SBNation.com User Blog: Kevin Gengler

Top 30 Prospect Week: Kevin's List

Kevin Gengler — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:06:25 -0000

Check back soon for one more contributor's list and a composite top 30.

1. Wil Myers
2. Chris Archer
3. Taylor Guerrieri
4. Hak-Ju Lee
5. Richie Shaffer
6. Jake Odorizzi
7. Enny Romero
8. Alex Colome
9. Jake Hager
10. Drew Vettleson

11. Josh Sale
12. Tyler Goeddel
13. Blake Snell
14. Todd Glaesmann
15. Mikie Mahtook
16. Ryan Brett
17. Jesse Hahn
18. Jeff Ames
19. Felipe Rivero
20. Andrew Toles

21. Oscar Hernandez
22. Tim Beckham
23. Alex Torres
24. Brandon Guyer
25. Ty Morrison
26. Brandon Martin
27. Patrick Leonard
28. Granden Goetzman
29. Jeff Malm
30. Parker Markel

Not too much deviation from previous lists, honestly. To just address a few points:

I put Vettleson ahead of Sale just because Vettleson's track record is that much longer than Sale's. Sale has the higher ceiling but that's based in large part upon his power, and I'm not totally convinced he can translate enough of his raw power into usable, consistent in-game power. I still like Sale, in part because I feel power is slightly undervalued, I just have Vettleson a hair higher. Along those lines, I'm higher on Glaesmann than most because of the power. He doesn't have the track record and his K/BB leaves something to be desired, but a RF who can defend, throw, and hit for power carries value even if his OBP isn't where you'd like to see.

Mahtook and Brett get dinged slightly because both of their ceilings as hitters don't match the guys above. Felipe Rivero is downgraded a little bit because I don't know if a 6-0/151 (listed) pitcher can hold up in the long run. Alex Torres still has good stuff and his winter league performance gives me some hope he can throw strikes at a passable rate. He, Beckham, and Guyer obviously get points for being right on the cusp of the majors even if you don't see either as an everyday guy. Any other questions I'm happy to answer in the comments, even about how attractive I am. Especially about how attractive I am.

State Of The System, Part II: Outfield

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:47:59 -0000

Continuing on with our State of the System report. If you missed the infield segment, you can find it here.

The acquisition of Wil Myers was important not just because he figures to provide offense, but because he'll do it nearly immediately at a position of need. True, the Rays major-league outfield of Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce, and Ben Zobrist is good, but there's very little depth in case of an injury or Zobrist predominantly playing second base. Brandon Guyer has had the most triple-A success but is coming off major surgery, Sam Fuld is a very capable backup but unless he recreates the legend, he's not an everyday starter. Beyond that, there's Rich Thompson, Stephen Vogt, Nick Weglarz, and Jason Bourgeois and... well, you get the point.

Enter Wil Myers. The short version, since we all looked him up on BaseballAmerica, B-Ref, FanGraphs, Google, and Bing when the Rays got him (just kidding, nobody uses Bing). A third-round pick who got paid like a first, Myers caught in 2009 and 2010. His offense being ahead of his defense, he was moved to the outfield to speed up his timetable, but a knee injury set him back in 2011, where he played in only 99 games and hit just .254. All was right this past season, however, staying healthy and mashing for a .987 OPS. His strikeout rate went up, a probable side-effect of his aiming for more power, but that's about the only nit to pick. Myers isn't on the 40-man roster, but should find his way to St. Pete sometime over the summer.

After two seasons at double-A, Kyeong Kang is ready to make the move to Durham. A dismal 2010 campaign at Charlotte dropped him off many radars, but he rebounded to hit .253/.366/.439 in two years with Montgomery. Not the stuff of legends or even starters, but enough to make you think he could crack a roster someday. Expect to see him along with Weglarz, Bourgeois, and perhaps later on in the year, Mikie Mahtook.

One of the Rays' first-round picks in 2011, Mahtook finally made his official debut in 2012 after appearing in the Arizona Fall League the autumn before. He started with Charlotte before receiving a late-season push to Montgomery, where he'll likely begin 2013. His overall line of .277/.342/.415 isn't bad, but also perhaps not what was expected. He has good, not great tools, and that showed itself: 23 steals, nine home runs, 40 walks/102 strikeouts. All perfectly cromulent numbers but maybe a little short of where you'd like them for a right fielder.

The man who took his spot at Charlotte late last year was Todd Glaesmann, a third-round pick in 2009 who didn't quite get Myers-money, but signed for an above-slot $900,000. He struggled in his first three seasons, failing to post an OPS above .700 in any of them. But 2012 saw a power surge from the 6-4/220 corner outfielder, socking a sytem-leading 21 home runs between Bowling Green and Charlotte. His plate approach could still use some refinement -- a 30/124 BB/K rate in 2012 and an even uglier career number -- but he's got the classic right fielder's tools of power and a big arm. A wide receiver in high school, he's a good athlete as well and actually played center field with the Hot Rods. Though he stole just 8 bases last year, he swiped 19 in 96 games the season before. If he's able to keep up the power while smoothing out the edges in his game, he's a top-10-in-the-system type prospect.

Glaesmann left behind a talented outfield in Bowling Green, one that should catch up to him in Charlotte. Drew Vettleson had a similar season to Mahtook and in some ways is a similar prospect. Vettleson hit .275/.340/.432 with 15 home runs, 20 steals, 50 walks and 117 strikeouts, very good numbers for a 20-year-old in the MWL, but not the wow-he's-crushing-it numbers like Javier Baez and Miguel Sano posted. But Vettleson has solid tools all-around (unlike Sano, who is bat-only) and he'll join Glaesmann right away in Charlotte.

Josh Sale, on the other hand, will have to wait out the remainder of a 50-game suspension. Given all the players who've been suspended (Sale, Ryan Brett, Charlie Cononie, Justin Woodall, and now I believe David Wendt was popped for the same drug) it seems likely that someone gave them something that no one thought would break the rules, and it's not some elaborate PED scandal. But it would be nice to get that cleared up. Anyway, Sale started off in extended spring training, but eased those concerns by crushing the ball when he got to Bowling Green. He cooled off over the summer but finished with a .264/.391/.464 line. The super-high OBP compared to his average is a bit fluky, but drawing walks is certainly an ability he's shown. While he doesn't have any strikeout issues (103 in 134 career games), his .238 batting average is something to improve upon. After a home run barrage to start the year, he hit only four in his final 56 games. 2013 should be an interesting season, and it's too bad we'll need to wait until 2014 for a FULL full season of data.

Quick hits:
- Kes Carter dealt with injuries once again, appearing in just 44 games after a shin injury held him to just three in his 2011 debut. At this point, just staying healthy is the main concern.

- Same goes for Granden Goetzman, whose season ended twelve games in on July 2nd. In that span, he hit for an .814 OPS and stole seven bases, so here's hoping we get a full (short-)season's look at him in Hudson Valley.

- Fellow 2011 supplemental pick James Harris struggled again, following a .165/.257/.203 GCL performance with a .182/.284/.282 line in Princeton. He's drawing walks, at least?

- 2012 third-round Andrew Toles got off to a crazy-good start, hitting .375/.402/.580 in July before cooling in August. He's got good tools and could handle Bowling Green.

- Yoel Araujo signed for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic, and in his stateside debut, hit .286/.339/.410 with the GCL Rays. He drew only six walks, a little weird considering he drew 32 in 57 DSL games in 2011 and was reputed to be a patient hitter. Expect the Rays to keep it slow with him, a Princeton assignment in 2013.

- Elsewhere in the GCL, Bralin Jackson, Clayton Henning, and Johnny Eierman failed to impress, neither hitting for an OPS above .620.

State Of The System, Part I: Infield

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:08:10 -0000

January is probably the worst month in the sports calendar if your NFL rooting interest didn't make the playoffs (I'm a Cowboys fan so this isn't really an 'if'). Basketball is happening at the pro and college levels but... who really cares right now? And the NHL is ahahahahaha. So with more than a month until pitchers and catchers report, let's follow my governor's lead and take stock of the farm system in our State of the System, part one (infielders0...

We'll start behind the dish with the catchers. Scott covered the Rays' recent attempts at developing catchers pretty well here, but it's worth re-hashing some of it. Stephen Vogt flopped in his major-league time in 2012, taking 27 trips to the plate and reaching base just twice, both on walks. Given his defensive limitations, he was never really a potential solution anyway, even on a temporary basis. The Rays haven't brought anyone in but Vogt is still on the outside looking in at the Jose's, Molina and Lobaton. He figures to be back in Durham where a catching logjam will probably result in him seeing more time at 1B/LF/RF.

If the Rays need to bring a catcher up in 2013, it may well wind up being Vogt or Chris Gimenez. Robinson Chirinos may end up in the mix by season's end, but his bad post-concussion syndrome requires he return to game action very slowly and gradually.

There's a little bit more room for optimism down the system. Luke Bailey's draft pedigree and $750,000 signing bonus will keep him on our minds, but the reality is he hasn't hit in three seasons as a pro. He missed time with a broken hand in 2012, and in the 67 games he played, his .231/.277/.393 batting line is in line with career averages. He was only 21 years old in high-A, but that's not enough of a sugarcoating for 8 walks and 67 strikeouts. Given his lack of production, another promotion for 2013 would be a surprise, but at the same time, the Rays may want to make sure Alejandro Segovia gets enough playing time in 2013. Segovia came out of nowhere to hit 15 home runs in 70 games for Bowling Green last season, finishing with a season line of .269/.362/.527. He did it as a 22-year-old, so he still rates as just "worth watching" and not "future big leaguer." Similar production in the Florida State League in 2013 would go a long way.

