hellickson's rise to the top of the system grabbed attention halfway through the year, and Wade Davis throwing a major league shutout ended the 2009 news cycle for Rays pitching prospects. Price and Davis will be in the rotation starting opening day, with Hellickson asking for a promotion by mid season. In the lower levels, Matt Moore, Alex Colome, Alex Torres and Nick Barnese will be leading the next wave of young arms. Meanwhile, somewhere between Montgomery and Durham the forgotten prospect, Jake McGee, will be on the mound once again.

While some are reporting the idea of Jake McGee going to the bullpen as something new, for many of us, it has seemed inevitable even before Tommy John cut his 2008 season short and wipe out most of his 2009. The book on McGee since, um ever, has been a great fastball with average secondary stuff. Similar to Price, many feel -or felt- that in order to be a successful starter that McGee would need to develop a plus pitch or two to go along with the dominate heater. If that didn't happen, McGee could still be a dominant arm out of the bullpen; we are nearing that decision now

Tommy John surgery is hardly a death sentence for a young pitcher. And missing a year of action doesn't necessarily mean McGee still can't develop those secondary options, but the Rays do not have a pressing need for a starter. Sure, it's true that you can't have enough starting pitching and a good starter is more valuable than a good reliever, but the Rays are not currently lacking options in the rotation. Instead of continuing his rehab, as well as working on becoming a three or four pitch starter, McGee could help the Rays, and help himself make it to the big leagues quicker by becoming a two pitch lefty fireballer out of the pen.

In the spring of 2008, I sat behind the Rays coaches during a game in which McGee came in relief. The coaches had instructed him to pitch from the stretch to start the inning. The words of one coach told the story; he has closer stuff, so he might as well get used to it. And it's true; he does have closer stuff.

Even though J.P. Howell has proven you can be elite without an elite fastball, it's not the preferred method. McGee, even after surgery, has that dominant fastball and can spend 2010 working on one more pitch and possibly be the answer to our need for another late inning ace.

It would be unfair to expect the 23 year-old lefty to come into camp and win a spot outright, but it will be interesting to see how he's used. The Rays, as they should, maintain that McGee will get an opportunity as a starter, but even they admit the bullpen could be his eventual home. For McGee, a move to the bullpen is easily the best way to get to the big leagues. He's already missed a year of action and has fallen behind at least Davis and Hellickson in the starting prospect pecking order.

His 2009 numbers shouldn't be taken too seriously, but shouldn't be ignored. His 6.45 ERA in A+ ball is not very important (if you're worried check the .394 BABIP). However, his strikeout rates were back to where they were in previous years and his walk rates were respectable albeit against lower competition. More importantly, his velocity appears to be where it was pre-injury and the second year after surgery is usually a better bench mark than the first.

If you read around or talk to Rays fans, you'll hear calls for Billy Wagner. Here, we've debunked that for a few reasons: 1) He costs too much. 2) He's older and still coming off an injury. 3) The Rays are not giving the Red Sox their first round pick. Nonetheless, just because Wagner is not walking through that door, doesn't mean the Rays won't add another hard throwing lefty. McGee may be the forgotten prospect for now, but for 2010, he may be the most important.

Chaim Bloom on Wilking Rodriguez, Cesar Perez, Luke Bailey, Desmond Jennings, Tim Beckham, and More

R.J. Anderson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:23 -0000

Chaim Bloom is the Assistant Director of Minor League Operations. He formerly wrote at Baseball Prospectus and graduated from Yale. Bloom has worked closely with the minor league affiliates and rosters during his time in the organization, including dealing with payroll and development. A few in the industry have tabbed him as a future general manager and recently he was kind enough to give us some of his time.

R.J.: Is it fair to say that international players have a healthier appreciation for the organization after the World Series run?

Chaim: Yes, I would say so. I heard stories that during last year's run, the players in our academies were glued to the TV and celebrating just as hard as everyone in the States after we won the pennant. If you're a kid playing baseball in your backyard, the World Series is where you picture yourself, and it's the same for kids down there. Especially with both Dominican and Venezuelan players on our big league club, being in the spotlight helps us. But in a sense our pennant run was just the tip of the iceberg, validating everything that our international team did over the previous three years. We went from having almost no presence in Latin America to being at the forefront of development there, and having tremendously talented staffs working in gorgeous new academies. The World Series adds excitement and legitimacy, but the building blocks of our reputation internationally were laid well before that.

R.J.: How satisfying is it to see the fruits of the international effort like Wilking Rodriguez, Alexander Colome, and Albert Suarez progress throughout the Rays minor league system and gain legitimate prospect status?

