Tampa Bay Rays Sign 1B Ryan Shealy to Minor League Deal

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 18, 2009 12:21 PM EST

Shealy is a 30-year-old right-handed first baseman. He stands 6'5" and weighs around 240 pounds. In 591 career Major League plate appearances he has a .334 wOBA and pretty good defense (11.3 UZR career), which is a bit surprising given his size. In 1,431 Triple-A plate appearances - mostly in the PCL - he's crushed to the line of .300/.380/.540. Given his contact rates through those ~600 MLB PA it seems unlikely he could hit .300, but if nothing else, Shealy is a better insurance policy for Carlos Pena than Chris Richard and he's closer to Eric Hinske than Morgan Ensberg.

Shealy was formerly a prospect in the Colorado Rockies system and in 2006 was dealt alongside former Ray Scott Dohmann to the Kansas City Royals.

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You are quick RJ--i remember Sheehey

he was supposed to be the Royals power answer

by sternfan1 on Dec 18, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions

I always liked Shealy way back when

But at this point, he’s probably not much more than an insurance policy, and I’m not sure he’s a significantly better one than Chris Richard (once you adjust for league and park factors between the IL and PCL).

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"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Dec 18, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

Now you're just trolling.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 18, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

I don't care if he can or can't hit

Did you see Chris Richard play defense?

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by Tommy Rancel on Dec 18, 2009 12:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Is that what you're calling it?

by sternfan1 on Dec 18, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

Shealy's no great defender either

I’m not saying he’s not an upgrade, just not a large one.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Dec 20, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

Shealy's handled RHP pretty well at AAA for a RHB

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by FreeZorilla on Dec 18, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions

Let's make him a catcher

I'm a writer.

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 18, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

Oh man remember the power this guy had in Rockies system?

and he wasnt even in coors yet. If Helton hadn’t be inked to a 30 year deal, they could of called Shealy up at the right time and who knows how good he would be now

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by joeybw on Dec 18, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions

New favorite Rays/Bulls player

Love it when we sign Gators. Hopefully he regains the form that made him a good prospect a few years back.

by jwgator on Dec 18, 2009 2:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions

whoa whoa hold on a minute

dont name him your fav Bull, remember we will have Hellickson, Jennings and Brignac/Puffy down there still

Fire and Ice: Rafael Soriano and J.P Howell.......with their side kick Grant the aussie Balfour!

by joeybw on Dec 18, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

Shealy is a good pickup

His lack of use at the MLB level is partly his fault (nagging hamstring injuries) but mostly Royals’ FO fault. They signed Jacobs an 1B and were going to stick with that decision to their graves. All Shealy did was wOBA .407 w/7 HRs in 2008 during his September call-up, then never got an opportunity in 2009, despite the .403 wOBA in AAA.

Blank

by benfunke on Dec 18, 2009 3:26 PM EST reply actions