Matt Rice also hit decently with Bowling Green, and together with Segovia may push Bailey up to Montgomery. Alternatively, the Rays could skip Rice up to double-A, a stop that shouldn't overwhelm a 2011 9th-round college senior. If not and they opt for three catcher with the Stone Crabs, Mark Thomas and Mayo Acosta would split the Biscuits' duties.

Down in the short-season leagues, all eyes were on Justin O'Conner and Oscar Hernandez. The good news is that O'Conner raised his batting average about .065 points, the bad news is that was starting from .157. He cut down slightly on his strikeouts, but 73 whiffs in 257 at bats is still too many. He played the entire season at DH as he recovered from hip surgery. He should get a shot at full-season ball in 2013, but it may be his last hurrah as a hitter. Between the hip problems (he had one operated on in high school as well) and the lack of production, another rough season may spur the Rays to shift him to the mound, where he was a quality prospect as a high schooler.

Hernandez ripped up the Venezuelan League in 2011, so whatever he did last year was going to pale in comparison. He held his own as an 18-year-old in the Appalachian League, hitting .231/.349/.394. Unlike O'Conner's low average, Hernandez's isn't due to contact issues: he struck out only 31 times in 49 games, a promising sign going forward. The Rays could get aggressive and send him to Bowling Green in 2013, but my guess is another year in extended spring training before an assignment to Hudson Valley is more likely. Taylor Hawkins, the Rays' 12th-round pick last year, will fill the void left by Hernandez's in Princeton.

Okay. So that's catchers. If you thought that didn't sound too promising, you might want to skip the 1st base section. Another position that's historically given the Rays problems in the big leagues, there's very little on the horizon here. Of course, 1B is on the opposite end of the defensive spectrum, so things may not be as bad here as they seem (Richie Shaffer and Patrick Leonard, looking your way). But as for guys who are actually first basemen, you have to slip down to A-ball to get to ones worth talking about. Guys like Leslie Anderson and Phil Wunderlich and Mike Sheridan will populate 1B at the upper-levels, so let's fast-forward to Charlotte.

Bowling Green had both Cameron Seitzer and Jeff Malm last season, and it makes sense for both to graduate to the Stone Crabs. Seitzer, an 11th-round pick in 2011, raised some eyebrows by hitting 11 home runs in 64 games in his debut with Princeton, but his power was back down to its expected level in 2012 when he knocked just four over the fence in 118 games. Barring a power resurgance, Seitzer will settle into a capable organizational hitter, producing but without the tools for a big-league future.

Malm is more intriguing with a higher pedigree, but his production has fallen short of totally legit prospect territory. First baseman essentially have to mash as prospects since they don't carry enough defensive or other value to cover up a weak bat, though James Loney is giving it his best shot. Malm had something of a breakout with Hudson Valley in 2011, hitting .257/.382/.462, but he wasn't really able to build on that in 2012 with a .263/.356/.438 line. Entering his age-22 season, it's not make-or-break in Charlotte, but future big leaguers at 1B have to start hitting in the minors sometime.

John Alexander, an 8th-round pick in 2011, disappointed in Princeton last summer, hitting just .230/.260/.353. He has the body and athleticism to grow into some power, but a refined plate approach is needed as he walked just nine times in 62 games. Expect him to be bumped to Hudson Valley in 2013.

The system isn't exactly busting with 2nd base prospects either, but that's more forgivable as it's always a weak position in the minors with shortstops sliding down the defensive scale later on (Tim Beckham figures to follow that road). The Rays have traded away two potential upper-level second basemen in the past six months, dealing Tyler Bortnick for Ryan Roberts and Derek Dietrich for Yunel Escobar. So it'll be very much a patchwork job at the upper levels. Downstream, the biggest name is Ryan Brett, who will miss the first month and change as he serves out the remainder of his drug-related suspension (#teammeth). He passed the test at Bowling Green and when he does get back he'll head to Charlotte. With the Hot Rods, Brett hit .285/.348/.393, the lack of power forgivable for a player who is a) a second baseman and b) brings value on the basepaths, with 48 steals and just eight times thrown out. If he's able to keep his average and on-base in the same area while shoring up his defense, then you're talking about a future major-leaguer. Even though his OPS fell .100 points from 2011 to 2012, I don't think much has changed about his projection.

Past Brett, it's a pretty motley crew. Hector Guevara was a nice sleeper three years ago after he hit .330 in Venezuela, but he hasn't come close to replicating that in the States and bottomed out with a .578 OPS in Charlotte last season. Juniel Querecuto got a decent bonus to sign from Latin America, but hit just .249/.316/.303 with Bowling Green last season. And those are the guys worth highlighting. Come back soon, Ryan Brett.

And now, onto shortstop. I'll try to keep this brief since it's been talked to death and we're creeping up on 1400 words as it is. Hak-Ju Lee looks like he'll be the starter in Durham, even though he did precisely nothing to answer questions about his bat last year. While he did put together a nice on-base streak at one point, on the whole he hit .261/.336/.360 for the Biscuits and after a trip to the DL with an oblique strain, followed that up with a poor AFL campaign. That relegates Tim Beckham to... I don't know. He'll certainly still see some time at shortstop for the Bulls, but the plurality of his time is likely to come at 2B and 3B. He hit .256/.325/.361 -- I didn't realize how similar his and Lee's slash lines were -- in Durham last season in 76 games, missing 50 with a marijuana suspension. Lee is the superior defender, so Beckham could be in a super-utility role where he's starting every day, just not at one position consistently. The other option is to simply plant him at 2B, but if you have him learn 2B, might as well have him gets some reps at 3B too.

Okay. That's it on them. Montgomery will patch things together with Shawn O'Malley and Robi Estrada, so let's get right to Charlotte and Jake Hager. The forgotten 1st-rounder from 2011, picked after Taylor Guerrieri and Mikie Mahtook, Hager had quite a nice season as a teenager with the Hot Rods. He rebounded from a slow start to finish with a .281/.345/.412 line, and he Said No To Drugs. He didn't do anything exceptionally well, but there's not much weakness either. Ten home runs is very good power for a teen middle infielder in the Midwest League, the 40-60 BB-SO ratio is healthy, and he swiped 17 bags as well. If he's able to build on that while Lee and Beckham remain stagnant, Hager would leapfrog them in the "future Rays shortstop" conversation.

In the short-season ranks, the two players worth watching disappointed in 2012. Brandon Martin, a supplemental 1st rounder in 2011, matched Hager in the home run column with ten but did little else, finishing .209/.272/.402. Still, a shortstop with good defense and power is always going to be intriguing. Martin needs to fix some contact issues as he struck out 73 times in 63 games. It's a toss-up at this point as to whether that happens in Bowling Green or Hudson Valley. Spencer Edwards will step into the Princeton job. The 2012 second-rounder hit .188/.250/.281 in a month's worth of games with the GCL Rays, so let's just hope he's the next "rookie-ball stats don't matter" posterboy.

Let's close today with the hot corner, easily the system's strongest infield position. There's nobody knocking on the door right now, so it won't be pretty if Evan Longoria gets hurt again. But down in A-ball you've got Richie Shaffer and Tyler Goeddel. This is something to look out for this spring: Goeddel played at Bowling Green and Shaffer at Hudson Valley, but it's very possible that Shaffer winds up jumping Goeddel. Seeing Shaffer, who hit for an .893 OPS with the Renegades, leap to Charlotte with Goeddel back at Bowling Green may be the most likely scenario, with an eye toward mid-season promotions for both (precedent for Shaffer: Mikie Mahtook, a college 1st rounder, also played in the AFL, then started next season with Charlotte and got bumped to Montgomery). Goeddel started white-hot but finished at .246/.335/.371. He's got a good package of tools with present speed (30 steals) and power projection in a 6-4/180 frame.

The new toy at 3B is Patrick Leonard, acquired in the Wil Myers trade this winter. A fifth-rounder in 2011, Leonard smashed a league-leading 14 home runs for the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League en route to a .251/.340/.494 line. There's no clear fit for him at an affiliate in 2013 since he looks full-season ready, so we'll just have to wait to see how it shakes out. Splitting time with Goeddel at Bowling Green is possible, as is Shaffer and Goeddel splitting time in Charlotte as Leonard gets the everyday 3B job.

Next Tuesday: Outfielders!

The Rays Tank: Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve

Kevin Gengler — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:07:17 -0000

Slow times at the DRaysBay offices today, enjoy these links:

- Here's FanGraphs on the Cubs signing Edwin Jackson

- Pinellas County to talk to the Rays about a new stadium.

- Not a link, but Sports Illustrated this week has a feature story on the recently-acquired Wil Myers. Why they ran on a feature on the 2013 International League MVP is beyond me.

- Bucs Nation wonders: Can Greg Schiano get the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl? Rest Of Nation answers: No.

- In case you missed it, here are the World Series odds with the Toronto Blue Jays as newly-installed favorites.

- Jeff Passan tries to figure out what a Mike Trout deal would look like.

Future Considerations Podcast Episode 38: Special Guest Clark Fosler from Royals Review on the James Shields/Wil Myers Trade

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 01:20:14 -0000

Kevin and Scott are joined by Clark Fosler of Royals Review who gives the Royals perspective on the blockbuster, tells us how Kansas City fans are feeling, and gives us some more info on Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, and Patrick Leonard.

