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Tampa Bay Rays Top 20 Prospects In Review

The Tampa Bay list was posted January 10th, 2008. This is a REVIEW OF THAT LIST. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST!!!!!!

1) Evan Longoria, 3B, Grade A
     Hitting .272/.345/.522 with 18 homers for the Rays. Rookie of the Year candidate.
2) David Price, LHP, Grade A
     8-0, 1.92 between A-ball and Double-A with 62/17 K/BB in 66 innings. Assuming he stays healthy, he's terrific.
3) Jacob McGee, LHP, Grade A
     Blew out elbow, had Tommy John surgery.
4) Wade Davis, RHP, Grade B+
     3.85 ERA with 81/42 K/BB in 108 innings in Double-A. Just promoted to Triple-a, threw well in first start. Command has been a bit of at times but overall he's doing pretty well.
5) Reid Brignac, SS, Grade B+
     HItting .266/.315/.424 for Triple-A Durham. Is he ever REALLY going to break out? Still just 22.    
6) Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Grade B+
      2.00 ERA with 83/5 K/BB in 77 innings in A-ball, then 4.88 ERA in five Double-A starts but with a 20/3 K/BB in 28 innings. Outstanding command, good stuff, I think he will adjust.
7) Desmond Jennings, OF, Grade B+
     Out for the year with shoulder problems.
8) Jeff Niemann, RHP, Grade B
     7-3, 3.33 with 80/30 K/BB in 84 innings in Triple-A, 65 hits allowed. Still looks like an inning-eater type to me.
9) Eduardo Morlan, RHP, Grade B
     Limited to 23 innings in Double-A by some early season injuries, but has a 3.09 ERA and a 19/6 K/BB. Still a nice bullpen prospect.
10) John Jaso, C, Grade B
      Hitting .271/.408/.405 for Double-A Montgomery, repeating the league but with wosre performance than last year. Excellent strike zone judgment.
11) Ryan Royster, OF, Grade B-
     .257/.300/.356 for Vero Beach. Poor plate discipline has prevented him from building on 2007 success, stock has dropped. 
12) Chris Mason, RHP, Grade B-
       6.47 ERA with 77/31 K/BB for Triple-A Durham, 119 hits in 89 innings and 18 homers allowed. Way too hittable, has been unable to adjust to Triple-A competition.
13) Nick Barnese, RHP, Grade B-
       Looking good in the New York-Penn League so far: 1.57 ERA with 41/11 K/BB in 34 innings, 26 hits allowed. Stock on the rise.
14) Mitch Talbot, RHP, Grade C+
       4.47 ERA with 94/19 K/BB in 117 innings for Durham, 124 hits allowed. Nice K/BB ratio, could still be an inning-eater type though not dominant.
15) Heath Rollins, RHP, Grade C+
       3.28 ERA with 103/22 K/BB in 113 innings for Vero Beach, 96 hits allowed. Pitching well, but needs to be given a chance at higher levels before we know exactly how good he is.
16) Glenn Gibson, LHP, Grade C+
       7.44 ERA with 49/41 K/BB in 79 innings for Columbus in the Sally League, 104 hits allowed. All ratios have completely collapsed compared to his strong short-season performance last year. I have to wonder if he is healthy.
17) Fernando Perez, OF, Grade C+
      Hitting .287/.361/.398 with 30 steals for Durham. Impressive speed and defensive skills, some pop, strikes out a lot but will also take a walk. Would be a fine fourth outfielder.
18) James Houser, LHP, Grade C+
      3.03 ERA with 69/34 K/BB in 86 innings, 66 hits allowed for Double-A Montgomery. Holding his own, needs a promotion to Triple-A to test his skills as he is repeating the league.
19) Justin Ruggiano, OF, Grade C+
       .305/.365/.506 with 18 steals for Durham. I know scouts still don't seem to like him much and he's 26, but c'mon, this guy needs a shot somewhere.
20) Sergio Pedroza, OF, Grade C+
      .262/.349/.371 for Montgomery. Hasn't been able to hit Double-A pitching for the same kind of power he showed in the lower minors.

Injury attrition has claimed the very promising Desmond Jennings and Jacob McGee, but the Rays have such strong system depth that they can compensate. Hopefully Price's early season arm woes will not recur. I'm starting to wonder about Brignac, if he will ever live up to his complete potential, though again he is still very young.

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Think Barnese could be rated a B prospect next year

Saw a start on MILB.com and his breaking pitch has developed into a jaw dropping curve at times and his fastball moves like crazy. Granted it’s early but I like him better than Hellickson due to the movement on the pitch and the fact that he is getting 63% GB and his BABIP is inflated at .317, so he could be more dominant. I hope he gets a start in Oneonta because i’ll get a scouting report on him.

by Bravesin07 on Jul 21, 2025 4:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Chris Nowak

Any chance for this guy? Blocked at 3B in AA, and justifiably so behind Longoria and Guzman. Is this why he is stuck at that level, or is he just not as good as his consistent .300 average over the past two seasons would indicate?

by StickRat on Jul 21, 2025 10:12 PM EDT   0 recs

Not as good as his numbers suggest

He has good plate patience, but just doesn’t have the tools to be even a back-up at the big league level. At least it’s not likely. He has very little power for a corner IFer, and he’s not a good 3B at all. In the majors he’d relegated to 1B.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Jul 21, 2025 11:51 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He's always reminded me of

Kevin Millar

Much like Millar, he’ll probably need to catch a lot of breaks just to make it to the majors, but if he gets there, I think he could keep doing what he does.

And as mentioned, he’s really more of a 1B, which is unfortunate. He’s a great defensive 1B, but not much of a 3B. He’s one of those guys with fall-down range, but who makes every play he can get to.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jul 22, 2025 3:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

How does Niemann compare to Luke Hochevar?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 22, 2025 1:18 AM EDT   0 recs

He doesn't really...

I’ve always though Niemann was more you’re typical power pitcher, while Luke is more a sinker ball guy.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Jul 23, 2025 4:43 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Desmond Jennings and Fernando Perez

Why is the disparity between these two so wide? Perez has plus plus speed as does Jennings when healthy, excellent defender with solid average arm, but closer to the bigs than Jennings…am I missing something?

by thomasps3 on Jul 22, 2025 8:44 AM EDT   0 recs

re:

Jennings has as good or better tools across the board. If you want to compare stats just look at their Low A numbers, Jennings was 2 years younger and was better in every facet of the game basically. Perez has also been a bit old for every level.

by hybrid on Jul 22, 2025 9:11 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

john jaso

(#10 on this list) was promoted to triple-A Durham the same day as Davis

by bonniebelle on Jul 22, 2025 7:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Here's a few more names.....

(In no particular order)

Reid Fronk LF .272/12/56 - Just promoted to Double A

Jesse Darcy SP Class A

Austin Hinkle RP Class A

Ryan Reid RP Double A

Dale Thayer RP Triple A (even if he is 27 years old)

by Rays Rule on Jul 23, 2025 12:33 AM EDT   0 recs

how about nick debarr?

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Jul 29, 2025 5:31 PM EDT   0 recs

What about Matthew Moore?

http://baseballhandyman.blogspot.com/2008/08/sleeper-potential-matthew-moore-sp-tb.html

Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.blogspot.com

by Baseball Handyman on Aug 18, 2025 2:54 PM EDT   0 recs

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