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Tampa Bay Devil Rays Top 20 Prospects

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TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS TOP 20 PROSPECTS

  1. Delmon Young, OF, Grade A
  2. Wes Bankston, 1B, B+
  3. Jason Hammel, RHP, B
  4. Wade Davis, RHP, B
  5. Elijah Dukes, OF, B
  6. Jeff Niemann, RHP, B
  7. James Houser, LHP, B
  8. Chris Mason, RHP, B
  9. Jamie Shields, RHP, B-
  10. John Jaso, C, B-
  11. Chuck Tiffany, LHP, B-
  12. Reid Brignac, SS, C+
  13. Shawn Riggans, C, C+
  14. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, C+
  15. Andy Sonnanstine, RHP, C+
  16. Jacob McGee, LHP, C+
  17. Andrew Lopez, OF, C+
  18. John Matulia, OF, C+
  19. Mike Wlodarczyk, LHP, C+
  20. Matt Walker, RHP, C
  21. Wade Townsend, RHP, C
There is a LOT of potential variation here. This system could look outstanding a year from now if some of these guys develop.

Delmon is obviously the class of the system (and the minors in general). After that things are unclear. I like Wes Bankston more than a lot of people. Hammel is a wild card; could be good, could be bad. Elijah Dukes has outstanding tools and is developing the skills to go with them, but has a volatile personality. Niemann and Houser have injury/durability concerns.

Wade Davis is my candidate for a major breakout this year.

Many of the C+ guys are capable of taking major leaps forward this year, particularly Brignac and Hellickson. Control artist Sonnanstine puts up ungodly K/BB ratios, but his mediocre fastball worries scouts.