Follow Clark on Twitter @cfosroyalsauth

Questions or comments? E-mail podcast@raysprospects.com (yes, we'll be changing that soon)

Music is from Isle of Q

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MLBTR: Rays Increasingly Likely To Trade Starter

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:43:06 -0000

Link:

James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson have been the names mentioned most in trade discussions and speculation, but the Rays will listen on anyone, including Cy Young winner David Price, says Heyman. Rays people view their chances of locking up Price beyond his current deal as "nil," according to Heyman, so if he isn't moved this winter, Price figures to be at the center of plenty more trade rumors down the road.

Future Considerations Podcast Episode 38: Third Base Prospects, Rule 5 Draft & More

Kevin Gengler — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 17:44:45 -0000

It's a grab-bag edition as Scott and Kevin tackle third base prospects, the non-tender deadline, the Burke Badenhop deal, the non-tender deadline, some rule 5 draft candidates, and the happenings around the majors.

Questions or comments? E-mail podcast@raysprospects.com (yes, we'll be changing that soon)

Music is from Isle of Q

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DRaysBay Community Prospect Recap: #1-3

Kevin Gengler — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 17:41:22 -0000

The annual off-season community prospect list voting is under way here at DRaysBay, and here's how it's gone down so far:

#1 - Chris Archer, RHP (49%)
Right out of the gate we had a hotly contested battle between Archer and Taylor Guerrieri. While Archer battled command and control issues for most of the season, he impressed in his major-league showing (36 strikeouts, 13 walks in 29.1 innings) and appears ready to step into the #5 spot -- or at least be in the mix with Alex Cobb and Jeff Niemann for the last two spots -- if the Rays deal a starting pitcher this off-season.

The case for Guerrieri, who was the Rays' top pick in the 2011 draft, revolves around a perceived higher ceiling. While it seems like Archer might not ever develop anything better than average control and command, Guerrieri made his debut by issuing just five walks in 52 innings for Hudson Valley. His stuff was down slightly from his high school days, but clearly it was more than enough to overwhelm New York-Penn League hitters as he posted a 1.04 ERA, a 2.76 GO/AO, and held opponents to a .186 average.

In the end, though, Archer prevailed because of his proximity to the majors and the fact that his pure stuff and athleticism offers a considerable ceiling as well. The Rays' top pick in 2012, Richie Shaffer, got two votes, and Hak-Ju Lee, the #2 prospect behind Matt Moore a year ago, received one vote.

#2 - Taylor Guerrieri, RHP (65%)
After the close vote for first, Guerrieri cruised to an easy win in the voting for the second spot with 24 votes to 11 for Hak-Ju Lee, the next closest player. Guerrieri's case has been made, while those shifting their vote to Lee likely did so due to his proximity to the majors and his above-average defense at shortstop. The decline of his bat -- he hit .318 in Charlotte in 2011, then .180 in Montgomery, and then .261 in Montgomery in 2012 -- is obviously a concern, and a .244/.340/.244 (not a typo, he had just one XBH) in the Arizona Fall League didn't exactly help. Of course, as a shortstop the bat tends to be secondary, and Lee does offer good defense, a strong arm, and plus speed. The fact that he's hit above .300 at two stops in his career give hope for the bat, but given that he's struggled with it for nearly a season and a half now, Guerrieri was able to easily win.

#3 - Hak-Ju Lee, SS (70%)
The Rays' top three prospects seem pretty clear, with just the order changing for many. Lee cruised to the win here while setting up an interest vote at #4: Richie Shaffer, Alex Colome, Jake Hager, Blake Snell, and Enny Romero all received at least one vote in this poll, and things should wide open pretty soon.

Future Considerations Podcast Episode 37: Top 10 Prospects, Arizona Fall League Wrap-Up, Minor League Free Agents

Kevin Gengler — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:38:52 -0000

Scott and Kevin run down theirs and BaseballAmerica's top 10 Rays prospect lists, review how the players the Rays sent performed in the Arizona Fall League, give their thoughts on the big major-league happenings, and finish with a look at some minor league free agents they'd like to see the Rays take a flier on.

Questions or comments? E-mail podcast@raysprospects.com (yes, we'll be changing that soon)

Music is from Isle of Q

DRaysBay Community Prospect Review #1-5

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:03:19 -0000

The last in our review of last season's DRaysBay Community Prospect List. You can catch up here:

Kevin recaps prospects 41-50
Scott recaps prospects 31-40
Kevin recaps prospects 26-30
Scott recaps prospects 21-25
Kevin recaps prospects 16-20
Scott recaps prospects 11-15
Scott recaps prospects 6-10

Here we go with the top five:

5. Tim Beckham, SS - Ah yes, Tim Beckham. He came into the season ranked number five on the strength of his performance at the close of 2011. He slugged five home runs in 24 games with the Durham Bulls and continued to show some pop in the Arizona Fall League. Back in Durham for 2012, Beckham disappointed with a .256/.325/.361 season that was interrupted by a 50-game suspension for marijuana use. His isolated power fell from .137 in 2011 to .105 in 2012, which is bad news considering his batting average also fell .015. The glimpses he's shown his career (power in 2011, walks in 2010) haven't been sustained, and a likely move off of shortstop with Hak-Ju Lee on his heels has Beckham's stock tumbling further.

4. Enny Romero, LHP - His 2011 season with Bowling Green -- in which he tallied 140 strikeouts in 114 innings -- flew a little bit under the radar because of a 4.26 ERA and too many walks. He brought his ERA under 4.00 with Charlotte in 2012, but failed to improve his walk rate while his strikeout rate plummeted. After walking 13.5% of hitters in 2011, he issued free passes to 14.1% this past season. Meanwhile his strikeout percentage, 27.8% in Bowling Green, was a hair under 20% with Charlotte. Romero earned a spot on the World Team roster for the Futures Game where he showed off his very live arm, but his overall body of work has his stock down.

3. Alex Torres, LHP - Yikes. Torres managed to be effectively wild in 2010 and 2011, leading the Southern League in both strikeouts and walks in 2010 and then repeating that feat with Durham in 2011. In 2012, however, he succeeded only in being wildly ineffective. In 69 innings with the Bulls, Torres issued 420 63 walks, leading to an ERA over 7.00. His strikeout rate held steady around 25%, but that's largely irrelevant when you're walking a hitter per inning. Torres is, at least, ending the season with a glimmer of hope: In 22.2 innings for Aguilas del Zulia of the Venezuelan Winter League, he's struck out 41 and walked 10 (although he lasted just 1.1 innings in his November 8th star, surrendering seven runs). Stock way down.

2. Hak-Ju Lee, SS - After Lee struggled in his month with the Biscuits in 2011, a good start would have gone a long way toward easing concerns about his bat against advanced pitching. Unfortunately, Lee continued to struggle early on. He managed to put together a nice on-base streak over the summer, but his final line of .261/.336/.360 was a letdown after an .832 OPS in Charlotte one season ago. An oblique injury cut his season short, but he's healthy to play in the Arizona Fall League (though he's hitting for zero power: .257/.345/.284 in 74 ABs). Lee still seems primed to take over the Durham shortstop job from Tim Beckham, but it's yet another stock down.

1. Matt Moore, LHP - No, he wasn't the immediate Cy Young contender that it seemed he might be after he took the AL by storm in 2011. But a 3.81 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning aren't anything to sneeze at. And perhaps most importantly, Moore showed improvement as the season went on: He cut his ERA from 4.42 to 3.01 and improved his K/BB rate from 1.92 to 2.55 from the first to the second half of the season. Moore is the only prospect off this list to graduate, and given his mild success in the majors, I consider his stock unchanged. The future is still extremely bright.

Future Considerations Podcast Episode 36: Free Agency Preview, Arizona Fall League, Shortstop Prospects

Kevin Gengler — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:04:56 -0000

Scott and Kevin continue their off-season positional rundown with shortstop prospects, give their thoughts on the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game (bonus: Kevin completely forgets Tim Beckham is in the AFL!), and finish with their free agency preview.

Questions or comments? E-mail podcast@raysprospects.com (yes, we'll be changing that soon)

Music is from Isle of Q

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DRaysBay Community Prospect Review 16-20

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:07:28 -0000

Continuing on with our review of the pre-season DRaysBay community prospect list, I'll handle prospects ranked 26th through 30th. If you missed any previous editions:

Kevin recaps prospects 41-50
Scott recaps prospects 31-40
Kevin recaps prospects 26-30
Scott recaps prospects 21-25

20. Tyler Bortnick, 2B - Even at the time, this ranking seemed like an over-reach. Clearly, it was a performance-based rating: Bortnick was coming off a .306/.428/.432 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, which fell into line with his career trends of hitting near .300, drawing walks, and stealing bases. A 16th-round draft pick back in 2009, double-A was going to be an important test, as it's often the level that pitching is advanced enough to less-heralded prospects. That was the case for Bortnick, who hit .253/.352/.385 in 95 games with the Biscuits before being traded to Arizona for Ryan Roberts. There's still some hope that Bortnick's package of defense and basestealing and hitting just enough could make him a back-up infielder, but 2012 seemed to solidify that as his ceiling.

19. Oscar Hernandez, C - The hardest player to rank last off-season, Hernandez had lit up the Venezuelan Summer League to the tune of a .402/.503/.732 slash line. Suffice it to say, stats like those will draw eyeballs to your stateside debut. Playing in his age-18 season for Princeton, Hernandez didn't come close to matching his previous summer, but he showed positive signs. He hit just .231, but only struck out 31 times in 49 games, so pitchers weren't just blowing it past him. His .250 BABIP is probably attributable to some part luck and some part poor contact and another season of data will help to clear things up. He posted a .349 OBP with 23 walks and eight HBPs, a good sign going forward. And he threw out 38% of basestealers behind the dish. Hernandez might not be the Next Huge Thing his 2011 numbers hinted at, but he's still worth watching.

