Rays Community Prospect #12

With 9 votes (50%), Jake Thompson was elected the 11th prospect.

1. Jeremy Hellickson (84%)

2. Desmond Jennings (50%)

3. Matt Moore (100%)

4. Jake McGee (74%)

5. Alex Torres (55%)

6. Alex Cobb (65%)

7. Tim Beckham (41%)

8. Alex Colome (57%)

9. Nick Barnese (50%)

10. Josh Sale (94%)

11. Jake Thompson (50%)

Things will change up a little bit. Every tester will be moved into the canidate pool and all the mentioned players will become testers.

Contender Pool: Wilking Rodriguez, Jake Thompson, Enny Romero, Joseph Cruz, Drew Vettleson,
Ryan Brett, Tyler Bortnick, Luke Bailey, and Juston O'Conner

Tester Pool: Cody Rogers, Ty Morrison, Scott Shuman, Hector Guevara, Albert Saurez, and Derek Dietrich.

Wilking Rodriguez: Signed out of Venezuela in 2007, Rodriguez is a polished pitcher compared to many other international signees. He has good control and limits walks. His fastball is an above average pitch that sits in the low 90's and can hit 96-97 if needed. He has a curve that he goes to alot, and has a usable change-up. THe curve is potentially plus. The main problem for him is if he can get more strikeouts or give up fewer hits. He hasn't been hit hard, but the hit rates are a little worrying.

Joseph Cruz: Throws strikes and limits hits. Of course, this very much could change as he moves up to AA. His fastball sits at 92-94 although I have seen him hit 97 before. His curve (from what I have seen). I can't find much other scouting, but I can tell you from the several times I have seen him that his offspeed stuff needs work. His curve is too loopy and inconsistent and his changeup is below average. I am not sure how he did that well for his stuff, but he did. He did throw his offspeed stuff quite enough though, which kept hitters off balance. This in turn made his fastball better.

Enny Romero: As a 19 year old out of the Dominican Republic, Enny Romero dominated this year as his stuff advanced. He dominated in Princeton with an ERA in the 1's while even lowering it in the short time he was in Hudson Valley. As far as stuff, he has a mid-90's fastball (BA) and a good/potential plus curve (BA). I have also heard from people who have seen him that he has a changeup. He just needs to keep on progressing.

Drew Vettleson: The Rays third pick (supplemental first round) of 2010, Vettlson is a polished good all around bat. Unlike Sale, he should hit for an average while providing at least average power. Andy Seiler had this to say: "His combination of power, hitting ability, and arm strength make him a potential starting right fielder at the next level. His hit tool is above-average, and when combined with plus raw power, he’s a legitimate hitting threat. He’s quite selective at the plate, and like Sale, he’s quite an advanced hitter for his age, which is exceptional considering their geography." He has yet to play a professional game. I would like to point our though that he did exceptionally well at the showcase curuit against some of the best pitchers in the draft.

Ryan Brett: The third round pick for the Rays in the 2010 draft, Brett played some in GCL where he hit .303 with a .364 OBP. Scouting reports (pre-draft) are all very good. BA had this to say: "Brett is a throwback player who's fun to watch. He's always dirty, doesn't wear batting gloves and is a sparkplug who always plays at full speed. He has a knack for getting the barrel on the ball, though sometimes he tries to play bigger than he is and scouts said they would like to see him embrace small ball. Brett is smallish at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but he works out regularly with Josh Sale and is strong." They also concluded that his ceiling is great defense (either at 2b or CF), good speed (20-30 SB), some power (lots of doubles and 12 homers) with a .285 BA.  Andy Seiler thinks more highly though, beleiving he has plus-plus speed and should hit for an even higher average. I would also like to point out that a local news report stated that he hit a 450 foot homerun.

Tyler Bortnick: There isn't really much to give about Bortnick. He is a well rounded player, having above average speed, power, defense, and average. He plays second base and is a well rounded player. Drafted in the later rounds our of college, he is old for his level. Aaron Fitt of BA said: "Bortnick's just a solid player who can hold his own all around the infield, he runs OK, and he's a decent gap hitter. I could see a future as a utilityman, but his tools aren't loud enough to suggest he'll be an everyday player." We'll just have to wait and see when he stops hitting. If he does, he should drop off all rankings, but till then.....

Justin O'Conner: O'Conner, a Rays first round pick in 2010, hit poorly in the GCL in 2010 (.211/.301/.348) However, the catcher recieved great scouting reports prior to the draft and should not be a worry. BA had to say this: "Scouts had been split on whether O'Conner was a better prospect as a power-hitting third baseman or as a pitcher with a 93-95 mph fastball and a hammer curveball. When he began catching at the end of the showcase circuit last summer and played regularly behind the plate this spring, though, it settled any debate about his future. He's now the top high school catching prospect in the 2010 draft. His standout tool is his arm, which grades as plus-plus and is capable of producing 1.8-second pop times. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is agile behind the plate, though his inexperience shows in his receiving. O'Conner also generates above-average thunder with his tremendous bat speed, showing power to all fields in batting practice. A righthanded hitter, he's pull-conscious in games and struggled at times against quality pitching last summer, so there's some question whether he'll hit for a high average. Even if he doesn't, his arm and power could make him an all-star catcher." Andy Seiler also mentioned that he has at least average speed, which is great for a catcher.

Luke Bailey: Bailey, a hyped up catcher from the 2009 draft, had a bad year in the GCL. However, do not be disappointed, as he was still recovering from TJ surgery. Out of all the players listed, he has the highest potential as a 5 TOOL CATCHER! BA said (pre-draft): "Bailey entered the season at the front of the national group of high school catchers, one of the strongest positions in the draft. He had shown a rare combination of hitting ability, raw power and arm strength, all of which graded above-average, as well as solid athleticism and surprising speed." Perfect Game said: "

Luke Bailey is a 2009 C/3B with a 6'0'', 195 lb. frame from LaGrange, GA who attends Troup HS. Bailey can flat out play. He is outstanding behind the plate with a big arm(84) and a 1.73 pop time. He is not just an excellent catch and throw guy but he has big power at the plate. He is very strong and can drive the ball to all fields. He is short to the ball with good bat speed and excellent power. To top of his total package he also ran 6.89 sixty. He has legitimate 5 tool potential and is a top 2009 follow and will create strong 2009 draft interest. He is also a good student. Aflac All American.

From seeing him play this year, I can tell you that he looked like he was still recovering from an injury. 2011 could be a mega-breakout year for him.

Whew.