Stacy Long gave us 5 players earlier, and today the last two were reported:

RHRP Ryan Reid(woo!)

LHSP James Houser(makes sense to make up for time lost due to injury/suspension)

RHP Chris Mason

LHP Mike Wlodarczyk

C Matt Spring(for familiarity?)

1B Rhyne Hughes

OF J.T. Hall

Here's a rather quick update on how the Rays' 2008 draft picks are doing. This post, of course, comes with the huge caveat that statistics in rookie and low-A ball mean very little, especially with the small sample size we're dealing with. That said, here's everyone's statistics, after the jump.

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Tonight at Durham: 9 ip 7 h 1 er 1 bb 12 so

This is the obligatory disclaimer where I mention he did not say anything like "Call me up" or "Betcha Mitch Talbot can't do that" or "This word limit is really really dumb I hope I'm at 75 words. Nope not yet that was only 53 words damn I'm tall and I think DRaysBay is awesome la la la la la la."

The good? David Price makes his AA debut tonight with Montgomery, while Tim Beckham makes his professional debut in Princeton playing DH. Also, Rays 1B Carlos Pena will be DHing for high class-A Vero Beach and should be activated if all goes well. Also, relief prospect Eduardo Morlan will represent the Rays as a member of the World team in the Futures Game.

The bad? ProjectProspect is reporting that top LHP prospect Jake McGee will undergo Tommy John surgery. McGee was removed from a start last week with forearm/elbow soreness. Assuming he has the surgery within the next few weeks, it will wipe out the rest of this season(obviously) as well as most of next season. For means of comparison, Phillies RHP prospect Kyle Drabek had TJ last June and won't return to a mound during a game until August this year at the earliest. TJ is no death sentence for a pitcher, particularly one of McGee's age, but he lives and dies by his fastball. If his velocity never returns to the mid-high 90's, I very much doubt how effective he can be.

The FSL All-Star Game is tonight, and Vero Beach right-hander Ryan Morse was named the starter for the East squad. Other Devil Rays(they're still called that down there, don't fine me) participating are pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Heath Rollins, outfielders Garrett Groce and J.T. Hall, and infielder Cesar Suarez. Pitcher Ryan Reid was also selected, but was since promoted to AA Montgomery. J.T. Hall is also a participant in the FSL home run derby, which precedes the 7:15 EST game.

Also, this is mostly conjecture, but my guess is Hellickson would've started if he was healthy, but he was removed from his last start with a blister problem. I'd be surprised if Hellickson winds up pitching tonight since he didn't start.

Marc Topkin reporting:

The Rays will take Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham with the top pick in today's draft.
The Rays on Wednesday said they had narrowed the field to Beckham and Florida State catcher Buster Posey.
Here is what Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said about Beckham at last week's media session:
"A really good player at a premium position. Middle of the field player, very good athlete, an advanced bat, had a real good awareness on the field. He plays the game with a great deal of enthusiasm, and then when you spend time with him away from the field, he's the same guy. He's a fun guy to be around.''
The draft starts at 2 p.m. and Rays officials will discuss the decision shortly after that. One question is likely to be about rumors, reported by Baseball Prospectus and other web sites, that Posey was seeking a package of $12-million.

According to BaseballAmerica, the Rays are still back and forth on the #1 pick, though it appears to be down to just two:

According to BA’s sources, the Rays’ scouting department prefers Georgia prep shortstop Tim Beckham, the kind of toolsy, middle-of-the-diamond athlete the Rays have drafted repeatedly—the kind of athletes that have put the Rays in first place in the American League East as the draft approaches. Others in the organization, such as de facto GM Andrew Friedman, are said to prefer Florida State catcher Buster Posey as the perfect complement to the organization’s impressive current stockpile of talent.

Stacy Long says :

Center fielder Desmond Jennings, a top Rays prospect who hasn't played this year because of injuries, could be close to shipping out of extended spring and joining Vero Beach.

Jennings has been playing in extended spring games, is up to playing at full speed and could be activated as soon as this weekend, field coordinator Jim Hoff said.

Excellent news indeed, should provide a much-needed boost to Vero Beach's offense.

We're done with roughly a month of the minor league season, and by now most people know what Jeremy Hellickson did(which is: dominated). We know that a couple top guys struggled(Chris Mason, Ryan Royster, etc)... but what about the less-heralded guys? Just because a player doesn't make a top 30 prospect list doesn't mean he won't contribute someday, especially in an organization as deep as ours. So after the jump I take a look at some things that happened in the first month that may have slipped through the cracks.

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via assets.sbnation.com

Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler.

Okay, we've taken a look at the top four candidates to be selected with the first overall pick. Now it's time to see what you guys think, and I've set up a poll below for just that. Also, after the jump you can find some additional notes on the draft, as well as the coldly-anticipated first mock draft of the year.

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UPDATE(1:04): It's done. Could be nine years when it's all said and done. Topkin has more:

The Rays have signed 3B Evan Longoria to a long-term deal that could be worth more than $44-million over nine years. The first six years are guaranteed for $17.5-million and the Rays hold a one-year option for 2014 and a two-year option for 2015-16.

(Additional notes: The Rays have also claimed Dan Johnson off waivers and Calvin Medlock designated for assignment(hat tip: websterjtc); and I'll post the final part of my draft preview series tomorrow when things are a little less busy in Rays-world.) 

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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the "major announcement" will be that the Rays have inked Longoria to a long-term contract:

The details of the contract are not yet known, but it is believed that the deal will be for six years in the $17 million range with option scenarios that will enable the Rays to buy out two years of Longoria's free agency.