18. Jeff Malm, 1B - One of 2011's breakout prospects, Malm cranked up the power to lead the NY-P league in home runs. He wasn't able to build on that season, though, with his slash line falling back to .263/.356/.438 and leaving him in a weird position as a prospect. He's a first baseman so obviously he's going to need to hit. He showed some signs -- 13 home runs in the Midwest League isn't terrific but it's also nothing to sneeze at -- but his .263 batting average represented a career high. 2012 won't exactly be a make-or-break season, but Malm will be 22 years old and he'll need to show more with the stick to remain a viable first base prospect.

17. Tyler Goeddel, 3B - Goeddel looked like he might be something truly special when he started the season on fire for the Hot Rods. He hit over .300 and slugged three home runs, no easy feat for a teenager in the cold weather of the Midwest League. But he fell to back to Earth, hitting just three more home runs the rest of the season and failing to post a monthly batting average over .250. In the end, his .246/.335/.371 line isn't a bad debut, but there's surely work to be done. He made some small steps in the walk/strikeout department later in the season, which will need to continue (for the year, he walked 38 times and struck out 94). On the plus side, he did swipe 30 bases and was only caught five times. One thing to watch in 2013: Goeddel vs. Richie Shaffer, which one gets the Charlotte 3B assignment?

16. Jake Hager, SS - Another teenager in the MWL, Hager had the opposite season of Goeddel: After hitting .200/.250/.243 in April, Hager turned it on and finished with a .281/.345/.412 line. True to his scouting report, Hager didn't do anything exceptionally well but he did do a little bit of everything: Solid contact skills with 60 strikeouts in 114 games, good power with ten home runs, drew 40 walks, and stole 17 bases. It was an encouraging season, and Hager will be the Stone Crabs shortstop in 2013.

DRaysBay Community Prospect Review 26-30

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:38:21 -0000

Continuing on with our review of the pre-season DRaysBay community prospect list, I'll handle prospects ranked 26th through 30th. If you missed it, Scott did numbers 31-40 and I did numbers 41-50 last week.

30. Felipe Rivero, LHP - Coming off a season where he posted excellent rate stats with Princeton -- 57 strikeouts, 13 walks in 60.1 innings -- but also a 4.62 ERA, this past year was a good test for Rivero as he moved to full-season ball. With the Hot Rods, he dropped his ERA by over a run thanks to a reduction in his home run rate while generally maintaining his peripherals. In 113.1 innings, he struck out 98 and walked 29. His control is his best present skill, but his stuff could rank with Enny Romero's if Rivero is better able to apply it. For comparison's sake, Romero struck out 140 but walked 68 in 2011 with the Hot Rods, so clearly Rivero isn't quite the same pitcher. At just 6-0/151 his body still needs to mature, and perhaps with some increased stature he'll be able to make his stuff work better and more consistently. He didn't have the breakout 2012 campaign some expected, but he more than held his own in his first taste of full-season ball as a 20-year-old.

29. C.J. Riefenhauser, LHP - The biggest question surrounding Riefenhauser entering the season was whether or not he'd be able to stick as a starter after a surprising year in 2011, though it came mainly on his dominance of left-handed hitters. The answer became clearer in 2012 as Riefenhauser didn't make enough strides vs. RHBs, resulting in a 4.76 ERA overall with Charlotte before a late-season bump to Montgomery and a trip to Arizona. His rate stats, 118 strikeouts to 40 walks in 114.2 innings are solid, but again they came mainly on the back of his success against lefties, and going forward it looks like his path to the majors will be in relief.

28. Ty Morrison, CF - The Rays were aggressive with Ty Morrison back in 2010 when they sent him to the Midwest League as a teenager, and a 2011 season which was marred by injuries and ineffectiveness didn't abate it much as he was pushed to Montgomery as a 21-year-old. In 609 plate appearances, mostly with the Biscuits, Morrison put together a .272/.341/.372 line, a nice improvement from his .637 OPS a year ago. There are still issues, certainly: you'd like to see him cut down on the strikeouts (117 of them) to put the ball in play more and make use of his speed, but he's showing enough average and on-base skills that you can see a decent future for him, as he's considered a good defensive centerfielder (which will lessen the pressure on the stick). His lack of power (career SLG% of .365) belies the need to improve in other areas at the plate, however.

27. Brandon Martin, SS - While fellow-2011 shortstop draftee Jake Hager was assigned to Bowling Green, Martin stayed back in extended spring training before heading to Princeton. That's no damning indictment -- Martin was young for his class and 2012 was his age-18 season -- but his .209 batting average and .272 OBP were disappointing. The good news is he hit for some power, leading the team with ten 10 home runs, but his 73 strikeouts in 279 PA might indicate that he's selling out for it a bit too much. BaseballAmerica ranked him as the #11 prospect in the Appy League, complimenting his defense and power but noting that he struggled with off-speed pitches at the plate.

26. Johnny Eierman, OF - His assignment to the Gulf Coast League was a bad first sign: he was the only top-10-round 2011 pick sent there aside from rehabbing pitchers. If he had dominated the league, though, that would have just been a blip on the radar. Instead, Eierman hit just .231/.299/.319. He was reputed to have plus power when the Rays drafted him, but he failed to hit a home run in 46 games and obviously didn't do enough with his average and OBP to make up for the lack of power. Eierman's stock is down, perhaps considerably, from a year ago.

Community Prospect Review: Prospects #41-50

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:49:19 -0000

Over the next couple weeks, Scott and I will be reviewing the DRaysBay off-season community top prospect list. Keep in mind these rankings are from roughly a year ago, and the emphasis right now is on how they performed relative to expectations in 2012 (there'll be plenty more on tools and future projection and likely 2013 affiliates down the road). Today we begin with numbers 41-50...

50. Jesse Hahn, RHP - The Rays made a splash by signing Hahn for $525,000 out of the sixth round back in 2010, but Tommy John surgery delayed his pro debut until this summer, leaving him a mostly-forgotten prospect as evidenced by his #50 ranking. That won't be the case any longer, as a strong campaign with the Hudson Valley Renegades will shoot him up the rankings this off-season. He finished with a 2.77 ERA and 55 strikeouts to 15 walks, and over his final four regular-season starts, tallied 20 innings, seven hits, two walks, and 24 punchouts.

49. John Alexander, 1B - He's big and athletic, but he's still a project. Alexander's tools translated to just a .230/.260/.353 line for the Princeton Rays this summer. He didn't swing and miss an exorbitant amount -- 39 strikeouts in 235 at bats -- but he also didn't draw many walks (just nine), and his .259 BABIP probably isn't just a matter of bad luck. The hope is that he can follow the precedent of Jeff Malm, who followed up a .220/.296/.310 year in Princeton with an .844 OPS in Hudson Valley the next summer.

48. Albert Suarez, RHP - Well, the good news is Suarez stayed healthy: He tossed 125.1 innings for Charlotte this year, nearly matching his combined total from 2008 through 2011. Unfortunately, he wasn't terribly effective, racking up only 62 strikeouts -- or just 4.4 K/9. A Tommy John survivor, it seems like his control at least is back, but if his strikeout rate -- not to mention the fact he was designated for assignment to be removed from the 40-man roster in August -- is any indication, his stuff may not be.

47. Jason McEachern, RHP - Oh, Jason McEachern. He's long been one of my favorite sleeper prospects, but the breakout has thus far failed to materialize. With the Hot Rods possessing a glut of pitching, he was shifted to the bullpen this season where he fared pretty well: 68 strikeouts and a 2.80 ERA in 61 innings. He did walk too many and it was his third tour of the MWL, but he just turned 22 this month so the shift to the bullpen may not be the death sentence it seems.

46. Braulio Lara, LHP - His strikeout/9 rate dropped from 8.3 with Bowling Green in 2011 to 6.6 with Charlotte this year, while his walk rate rose from 4.1 per 9 to 4.7 (and it was 3.4 in Princeton two seasons ago). Those are not good trends for the 23-year-old, though he's a lefty with a very live arm, so hope springs eternal.

45. Nick Barnese, RHP - If 2012 did nothing else, it dug up the Matt Moore vs. Nick Barnese debate to hammer yet another nail in that coffin. Moore improved throughout his season with the Rays, while Barnese battled injuries and wound up pitching 61.2 ineffective innings, mainly with Montgomery. He struck out 35 and walked 26 while pitching to a 5.40 ERA and looks like a good reminder that most sleepers don't wake up.

44. Cameron Seitzer, 1B - Seitzer showed surprising power in his 2011 debut with Princeton, but it fell back to expected levels with Bowling Green this year. While he did hit .307 with decent on-base skills, 1B are generally expected to hit more than four home runs. Seitzer looks like he'll be a decent org bat, but unless he can surprise with his power again, his big league prospects seem pretty dim.

43. Blake Snell, LHP - Snell was probably ranked too low here as a supplemental 1st-rounder in 2011 who had a nice debut, but wherever he was ranked he was probably this year's breakout prospect. He dominated the Appalachian League to a 2.09 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 17 walks in 47.1 innings and was rated the circuit's top pitcher in BaseballAmerica's post-season rankings.

42. Jeff Ames, RHP - Another of the bounty of 2011 supplemental picks, Ames was another part of Hudson Valley's three-headed pitching monster (with Hahn and Taylor Guerrieri) that helped them to a NYPL title. Ames struck out 70 and walked 20 in 64.1 innings, allowing just 44 hits while posting a 1.96 ERA. He still relies mainly on big fastball which clearly overpowered short-season hitters, but 2012 looks like a nice step forward and should postpone the starter vs. reliever debate for at least a little while.