Chaim: Those are some great arms you just listed, and they have great makeup as well. One of the most exciting parts of what we do is seeing raw talent come in and, through growth and hard work, develop into baseball players. Those guys came in with great tools and have made tons of progress over the time they've been with us. Everyone knows about their size and deliveries, how hard they throw and the type of secondary stuff that they have, but up close you see the other qualities that separate them: Wilking's spirit, Alex's fire, Albert's presence. It is still early in their journeys and they have a long way to go to get to the big leagues, but they have been a pleasure so far. They're a credit to the hard work of Carlos Alfonso, Eddy Toledo, Ronnie Blanco and the rest of our international staff and we look forward to many more names joining that list in the future.

R.J.: Do you think Hector Guevara is the next of the international kids to catch prospecting list votes?

Chaim: We had Hector here during the Instructional League and his calmness and maturity really stand out for a kid who just turned 18 this month. What struck me about Hector when I saw him in the VSL this summer was how still his head stayed throughout his swing. That's something you see in a lot of good hitters but rarely at that level. He's young and has bat speed, and we think there is more size and strength to come.

R.J.: The two most well-known international signings were of third baseman Cesar Perez and shortstop Juniel Querecuto; can you give some basic information on both?

Chaim: Both Perez and Querecuto joined us for Instructional League as well; they were the youngest players there but fit in completely. That's no small feat for a couple of teenagers in the States for the first time, and with a lot of eyes watching their every move. They are both mature, hard workers. Perez has good bat speed on a big, projectable frame and a good arm as well. For someone with no professional experience, he worked good, disciplined AB's against older pitchers. Querecuto has quickness and great instincts at short. He's been switch-hitting since he was about four years old, so it's completely natural to him, and he grew up around the game-his dad played minor league ball in the States. We're excited about both but it's important to remember that they are very young, and we will have to be patient with them as they learn.

R.J.: You attended the instructional league workouts and games. Is Luke Bailey partaking in drills yet?

Chaim: Luke's arm is still on the mend but the rest of him is fine, so Jamie Nelson, our catching coordinator, and the rest of our staff had Luke doing everything else that our catchers do. From a hitting standpoint, he's full go and we are very intrigued by his bat potential. As far as his arm is concerned, he's already begun a throwing program and is right on schedule to come back next summer. Between blocking, receiving, footwork, catching bullpens and learning the mental side of catching, there was plenty for Luke to work on and he showed us a great work ethic and personality. He can take just about anything you can dish out and not much seems to faze him. He has a ways to go in his recovery, but his future looks bright.

R.J.: Does Aneury Rodriguez have the stuff to be a front of the rotation starter?

Chaim: After the way he blew through the Sally and Cal Leagues, everyone expected more from Aneury this year, and I think he expected more from himself, too. He put himself under a lot of pressure after the trade, but once he settled in he became a real horse for us in the second half. Neil Allen, our pitching coach in Montgomery, did a great job getting him comfortable. Aneury doesn't have the raw stuff of a Wade Davis, but his strength has been his ability to pitch, to move the ball in and out, set hitters up and use his off-speed pitches well. Towards the end he did that really effectively, and we're really eager to see what he does next year. The key for him will be to use his fastball well and sharpen that breaking ball to be able to take the next step.

R.J.: Has Jake McGee's velocity fully recovered and are there any immediate plans to shift him towards the bullpen?

Chaim: Like many who come back from Tommy John surgery, Jake had some hiccups this summer and had a few outings where he was aiming the ball rather than letting it go. By the end we got to see him rear back and throw it like the Jake McGee we've known. We're expecting him to be at full strength in big league camp. He has the stuff to pitch in the big leagues in many different roles, but needs innings and reps to work on command.

R.J.: How legitimate is the hype surrounding Desmond Jennings?

Chaim: What DJ did was even more impressive when you consider that 2009 was really his first full year. He can do just about anything you'd want to see from a ballplayer. The stats are outstanding but they don't tell the story of how quiet he is at the plate, or his two-strike approach, or how well he played in the IL playoffs and Triple-A championship, at a time when he was worn out physically. He is a special player and if he sticks with his approach he has a chance to be a great big leaguer.

R.J.: And of the concerns regarding Tim Beckham?

Chaim: Tim went from high school in Griffin, GA to being an everyday shortstop and two-hole hitter in the South Atlantic League and handled it tremendously. He was the leader of his team despite being its youngest player. It's a long way from high school to the big leagues-to name one famous example, Derek Jeter made 56 errors in the SAL in his first full season and he turned out okay. What's great about Tim is that, even though he's confident, he doesn't see himself as a finished product. He's early to the ballpark every day and works his tail off; he's even-keeled and mistakes don't get to him. Our staff raves about his aptitude and how he's willing and able to make adjustments-the progress he's made in just a year and a half of pro ball is remarkable and there is more to come. In Instructional League he kept improving, and showed us things we hadn't seen during the season. When you take a raw high school player you have to be patient, but we'll bet on athletes with tools and great makeup any day of the week.

Another thanks goes out to Chaim for taking the time.

February 23th Tampa Bay Rays Camp Notes

Tommy Rancel — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:59:09 -0000

General:

All 39 pitchers and catchers worked out for the ninth consecutive day.

