Baseball America's Top 10 Rays Prospects
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:04 PM EST
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Print1. Desmond Jennings
2. Jeremy Hellickson
3. Wade Davis
4. Matt Moore
5. Reid Brignac
6. Tim Beckham
7. Alexander Colome
8. Jake McGee
9. Alexander Torres
10. Nick Barnese
Not too many qualms about the order. Jennings is easily the Rays top prospect and positional players are more valuable than pitchers. The article is sub-only, but here's one intriguing non-report part:
Tampa Bay also hopes to start reaping benefits from their newfound dedication to player development in Latin America. The Rays have relatively new complexes and summer leagues teams in both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, bringing their total of minor league affiliates to nine, tops in baseball.
And here's a small snippet from Jennings' strengths piece:
Managers rated Jennings as the best and fastest baserunner in the Southern League, as well as the best defensive outfielder and most exciting player. He has a live, athletic frame and five-tool talent that should continue to improve with experience. He has more power than most leadoff hitters, with at least 15-homer potential, and even better, he understands that his pop is secondary in importance to getting on base. He has exceptional strike-zone judgment and stays within himself by putting balls on the ground and using his speed to beat them out.
Can't wait.
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List seems alright, though Ballew/BA usually don't get loony until #15 or so in the book
Still not sure McGee is a top 10 prospect at this point, especially since the report on his stuff they had is pre-surgery and he really projects as a reliever now. I would’ve bumped McGee down, moved Torres and Barnese up, then put Kyle Lobstein or criminally under-rated Alex Cobb at #10.
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www.raysprospects.com
Colome, Lobstein, and hopefully McEachern would be a fun rotation in Bowling Green
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by Imperialism32 on Dec 21, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
Hmmm...
A trip to Hickory to see teh GFs fam may have to happen this summer. Oh and that Bowling Green team is in town? Great!
Sorry, Bowling Green is moving to the MWL in 2010
so no trips to Hickory(or Lakewood, which sucks for me).
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 21, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
You really got to love what the FO is doing with the organization.
If only your average local fan had this same appreciation. They simply just do not know.
Meant to write about this after the Soriano deal.
Why is it that all these foreign investments and front office hirings are ignored as "commitment to winning" and only Major League payroll counts towards it? Given, they aren’t as publicized and probably not as expensive, but it seems everyone ignores those aspects.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
Its cool
Someday there will be a book about how they did it. Hopefully Jonah won’t spill too many secrets.
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by FreeZorilla on Dec 21, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
He's made threats that if he put everything in it would be 700 pages.
To which I said “And?”
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
The Kazmir deal:
In hindsight it looks great (so far). Apart from the pieces acquired in the deal, I don’t think we target Soriano if we are still paying Kaz.
Good point
Maybe I’m just an old fashioned BJ suck-off-er. (Good call Sandy)
by Lurch's Lobbyists on Dec 21, 2009 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
They also say Friedman is trying to lock up CC and Los
Seriously doubt that, especially Pena.
Hopefully, him and CC’s agents are talking
Fire and Ice: Rafael Soriano and J.P Howell.......with their side kick Grant the aussie Balfour!
This is how that part of the conversation went:
BA staffer: “Do you have any intentions to keep Crawford and/or Pena?”
Friedman: “We would like to see them here for the foreseeable future, but …”
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
Can't say I'd mind if Pena accepted arb and came back for 2011.
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 21, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
ch-ch-ch-changes....
Next year will be interesting. I’m assuming Davis and Brignac at least graduate. I’d be suprised if anyone else does, so in theory there will be 2 open spots. However, we’ll have 5 picks in the first 80 (or so I can’t remember) and a bunch of guys banging the door down (McEachern, Lobstein, Aneury, etc.).
Any guesses on what happens?
My 2010 (2011?) top 10 would likely be as follows:
DJ
Hellboy
Moore
Beckhem
Colome
Lobstein
Barnese
Torres
Malm
Glaesmon
Who knows, though. It’s pretty exciting to think about where this system might be this time next year. Hell we may have 8 in the first, sandwich, and second rounds next year even if we sign them all this year.
Guessing at least one of the new draftee breaks into the top 10.
Don’t you think?
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe/probably
None made it this year, but we also didn’t sign our first 2 picks.
I also don’t know who those guys are yet which makes it tricky.
Yeah. Generally speaking though, it seems like at least the first round pick (minus a total reach job) is listed somewhere.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah.
That’s what I’d expect, but I also think one of these guys will fizzle. A lot of low-minors guys do.
Definitely.
I hope nobody looks at this list and pencils each one in as a future member of the Rays.
Hence the Jason Place post from a few days back. Optimistically cautious.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
Shocked he hasn't mentioned this yet:
Best Defensive Catcher Nevin Ashley
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
That's the good thing about the depth.