41. Yoel Araujo, OF - He received an $800,000 bonus back in 2010, played in the Dominican in 2011, and made his stateside debut with the GCL Rays this year. After a slow start, he hit .362/.431/.483 in August to pull his season line up to .286/.339/.410. With six walks and 35 strikeouts in 105 ABs he's still obviously a work-in-progress, but his strong finish is encouraging.

Scott will be by later in the week to break down numbers 31-40, and then we'll trade groups of five from there.

Rays Minor League Awards

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:52:01 -0000

Rays Minor League Awards

Marc Topkin writing for BaseballAmerica (in his monthly Rays correspondence piece) picks the best player (Hak-Ju Lee), best pitcher (Chris Archer), and one to keep an eye on (Todd Glaesmann) from the 2012 season. It's insider-only, but:

"Lee hit .261/.336/.360 with 37 steals for Double-A Montgomery in his first full season above Class A, but the most impressive numbers were 46—the length (in games) of his streak for reaching base—and 21, the length of his longest hitting streak. With his smooth glove and quick hands and feet, Lee should continue his ascent."

I'm hoping this was Topkin picking the top positional prospect heading into 2013 and not the best 2012 season from a top-30-or-so guy, because .261/.336/.360.

What Do You Do With A Guy Like...?

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:23:17 -0000

I haven't started doing the real legwork for my off-season prospect list -- so maybe this year isn't special -- but it strikes me that doing rankings after the 2012 season is going to be more difficult than usual. The top of the list shouldn't be too hard: Chris Archer doesn't seem likely to exhaust his eligibility, and the Rays two previous top picks in Taylor Guerrieri and Richie Shaffer had varying degrees of strong debuts in Hudson Valley and should toward the top of the list. Hak-Ju Lee fell short of expectations but looks like a consensus top-5 prospect in the system. But what do you do with guys like...

...Josh Sale, who hit .353/.485/.765 in May, only to follow it up by hitting .234 and .204 the next two months and eventually have his season cut short due to a 50-game amphetamine suspension, which will obviously cut into his 2013 season? Are the on-base skills he showed (51 walks in 74 games) for real? Will the power continue to show up in games? By any measure, 2012 was a big improvement on his debut with Princeton, but how aggressive should we (that's the royal we) be with his ranking? And for that matter, Ryan Brett is in the same boat, finishing at .285/.348/.393 before getting popped for the 50-game suspension.

...Enny Romero, who saw his strikeout rate plummet? Last year with Bowling Green, he looked like he might be the Next Big Thing, striking out 140 in 114 innings for the Hot Rods. He struggled with his control, but seemed prime for a step forward moving into the Florida State League. It didn't materialize. His K/9 fell from 11.1 down to 7.6 while his walk rate held steady at 5.4 per 9 innings. He showed legit stuff in the Futures Game and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a 21-year-old lefty with an arm as live as his, but those hoping for Matt Moore-lite (okay, that's me) were disappointed with his campaign.

...Todd Glaesmann, the toolsy outfielder who showed surprising pop in the FSL? The approach -- 30 walks, 124 strikeouts in 127 games -- is sub-par, but he has a sterling defensive reputation and his 21 home runs led the system. He's big at 6-4/220 but was voted the Midwest League's top defensive outfielder in BaseballAmerica's tools survey, shifting to RF once he was promoted to Charlotte. In 36 games for the Stone Crabs, he hit .295/.333/.554 to bring his season OPS to .829. Are those legitimate strides after two seasons of sub-.700 OPSes? Will his plate approach be his undoing, or does his defense and power do enough to cancel that out?

...the multitude of guys who got hurt? Grayson Garvin pitched 46 mostly ineffective innings. Wilking Rodriguez got to 79... if you include 2011. Brandon Guyer's season ended after 22 games (and he'll be 27 years old). Granden Goetzman didn't even get that far. Alex Torres was hurt but arguably deserves a category to himself: 69 innings with Durham, 63 walks. Oh, and he'll be out of options for 2013.

...Parker Markel and Ryan Carpenter, a pair of 21-year-olds who pitched for Bowling Green? Markel featured a 96-34 K-BB rate in 120 innings, while Carpenter posted a 113-23 in 149.2. With 3.52 and 4.09 ERAs respectively, are those good seasons? Both have flashed plus stuff in the past, Markel in the NY-PL and Carpenter in college, but the strikeout numbers seem to indicate they either don't have it anymore (likely, for Carpenter, who seems to be re-inventing himself as a control pitcher) or have trouble translating it into results.

...Alejandro Segovia, who wasn't on anybody's radar coming into the season? A 22-year-old catcher for Bowling Green, he rode a white-hot summer to a .269/.362/.527 season line. He hit for power (15 HRs) and made contact (36 strikeouts in 70 games), but just about his entire positive track is May through July. Was his slow finish -- .697 OPS in August, .545 OPS over his final ten games -- due to fatigue? Did the league adjust to him? How much do you weigh age, and then the position on top of that?

...Oscar Hernandez, who followed up a .402/.503/.732 VSL season in 2011 with a .231/.349/.394 line for Princeton? He walked 23 times and struck out just 31 in 49 games, but is that enough to stay aggressive with him? Or do you look at Hector Guevara, who also hit well in the VSL (though not to Oscar's extent), showed an ability to make contact in the States in his Princeton debut, but has done little else as a pro

That's without getting into teenagers in the Midwest League in Jake Hager and Tyler Goeddel, older pitchers in the New York-Penn League in Jesse Hahn and Jeff Ames, and, of course, Tim Beckham. Do you know what to do with Tim Beckham? I don't.

Josh Sale Suspended 50 Games For Positive PED Test

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:45:14 -0000

Josh Sale Suspended 50 Games For Positive PED Test

Marc Topkin
‏@TBTimes_Rays
MLB suspends #Rays top 2010 pick Josh Sale 50 games for PED use

Kevin Goldstein's Monday Morning Ten Pack - Taylor Guerrieri

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:37:08 -0000

Kevin Goldstein's Monday Morning Ten Pack - Taylor Guerrieri

(Missed this yesterday)

Basically, there's nothing wrong with his statistical line, and the stuff impresses as well; his fastball, while off from his high school days in terms of velocity, has sat at 90-95 with sink and, more importantly, tremendous control. His power curveball is already plus, and while his changeup lags behind, that's common for a pitcher with his experience, and there's plenty of right now talent to be very excited about.

Checking In With The 2012 Draftees

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:34:37 -0000

The end of August means short-season leagues are starting to wrap up, with the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues ending in a week and the New York-Penn League a bit later. With that in mind -- and with the obvious caveat that short-season stats mean very little -- we can check in and see how the newest members of the Rays organization, the 2012 draftees, fared in their pro debuts:

1. Richie Shaffer, 3B, Hudson Valley - The longest holdout, Shaffer signed right near the deadline, then took a week or so to get back into game shape, so he's only gotten into 19 games for the Renegades. He's hitting .254/.346/.403, and the good news is the NYPL season stretches into September, plus the 'Gades lead their division so Shaffer may play in some playoff games as well.

2. Spencer Edwards, SS, GCL Rays - Tough sledding for the Texas highschooler, hitting .198/.242/.302 in 125 plate appearances with five walks and 37 strikeouts. The reports on Edwards mentioned his plus speed, and he's swiped seven bags. As the regular shortstop for the GCL Rays, he's committed 11 errors in 29 games.

3. Andrew Toles, OF, Princeton - Toles has had one of the best statistical debuts, hitting .375/.402/.580 in the month of July before slumping of late (hitting .135 in his last ten games). Overall he sits at .288/.337/.500, showing an ability to hit for extra bases along with some speed, as he's stolen 13 bases. As a junior college pick, he should be ready to step into Bowling Green's outfield in 2013.

4. Nolan Gannon, RHP, GCL Rays - High school arms typically get light workloads in their pro debuts, and Gannon is no exception. Gannon's longest outing has been just 3.1 innings, but not due to ineffectiveness. Batters are hitting just .165 against him and he's struck out 22 and walked twelve in 22 innings. All five earned runs have come in his last three outings, perhaps owing to some fatigue after pitching a full highschool season and then as a pro. Gannon should slide into Princeton's rotation next year.

5. Bralin Jackson, OF, GCL Rays - Through 37 games, Jackson is hitting .248/.283/.343 with a 6/37 BB/K rate, perhaps highlighting some below-average pitch recognition that will need to be improved. Jackson's a good bet to man centerfield for the P-Rays in 2013.

6. Damion Carroll, RHP, GCL Rays - In the same vein as Gannon, Carroll has been on a pitch count for the GCL Rays. He's bumped up against that fairly quickly, totalling 15.1 innings over nine outings with 19 walks issued the major culprit. He hasn't gotten hit around too much (12 hits, 15 strikeouts, 7.33 GO/AO) but obviously he'll need to throw more strikes as a likely member of Princeton's rotation next season.

7. Marty Gantt, OF, Hudson Valley - Senior sign is hitting .216/.310/.319 for the Renegades.

8. Luke Maile, C, Hudson Valley - Maile's used an advanced approach with 28 walks versus 31 strikeouts to hit .278/.382/.383 while splitting time between catcher and first base for the 'Gades. Maile showed much more power potential in college than he's hit for in his pro debut, so he'll try to improve upon that for Bowling Green in 2013, where he's likely to keep on splitting time between the two positions.