The contract, to be announced at 1 p.m. ET, also is expected to include escalators that will enable Longoria to add to his guaranteed money if he develops into a major star.

More from Marc Topkin as the official announcement draws near:

There is no official word and lots of speculation at this point, including some talk that the deal could run for nine years (with team options) and be worth close to $50-million.

The June draft may be a little over a month and a half away, but the Rays have been on the clock since the end of the 2007 season. Another finish at the bottom of the standings means the Rays once again will be picking first overall in June, and this year it seems four players are "in the running" to be selected, though by no means are the Rays excluding everybody else. Continuing today, we'll take a look at a candidate each day(well, sorta), culminating Friday with my first mock draft of the spring as well as your chance to vote for who you think the pick should be. Today we profile Brian Matusz, a left-handed pitcher from University of San Diego, and Tim Beckham, a high school SS from Georgia, after the jump.

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Tomorrow I'll do a double-feature on Brian Matusz and Tim Beckham, I was away all afternoon today. A look at some longer-shot candidates, a mock draft, and a poll for the #1 pick will still be up Friday as planned.

Since I need filler, I will rant about Jason Bartlett: He's been absolutely terrible at the plate, and while he's been good in the field, he just seems to mess up at really, really inopportune times. And I guess that goes for everybody. Like when Delmon stole 3rd while Shawn Riggans sat there. I just listened to the game but Dave and Andy mentioned that Shields looked pretty upset, and I really don't blame him. His defense really didn't do him many favors today.

The June draft may be a little over a month and a half away, but the Rays have been on the clock since the end of the 2007 season. Another finish at the bottom of the standings means the Rays once again will be picking first overall in June, and this year it seems four players are "in the running" to be selected, though by no means are the Rays excluding everybody else. Continuing today, we'll take a look at a candidate each day, culminating Friday with my first mock draft of the spring as well as your chance to vote for who you think the pick should be. Today we profile Aaron Crow, a right-handed pitcher from Missouri, after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

The June draft may be a little over a month and a half away, but the Rays have been on the clock since the end of the 2007 season. Another finish at the bottom of the standings means the Rays once again will be picking first overall in June, and this year it seems four players are "in the running" to be selected, though by no means are the Rays excluding everybody else. Beginning today, we'll take a look at a candidate each day, culminating Friday with my first mock draft of the spring. Today we profile Pedro Alvarez, an infielder from Vanderbilt, after the jump.

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I'll be looking to run down the top candidates for the Rays' #1 pick next week, but since it's Friday and the top college pitchers will be in action, after the jump is a little preview of righty Aaron Crow trying to lower his ERA, lefty Brian Matusz trying to continue his solid 2008 season, and slugger Pedro Alvarez trying to make up for lost time.

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You can see them all here.

Seven Rays placed on the list:

2. Evan Longoria
   
10. David Price
    
15. Jake McGee
    
17. Wade Davis
    
39. Reid Brignac
    
59. Desmond Jennings
    
99. Jeff Niemann

Despite inclement weather in parts of the country(which forced the postponement of my beloved Rutgers Scarlet Knights), the 2008 college baseball season got underway today. That means the season debut for some of major college candidates for the #1 draft pick held by the Rays.

First, pitcher Aaron Crow got the start for the Missouri Tigers against the UConn Huskies in the Stetson tournament in DeLand, FL. The right-handed pitched 5 innings, surrendered 1 run on 6 hits, struck out 7 and walked none as the Tigers won 7-1. A solid if unspectacular line for Crow.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B for the Vanderbilt Commodores, went 0-2; he reached on a throwing error in the 1st, struck out in the 3rd, was hit by a pitch in the 5th, and walked in the 7th and 9th. Vandy defeated the Beavers 8-1 with former Rays draft pick Mike Minor(2006, 13th round) turning in an impressive pitching line: 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, and 6 strikeouts.

Rain washed out the East Carolina-South Carolina opener, where we'll be keeping an eye on Gamecocks 1B Justin Smoak. The teams play a day-night doubleheader tomorrow.

Lastly, University of San Diego left-hander Brian Matusz is expected to be on the mound tonight as the Toreros take on rival San Diego State. I'll be providing statistics for that start tonight, so continue checking back.

The top 30 continues today with two players who have a good chance at bursting onto the national prospect scene in 2008. John Jaso and Glenn Gibson are profiled after the jump.

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The top 30 continues today as we hit the midpoint with a pair of right-handed pitchers, both of whom were drafted in 2007. That's about where the similarities between Nick Barnese and Will Kline end, as you'll find out after the jump.

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Keith Law of ESPN/Scouts Inc. and Kevin Goldstein of BaseballProspectus both released their top 100 prospect lists today. Click "read more" to find out where the Rays ranked, as well as get their answers on a few Rays-related questions that each fielded in their respective chats.

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The top 30 rolls on today with Justin Ruggiano and Josh Butler. By the way, if there's any feature or anything you'd like to see regarding the minors or prospects, please e-mail me or leave it in a comment. I have some ideas I've been kicking around, but I'm always looking for more. Ruggiano and Butler are after the jump.

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Hey everyone, as the newest writer here at DRaysBay, I figured I'd introduce myself a bit before getting into things. I'm a sophomore at Rutgers University in New Jersey studying journalism and political science. I'll be writing here mostly about the minor leagues and prospects, though I'll occasionally chip in something about the big boys. I'm currently in the midst of counting down my top 30 Rays prospects, and you can read more after the jump.

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