We have probable pitchers for this week!

Wednesday:

LH Carlos Hernandez, RH Jason Hammel, LH Randy Choate, RH Lance Cormier, LH J.P. Howell, RH Neal Frontz, RH Mitch Talbot

Thursday:

RH Wade Davis, RH Winston Abreu, RH Calvin Medlock, RH Chad Orvella, RH Dale Thayer, RH Julio DePaula

Friday:

RH Jeff Niemann, RH Jason Childers, RH Jason Cromer, LH James Houser, RH Derek Rodriguez, LH Brian Shouse

Maddon Quotes:

On today's crowds inside Charlotte Sports Park:

"They brought some energy to our workout this morning-they should do it more often, it's great."

On his thoughts on Charlotte Sports Park:

"I love it. I absolutely love it. From a theoretical perspective, I like the fact that it's big. I like a deep and big spring training ballpark. The ball has a tendency to carry and I prefer it be more pitcher friendly than hitter friendly. The surface itself is magnificent, the dugouts are great and it appears as though the batters eye is appropriate. The bullpens are accessible and it's all really well done."

The Rays tell us approximately 3,000 people showed up to today's workout.

Additional Notes:

Veteran RHPs Jason Irsinghausen and Troy Percival both threw well in their bullpen sessions, and manager Joe Maddon sounded impressed with his first look at Isringhausen.
Heater

I did see Jake McGee’s first mound session since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer (pictured here). The lefty certainly wasn’t airing it out, but he didn’t appear to have any problems during his time on the hill.
Rays Report

February 21th Tampa Bay Rays Camp Notes

Tommy Rancel — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:00:10 -0000

General Statistics:

Updated numbers

There are now 63 players on the Rays spring roster: 32 pitchers, 7 catchers, 14 infielders, 10 outfielders.

All 39 pitchers and catchers worked out again marking a full week of activity.

Carlos Hernandez was named the Grapefruit league opening day starter.

Hernandez, 28, signed a minor league contract with the Rays on July 28, 2008 following a series of left shoulder injuries...he pitched parts of 2001, 2002 and 2004 in the majors with the Astros.

The Rays open up play on Wednesday against Jonny Gomes and the Cincinnati Reds at Charlotte Sports Park.

Maddon Quotes:

On first day of live batting practice:

"It’s one of those things you have to do. It helps the pitchers see hitter at the plate, get a better feel for the strike zone. It makes the hitters see velocity maybe a little bit of a breaking ball. I don’t really read too deeply into it either way. It’s just one of those things that you’ve got to do."

On pitchers being ahead of the hitters:

"No. It just depends. What happens in spring training a lot of times is early in the camp pitchers will just throw fastballs and some hitters do a better job of hitting because they’re not seeing breaking balls. Some guys start working out in December, some guys start working out the middle of January. That’s always been like a conventional wisdom thought. I really don’t put a whole lot of base into that."

Tomorrow's Schedule:

Parking lot opens at 8 a.m.
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Players take the field at 9:30 am
Workout will include "Live BP," where pitchers throw to hitters for the first time of the spring...among those expected on the mound on Sunday include Jason Cromer, Dewon Day, Neal Frontz, Jason Hammel, Carlos Hernandez, James Houser, J.P. Howell, Jeff Niemann Derek Rodriguez and Brian Shouse.

Note on Monday's Workout:

Monday, Feb. 23, Rays will be hosting an open house at the new Charlotte Sports Park at 10 a.m. Admission and parking are free to all fans. Parking in the main lot will begin at 9:30 a.m. Fans will have the opportunity to tour the renovated ballpark, watch the team work out on field and view a special batting practice session. Concession stands and the unique ballpark boardwalk will be open for the first time and the club will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new team store located on the ballpark’s main concourse behind home plate. Select Rays players will sign autographs during the ceremony.

Notes from St. Petersburg Times:

RHP Wade Davis is one of several pitchers scheduled to throw live batting practice today (with more live batting practice Sunday). Fans might notice a few changes in his repertoire. Davis said he added a slider during a stint at Triple A last season and has made significant strides on his changeup.
Davis, 23, the pitcher of the year for Double-A Montgomery last season, said he's a lot more relaxed and confident for this camp.

"I'm definitely a little different in a lot of ways," he said. "Last year, fastball-curveball was my only thing. Now I've got a little more to work with."

And good news on Jake McGee

LHP Jake McGee, one of the Rays' top pitching prospects, plans to throw off the mound Monday for the first time since Tommy John surgery in July. Though he'll throw just 20 pitches, all fastballs, it will be a big step.
McGee, 22, made 15 starts for Montgomery last season before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

"I was kind of crushed because I knew I would have had a chance to be in Triple A and maybe up (in the majors) in September," he said. "Now I never know what would have happened."

McGee said his early goal is to be back in July and eventually join Class A Charlotte.