9. Joey Rickard, OF, Hudson Valley - Fresh off a College World Series victory, Rickard is hitting .310/.388/.434 for Hudson Valley in 129 at-bats.

10. Sean Bierman, LHP, Hudson Valley - Another senior sign, Bierman has shown plus control in walking just five hitters in 52.1 innings. It's helped him to a 2.75 ERA, but his raw stuff and command are below-average (55 hits, 36 strikeouts) though he has shown a good groundball tendency.

Other notables:

12. Dylan Floro, RHP, Hudson Valley - Floro re-invented himself as a control pitcher at Cal State-Fullerton when his stuff tapered off, and that's continued as a pro where he's walked three hitters in 24 innings pitching out of the bullpen. He's struck out 19 and possesses a 4.50 GO/AO.

18. Kevin Brandt, LHP, Princeton - College guy pitching against less-advanced competition: 2.25 ERA, 43-6 K-BB in 36 innings.

40. Nick Sawyer, RHP. Princeton - He was the Rays' final draft pick as the 40th-rounder, but he has the stuff to have a bright future. Baseball America had this on him from a Prospect Hot Sheet:

He has used his 93-96 mph fastball for electric results, and coming out of the pen he has allowed five hits in 21 innings while striking out 38. He's allowed one hit in his last 15 innings, while striking out 30. And it's not just his fastball that has baffled hitters.

"He threw some breaking balls with some bite," Rays pitching coordinator Dick Bosman said after watching Sawyer's four innings on Wednesday. "There's a lot to work with there."

He's a sub-6'0" righty who walked more than a hitter per inning at Howard JC this year, but that's still a more intriguing profile than most 40th-rounders.

Minor League Scores & Highlights From 8/12

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:48:02 -0000

Minor League Scores & Highlights From 8/12

Consider this your Down On The Farm for today. Click here for all box scores.

Mid-Season Prospect Promotion Candidates

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:55:10 -0000

There's just about a month and a half remaining in the minor-league season, which means time is running out on promoting players. Here's a look at a few who may see the next level by the end of the year:

Chris Archer, RHP - Obviously we've seen him in the majors earlier this season, called up out of necessity when the Rays needed a second arm to come up from Durham. He impressed in his two-start stint, certainly showing enough to come back in September in a bullpen role. The only thing stopping him from getting the recall is his left oblique, which he injured in a start on July 7. He hasn't been placed on the DL, and it was said to be for "precautionary reasons" but who the heck knows with the Rays.

Ryan Garko, UT - It's a head-scratcher that this one hasn't happened yet. Garko caught the eye of the Rays after smoking the independent Atlantic League for 16 games, and has hit .318/.416/.469 in 226 PA for Montgomery. He has cooled off -- he's hitting just .250 in July -- but given the Rays offensive woes, it's curious that he's still in double-A. One interesting note on Garko: He's hit LHP better in his major-league career, but with Montgomery he has a .934 OPS vs. RHP and a .783 OPS vs.. LHP.

Richie Shaffer, 3B - It weirdly took until the deadline to get Shaffer into the organization, but now that he is, the emphasis should be on getting him as many games as possible. That may mean being assigned to the Arizona Fall League later on, but it might also mean a step up to Bowling Green for the playoffs at the end of the season. The Hot Rods have already clinched a playoff spot, and the Midwest League playoffs are three rounds against the New York-Penn League's two.

Stephen Vogt, C/OF - The #FreeVogt movement gained some major steam with a .364/.444/.579 line for the month of June in Durham. An injury cost him about two weeks of time, but he came back on July 13 and hit a home run. He's still on the 40-man roster, so he's a virtual lock for a September call-up, but if he mashes for the Bulls it might be worth trying to squeeze him in earlier than that to help out the offense (or, at the very least, get a major-league hit, something he was unable to do in 17 PA when he was up earlier).

That's really about it. The Rays aren't huge on mid-season prospect promotions in general, especially from low-A. As a 2011 college draftee, Cameron Seitzer would have the best shot at moving up to Charlotte, but he's not raking to the point of forcing their hand. The organization has showing a willingness to move high-A pitchers to double-A (Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Jeremy Hellickson all were moved up to Montgomery before they spent a full season in the Florida State League), but Albert Suarez, Enny Romero, and Braulio Lara have underwhelmed, C.J. Riefenhauser has an ERA near 6.00 as a starter, and Grayson Garvin is hurt, so no go there. Same story in Montgomery: Nick Barnese and Alex Colome missed time with injury and have about 70 innings between them, Kyle Lobstein and Jake Thompson aren't dominating, and Joe Cruz felt his elbow go pop and is meeting with an orthopedist today.

The strongest performances in the system have come from low-A and the short-season leagues, where it's least likely players get bumped from. Johnny Eierman's hitting .300 with an .804 OPS for the GCL Rays, but they probably had a good reason for starting him there and 17 games isn't going to change that. So don't expect to see too much movement within the prospect ranks down the stretch.

2012 Tampa Bay Rays Draft Signing Board

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:31:44 -0000

2012 Tampa Bay Rays Draft Signing Board

With the draft deadline approaching (Friday at 5 pm), the Rays have signed 35/40 picks.

July 2 - International FA Happenings

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:54:01 -0000

It's July 2nd, an important day in baseball as it marks the opening of the international free agent signing period. While the Rays have been active in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, they've generally stuck to five-figure and low-six-figure bonuses, but Ben Badler of BaseballAmerica believes they're taking a different approach this year:

The Rays, Tigers, Mariners and Phillies are the only organizations left with academies in Venezuela. Tampa Bay's presence in Venezuela is obvious, as their top six international signings last year were Venezuelan players. The difference is that this year, the Rays look like they're going to be all-in on the premium prospects instead of the lower-level guys and there's a chance they may even exceed their $2.9 million bonus pool.

Check the jump for snippets on three players they're considered the favorite for...

Jose Mujica, RHP, Venezuela - (Rated #3 by Badler)

Mujica, who turned 16 on June 29, has a projectable body, free-and-easy mechanics and clean arm action. He can get upright in his delivery, but he throws strikes to both sides of the plate with a fastball that has peaked at 93 mph. His fastball has late, heavy life, and he could reach the mid-90s within a few years. Mujica's best secondary pitch is his changeup, which shows good sink and could be an above-average pitch. He sells the pitch well with his arm speed and throws it to both lefties and righties. Mujica doesn't have great fluidity in his wrists, which hampers his slurvy breaking ball.

Jose Castillo, LHP, Venezuela - (Rated #6 by Badler)

Scouts liked his mechanics and loose arm, though his velocity was mostly in the mid-80s. Since then, Castillo has taken off, as scouts have noted the remarkable improvement in his conditioning and fastball as July 2 approaches. At recent workouts, Castillo sat in the low 90s with his fastball, touching 93-94 mph. He flashed a good changeup for his age, and while he's shown occasional ability to spin a breaking ball, the curveball is his third pitch for now. Reports on his control vary, though with his mechanics he should be solid in that regard.

David Rodriguez, C, Venezuela - (Rated #14 by Badler)

He makes a lot of contact, uses the whole field and drives the ball from gap to gap. There are questions about his bat speed, but his proponents think he can get his hands started early enough to have success. He probably won't be a big power hitter. His defense draws a range of opinions, but he should be able to stay at catcher.

The Rays haven't yet reaped the rewards at the major league level of their recent involvement in the international market, though Alex Colome, Wilking Rodriguez, and Albert Suarez are on the 40-man roster, and Enny Romero will likely be added in the off-season. Further down the system, Oscar Hernandez is going to generate some major hype if he continues his hot hitting at Princeton. He's off to a .342/.409/.605 start.

It's worth noting that the Rays bigger investments have mainly disappointed. Cesar Perez got $1 million and has produced a .430 GCL OPS in 95 games. They signed Yoel Araujo for $800,000 and while he showed promise in the Dominican Summer League, he hit just .221 with 76 strikeouts in 57 games last year. Cuban signees Leslie Anderson and J.J. Ruiz have fizzled. It's been the less-heralded guys who have wound up developing, so we'll see if the Rays new approach works out.

As of this post, the only move the Rays have made so far today is to re-sign catcher Erick Maria for $300,000. He originally signed for the same amount last year as Eric Otanez, but the deal was nixed after it turned out his birthdate and identity were wrong (he actually turned 18 yesterday). This bonus does not count against the Rays' $2.9 million.

Down On The Farm: June 24

Kevin Gengler — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:42:12 -0000

Durham Bulls 4, Buffalo Bisons 3

Matt Mangini hit a home run as part of a 3-4 day. He drove in two and scored two.

Reid Brigac played SS and went 1-4 with a double.

Tim Beckham played 2B and was 0-3 with a walk.

Rich Thompson tripled and went 3-4.

Matt Buschmann struck out five and allowed two runs over 5.1 innings in his first AAA start this season.

Bryan Augenstein allowed a run in 2 innings. He has a 1.13 ERA and a 30-5 K-BB in 24 innings for the year.

Montgomery Biscuits 5, Mobile BayBears 2

Joseph Cruz managed six scoreless innings despite six walks. He allowed three hits and struck out three.
Ryan Garko was 3-5 with a double.
Ty Morrison, Brett Nommensen, and Omar Luna each had two hits.
Hak-Ju Lee went 1-5 with two strikeouts.