We may not be stacked right now with impact bats, but we have an absolute glut of pitching prospects. The problem with pitching prospects is the high fail rate. Good think if 80% fail we’ll still be in a great position.
We also have SS, CF, and 2B depth.
If baseball really is headed towards a defense-first market, that depth will come in handy filling other spots.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
First person to suggest dealing Desmond gets banned.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
Matter of time.
Although I did email his agent asking if there’s been any extension talk on either side. No response yet. Yay.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
I just can't see it happening.
Not soon anyway. Maybe they’ll capitalize on his down year, but with his confidence in his skills you know he isn’t signing an extension based on last season.
At what point do we start to call the 2010 season "this year"
Jan 1?
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 21, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
Good chance of a serious fizzle too
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by FreeZorilla on Dec 21, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
Where does Kenny Diekroeger fit in this?
/sadface
:-(
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 21, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
Beckhem
Will he go to CLT next year? I expect a status bounce back because I think his batting numbers were betetr than he’s credited. Hopefully he does some work in the offseason to ease fears about his fat butt.
They were better than people credit him with.
Until a late season slump Beckham’s numbers were on key with Justin Upton’s at the same age at the same level.
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 21, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
What is a realistic slashline expectation for Nashley?
Would it be like .220/.280/.300? Or could we expect something more servicable?
For the record, .200/.250/.300 seems like a worst-case floor with sufficient PA
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Kind of amazing/awesome that Hellickson has overtaken Davis.
Did they even have Hellickson Top 10 last year, even with his outrageous Single A season?
Yes... at 8.
1. David Price, lhp
2. Tim Beckham, ss
3. Wade Davis, rhp
4. Reid Brignac, ss
5. Desmond Jennings, of
6. Matt Moore, lhp
7. Nick Barnese, rhp
8. Jeremy Hellickson
9. Jake McGee, lhp
10. Jeff Niemann, rhp
Any guesses on how we'll do in the team rankings?
I’d expect top 3.
How many top 100s?
I’d imagine at least 5 ans maybe 6. Depends I guess on where Brigg/Becks stack up.
I'm guessing we will have the top 6 in the top 100 and we should be in the top 3
other teams have better top level guys (although Deezy and Hellickson maybe top 15) or more depth but I’m not sure there is another team that has the depth + top level guys like we do right now. I’m guessing both our 1-10 guys and 20-30 guys would be ranked in the top 5 in those categories.
Jennings, Hellickson, Davis, Brignac, Beckham, Moore > Your top 3
Fun fact
Our #7 prospect(Colome) was listed ahead of the Yankees #3 prospect(Vizcaino) in the NYP rankings. And I know, different writers and all, but still.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
Few things I noticed
First off they have Davis as the closer even though they talk about him replacing Kazmir in the rotation and being a cog for the future. As we have mentioned, seems like a waste of talent and something the Rays would never do.
Secondly, they have Zobrist at DH which seems like a huge waste of talent. Then again if you have Crawford, Deezy, and Upton in the outfield and Brignac at second, is Zobrist really any better defensively than any of the afore mentioned players? Still a waste though. I suppose Brignac at short and Zobrist at second base makes the most sense anyways.
Its a shame to see Beckham fall down the rankings and equally a shock to see Brignac remain so high. Both players had dissapointing years offensively, but you have to think Beckham still has greater offensive potential while Brignac edges him in defense and polish.
Is anyone else suprised to see Hellickson have the best fastball, rather than lets say, Matt Moore?
Lastly, does anyone know when Minor league ball has their top 20? Im always interested in reading about the second tier of prospects and where they fall such as Malm, Sweeney, and Bailey.
by BossmanJunior333 on Dec 21, 2009 9:50 PM EST reply actions
I'll have a piece coming out in the morning about the Minor League Ball top 20's
I, as well, cannot wait until John breaks down the Rays.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 21, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Is this of interest to you?
http://www.raysprospects.com/2009/11/personal-top-30-lists.html#comments
It is from Rays Prospects and are their working lists, not their final one. They are also doing their top 15 hitters and eventually top 15 pitchers as well. They have done their honorable mentions and #15-#11 for hitters.
Bortnick, Jaso, Jefferies, Rogers, Morrison are their picks from 15-11. Their honorable mentions are Ashley, Cipriano, Nommensen, Cesar Perez, Sheridan.
The prospect write-ups will be coming more quickly once my finals end
Whee.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 21, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
You better put the hyperbole pedal to the medal when it comes to future batting champion NEVIN ASHLEY.
by Samwise Sutty on Dec 22, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
FTFY
You better put the hyperbole pedal to the medal when it comes to future batting champion CONQUEROR OF WORLDS NEVIN ASHLEY.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 22, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
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