Charlotte Stone Crabs RAINED OUT

Apparently there was some rain in Florida yesterday. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 3, Dayton Dragons 2

Jeff Malm was 2-4 with a home run, his eighth of the season and second in as many days. He also doubled.
Josh Sale was 0-3, the only Hot Rod without a hit. He did draw a walk.
Drew Vettleson went 1-4 with a stolen base.
Tyler Goeddel went 1-3 with a double.
Alejandro Segovia was 1-4 with a home run.

Staten Island Yankees 9, Hudson Valley Renegades 1

Jesse Hahn allowed seven runs -- six earned -- in 1.1 innings. He gave up six hits and walked two.
Eduar Quinonez struck out five in 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
The Renegades collected just four hits, singles by Thomas Coyle, Ryan Dunn, Luke Maile, and Felix Gonzalez.
Justin O'Conner took an 0-4 with a strikeout.

Princeton Rays 5, Pulaski Mariners 4

Blake Snell pitched 3.2 perfect innings before a rain delay forced him out. In two starts, he's thrown 8.2 innings, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 walks, and 13 strikeouts.
Oscar Hernandez hit his first home run of the season as part of a 2-4 day with three RBIs.
John Alexander went 2-3.
Granden Goetzman was 0-4.
James Harris was 0-3.

GCL Rays OFF

Short-Season Preview: Hudson Valley, Princeton, and the GCL Rays

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:08:25 -0000

It's short-season ball time! The Hudson Valley Renegades open tonight at 7 pm, the Princeton Rays start tomorrow night, and the GCL Rays are playing as this post is being published. Here's your position-by-position guide to follow along with the prospects worth noting.

Catcher
Hudson Valley - Luke Maile, Justin O'Conner, Jake DePew
Princeton - Oscar Hernandez

The Renegades actually have five catchers on the roster, these three plus a NDFA and 1B Michael Williams, who split the catching duties at Kentucky with Luke Maile. Justin O'Conner, a 2010 1st-round pick, looks like he'll be relegated to DH duties because of a hip injury suffered in spring (if he catches, it will be very sparingly). After striking out 78 times in 48 games on his way to a .157/.234/.354 line with Princeton in 2011, any step forward in his ability to make contact will be welcome. Maile was Kentucky's best hitter this spring, but his defense needs work. Jake DePew was a 9th-round pick in 2010 out of high school but hasn't made much noise in two seasons.

And then there's Oscar. Outside of perhaps Taylor Guerrieri, this might be the most-anticipated short-season player. Hernandez tore up the VSL to the tune of a .403/.503/.732 line, so it'll be interesting to see how those video game numbers translate to the states. Hector Guevara was the last "big" VSL prospect to come over, but he hasn't topped a .671 OPS in the States. Then again, 1.237 is a bit higher than .908. The GCL Rays have various org filler at the catching position.

First Base
Hudson Valley - Michael Williams
Princeton - John Alexander
GCL - Miguel Beltran, Travis Flores

Alexander is the biggest prospect of the bunch here as an 8th-round pick (who got 3rd-round money) last June. He's big at 6-5/200 but athletic, a volleyball standout in high school, and hit .314 in a twelve-game debut with the GCL Rays last season. As noted above, Williams also caught at Kentucky and may see some time there this year. Travis Flores missed all of last season with an injury; he was the Rays' 11th-round selection in 2010 and Miguel Beltran was this year's 19th rounder.To

Second Base
Hudson Valley - Tommy Coyle
Princeton - Julian Morillo

Not a ton here, even by the relaxed standards second base offers. Coyle was the 16th-round pick earlier this month out of UNC, but he's probably most noteworthy for being Sean Coyle's brother (Sean was a 2010 3rd-rounder). Julian Morillo got a $210,000 signing bonus three years ago, but he's hit just .206/.308/.254 in two seasons with the GCL Rays. The GCL will have 32nd-round pick Benjamin Kline and Adderly Rosa, who spend the past three seasons in the DSL.

Shortstop
Hudson Valley - Ryan Dunn
Princeton - Brandon Martin
GCL - Johnny Eierman (?)

Martin and Eierman were both parts of the 2011 draft haul, Martin in the supplemental round and Eierman in the 3rd. There's been some noise about Eierman moving to the OF, and that's probably his eventual home, but I'm not sure why he'd be in the GCL unless there's (a) an injury, or (b) the Rays want both Martin and Eierman to be everyday shortstops (also note that 2012 second-rounder Spencer Edwards would be with the GCL Rays when he signs). Martin hit for a .726 OPS in his brief GCL debut, Eierman for a .752. Ryan Dunn was the 2012 17th-round selection out of Oregon State.

Third Base
Hudson Valley - Leonardo Reginatto
Princeton - Reid Redman
GCL - Cesar Perez

The Brazilian Reginatto hit .198 last season for the Renegades, and realistically he's just keeping the 3B seat warm until Richie Shaffer signs and takes over as the every day guy. Cesar Perez might be the biggest bust in the system, signing for $1 million back in 2009 and hitting .160/.235/.184 in 87 Gulf Coast League games since. He was reputed to show big raw power, but obviously he hasn't done a whole lot in-game. Redman was the 23rd-rounder out of Cal State-Los Angeles this June.

Outfield
Hudson Valley - Deshun Dixon, Marty Gantt, Joel Caminero
Princeton - James Harris, Granden Goetzman
GCL - Yoel Araujo, Bralin Jackson, Clayton Henning

Aruajo received an $800,000 bonus and comes stateside following a .221/.348/.379 campaign in the DSL. He needs to cut down on the strikeouts, whiffing 76 times in 57 games last summer. He's joined by Jackson and Henning, the Rays' 5th- and 11th-round picks from this year's draft. Princeton has Harris and Goetzman, who each got equal $490,000 bonuses in last year's draft and who each struggled to sub-.500 OPSes in the Gulf Coast League last season. Dixon hasn't shown the same ability as older brother Rashun (in the A's system). Gantt was a senior sign as a 7th-round pick, and may be joined by 9th-rounder Joey Rickard, a junior at Arizona who's still alive in the College World Series. Andrew Toles, this year's 3rd-rounder, would play with either HV or Princeton after signing.

Starting Pitching (Note: Some guesswork here)
Hudson Valley - Taylor Guerrieri, Jeff Ames, Jesse Hahn, Matt Spann, Ian Kendall
Princeton - Jacob Faria, Blake Snell, Kevin James
GCL - Stephan Havlicek, Nolan Gannon, Damion Carroll

Hudson Valley clearly packs the biggest punch here. Guerrieri was the 24th overall pick in the 2011 draft, and he makes his pro debut tomorrow night. Jeff Ames is the opening-day starter, a hard thrower who struck out 39 against 7 walks last year with Princeton, but posted a 7.12 ERA. Jesse Hahn got $525,000 back in 2010, but the Virginia Tech RHP underwent Tommy John surgery his first pitch this year will be his first as a pro. Ian Kendall was taken the round before Hahn but struggled (33 strikeouts, 30 walks in 54.1 innings) last season Matt Spann, a 6-7/185 LHP, struck out 61 and walked 18 in 63.1 innings for Princeton last season. Dylan Floro and Brandon Henderson are also candidates to pick up some starts here and there.

Princeton has a pair of 2011 high school draftees in Snell and Faria, both of whom looked good in their short times with the GCL Rays last summer. Kevin James has totalled just 29 innings since being a 9th-round pick in 2009 from a Wisconsin high school, walking 33 and posting a 7.45 ERA over that span. Carroll and Gannon will likely make brief Gulf Coast League debuts, though they'll be on tight innings and pitch limits after their high school season. Havlicek was signed out of the Czech Republic and pitched 15 innings here last year.

Draft Signing Update

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:39:41 -0000

Remember that big to-do last week about the draft? Here's a quick update on he signing situation (Bonus information from Baseball America):

1. Richie Shaffer, 3B, Clemson - Shaffer hasn't signed yet, though it was reported he wanted to take a bit of time off and get started on his pro career. Currently, eight 1st-round picks have signed, each at or below slot value. The pick after Shaffer, Stryker Trahan, signed for his $1.7M slot value, so if Shaffer is getting a slot bonus, there shouldn't be much of a hold-up.

2. Spencer Edwards, OF, Rockwall HS - Nothing official yet, though it was reported by Rays Digest he plans on signing: "I'm ready to play professional baseball and I am going to sign with the Rays," said Edwards, who was selected with the No. 88 overall pick. "This is something I have wanted to do since I was 4-years-old and I believe I am ready for the next level." The slot value for the 88th selection is $556,900.

3. Andrew Toles, OF, Chipola JC - Toles hasn't signed yet but it's tough to imagine he won't, given that he transferred to a JuCo and not another four-year school after leaving Tennessee. John Gregg has this quote from him: "The chances are pretty high right now. What I'm looking for is just fair treatment, nothing too crazy." The slot value here is $396,700.

4. Nolan Gannon, RHP, Santa Fe Christian HS - He sounded pretty definitive here: "I'm ecstatic," said Gannon, who has signed to play at San Diego State. "I definitely will sign with the Rays. They're my favorite team, and I want to begin my professional career." Slot value is $288,500.

5. Bralin Jackson, OF, Raytown South HS - Here we get to our first player with a significant question mark. He's committed to a big-time program (Missouri) and the bonus numbers for 5th rounders (Jackson's slot is $216,000) aren't eye-popping. Jackson could see himself as a higher-round pick after three years of refining his athleticism into baseball skills. Haven't seen much speculation either way.

6. Damion Carroll, RHP, King George HS - Another possible tough sign: "The signing bonus for sixth-round picks this season is between $155,000 and $170,000, far less than what his father, Virgil Holmes, said a few weeks ago that it would take to sign Carroll." Then again, he's only committed to a JuCo, a sign he might prefer pro ball over college. Slot is $162,000.

7. Marty Gantt, OF, College of Charleston - Gantt is the earliest selection to officially sign. The senior inked a well-below-slot deal, signing for $17,500 against a slot of $142,000, freeing up about $125,000 to allocate elsewhere. He should be on Hudson Valley's opening-day roster.

8. Luke Maile, C, Kentucky - Maile signed for his slot value, $133,200. Like Gantt, he should be on the Renegades roster and, if you believe the scouting reports, among their best hitters. The question is how his defense plays in pro ball.

9. Joey Rickard, OF, Arizona - Arizona has made it through to the College World Series, so you'll be able to see him play before the signing process starts. He's a junior, like Maile, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sign for the $125,000 slot amount.

10. Sean Bierman, LHP, Tampa - Bierman has signed, but no bonus amount has been published. As a senior, he's likely to get a deal similar to Gantt's, freeing up more money for the Rays to spend, either on players like Jackson and Carroll or to try to make a run at Clayton Henning, Taylor Hawkins, or other players selected outside the top 10 rounds.

Other players to sign:
18. Kevin Brandt, LHP, East Carolina
19. Miguel Beltran, 1B, Oklahoma City U.
22. Willie Argo, CF, Illinois
23. Reid Redman, 2B, Texas Tech
25. Jordan Harrison, LHP, Louisiana-Lafayette
30. Michael Williams, C, Kentucky
32. Benjamin Kline, SS, Emory-Riddle
34. Ryan Garton, RHP, Florida Atlantic
35. Kris Carlson, RHP, Colorado Mesa
37. Rob Finneran, RHP, Bentley

Draft Open Thread

Kevin Gengler — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:25:15 -0000

The picks will begin in just over a half-hour, though the Rays need to wait until #25. Use this thread to discuss the draft, the abbreviated major-league slate of games, or the guys already in the system as all four minor league affiliates are in action.

Down On The Farm: June 2

Kevin Gengler — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:22:49 -0000

Alex Colome fans ten, Josh Sale hits his seventh home run, and other highlights from last night's minor league action...

Durham Bulls 3, Louisville Bats 1

Desmond Jennings went 1-4 in his first rehab game with the Bulls
Stephen Vogt was 2-4 with a double
Jesus Feliciano and Cole Figueroa also had two hits apiece
Brandon Gomes picked up the save with a scoreless inning. In 19 innings with Durham, he's allowed one run on eight hits, struck out 31 and walked eight.

Montgomery Biscuits 9, Mississippi Braves 1

Alex Colome struck out ten in 5 innings, allowing a run on three hits and three walks
Hak-Ju Lee was 1-3 with two walks and a steal
Tyler Bortnick went 3-4 with a stolen base
Kyeong Kang collected two hits and a walk
Ryan Garko was 1-2 with two walks

Charlotte Stone Crabs rained out

They will play a doubleheader today

Bowling Green Hot Rods 1, Lansing Lugnuts 0 (10 innings, completion of 5/31 suspended game)

Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, Lansing Lugnuts 1 (7 innings)

Josh Sale went a combined 3-6 with a home run, his 7th of the year, and a walk and stolen base
Tyler Goeddel was 3-6 between the two games
Ryan Brett was 2-4 in the first game
Drew Vettleson went 2-3 with a double and a walk in the second game
Jake Hager went 2-2 and is hitting .395/.415/.632 in his last ten games

Prospect Performance Review - May

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:39:28 -0000

It's time for this month's Prospect Performance Review, a look at how the organization's top prospects fared in May...

1. Matt Moore - After his typical slow start, Moore seems to be getting on track in the majors. While his 4.83 ERA for the month isn't anything to write home about, his 41-14 K-BB in 31.2 innings was a vast improvement over his 17-14 mark in 25 April innings. He continues to struggle with he home run ball and pitch efficiency, neither of which is unusual for a 22-year-old.

2. Hak-Ju Lee - It was another rough month for Lee, hitting .217/.291/.264 so far this month, an OPS nearly .100 lower than a disappointing .248/.315/.327 in April. Still only 21, it's now a near-lock that Lee spends the entire season with Montgomery.

3. Chris Archer - Archer may have had the biggest improvement of any on this list. After walking more than he struck out in April, he posted a 41-13 K-BB in 28.2 innings in May, with one start still to come. Over his last three starts, he's struck out 30 in 16.2 innings.

4. Taylor Guerrieri - Remains in extended spring training.

5. Alex Colome - Colome returned from an oblique injury on May 26th to make his first start since early April. He struck out five in 4 innings and has a 15-3 K-BB in three starts this season.

6. Alex Torres - He's performed better as a reliever, but when the comparison is to an ERA over 10.00 as a starter, that's not saying much. He's got a 17-9 K-BB in 12 relief innings, obviously still not hitting the strike zone enough. Torres' GB% is also at a career low 39%.

7. Tim Beckham - Serving a 50-game (reduced from 420) suspension for testing positive for a drug of abuse.

8. Enny Romero - Romero continues to hold hitters to a low batting average -- .237 in May, .229 overall -- but his 38-29 K-BB rate in 49 innings is disappointing after he fanned 140 last season. His 3.67 season ERA is fine but is being helped by just home run allowed all year.

9. Drew Vettleson - His average fell from .303 to .261 from April to May but his OPS has risen as he's hit for four more extra-base hits in a similar number of ABs. A .282/.350/.441 line isn't any sort of breakout, but it's a solid line for a full-season debut. Vettleson also leads minor-league baseball in outfield assists.

10. Mikie Mahtook - He tapped into his power more this month. His .284 May batting average is identical to April's, but his .389 SLG% represented a .066 improvement. Still a ways to go, obviously, but he did finally hit his first home run.

11. Brandon Guyer - Out for the season with a labrum injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

12. Jake Hager - He raised his batting average from .200 in April to .300 in May, though his OBP for the month was only .311. But a teenager hitting .300 (and not all singles, eight of his 21 hits went for exta bases) in the Midwest League is nice to see, even if we're talking arbitrary cutoffs.

13. Derek Dietrich - He holds the team lead in OPS among those with 75+ ABs (sorry, Mayo Acosta) with a .270/.354/.483 season line, .277/.352/.564 in May with five home runs after none in April. Worth noting that he's hitting .310/.402/.520 on the year vs. RHP.

14. Ryan Brett - A hot month for him as a 4-5 game yesterday raised his monthly line to .348/.402/.461 with an OPS just a hair under .800 for the season. He's walked eight times in May (four in April) and swiped eleven bases (two in April).

15. Luke Bailey - Injured since April 14 (broken hand)

16. Parker Markel - Returned from injury to make two starts in May, getting knocked around to the tune of six earned runs on ten hits in 4.1 innings.

17. Albert Suarez - An underwhelming season continued as Suarez punched out 12 in 26.2 innings in May, though he did only walk four. With a 4.50 ERA and a .279 opponents batting average, he isn't exactly pumping up his stock. With one more inning, though, he'll set a career high.

18. Tyler Goeddel - MOA? After a terrific start, Goeddel hit .219/.333/.328 in May. The improved walk total is nice, though the strikeouts are still roughly one per game. He's shown nice speed and baserunning with eleven steals against one time caught for the year.

19. Matt Bush - Restricted list; I think we all know about this situation.

20. Blake Snell - Remains in extended spring training.

Special shoutout: Josh Sale - Called up from XST to Bowling Green were he hit .366/.491/.805 in 15 games before hurting his hamstring on May 21, though he hasn't been placed on the DL.

Special shoutout 2: C.J. Riefenhauser - He's got a 2.36 season ERA thanks to a 53-6 K-BB rate in 42 innings for the Stone Crabs. Still a wide L/R split, though: Righties are hitting .287 against him, lefties are hitting .172.

Mock Draft Roundup

Kevin Gengler — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:09:25 -0000

The draft may not be as fun for Rays fans to follow this year without 11 picks in the top 80, as they had last season, but it is just two weeks away. This means the mock drafts have started rolling in, and while they're hardly accurate for picks as late as the Rays (25th), they can give an idea as to which players the team might be looking at. Here's a quick look at some various mocks:

BaseballAmerica (Jim Callis):
25. RAYS: After having a record 12 selections in the first two rounds in 2011, Tampa Bay will have to make its picks count now with no extra choices and a relatively small $3.8 million bonus pool for the top 10 rounds. The Rays develop high school pitchers as well as anyone, and Ty Hensley could give them another potential frontline starter.
Projected Pick: TY HENSLEY.

ESPN (Keith Law):
Tampa Bay Rays - Carson Kelly, 3B, Westview H.S. (Portland, Ore.)
Kelly is a two-way prospect who has strong hands but a noisy lower half. He's the best player available for the Rays, a team with a history of drafting top talent from the Pacific Northwest, such as 2011 supplemental first-rounders Jeff Ames and Blake Snell.

Minor League Ball (John Sickels, from late April):
25) Tampa Bay Rays (John): There are all kinds of scenarios that make sense here. I'll look for a premium tool and pick the fastest man in the draft, prep outfielder D.J. Davis, who has made enough progress with the rest of his game this year to push into first round consideration. D.J. Davis, OF, Mississippi HS. (previous: Trahan)

Again, take these with a grain of salt. Keith Law's May 2011 mock draft had the Rays taking Joe Ross, Levi Michael, and Brandon Nimmo. Jim Callis' had Jose Fernandez, Kolten Wong, and Blake Swihart. And John Sickels projected Robert Stephenson, Jorge Lopez, and Levi Michael. You might note that none of those players are in the Rays system.