Rays News and Links

• Wander Franco lives up to lofty comps - Marc Topkin, Baseball America
• 10 late-round sleeper prospects to watch for in 2019 - Ben Badler, Baseball America

10. Simon Rosenblum-Larson, RHP, Rays (19th round)

An $85,000 signing from Harvard, Rosenblum-Larson had an excellent pro debut. Working out of the bullpen for short-season Hudson Valley and low Class A Bowling Green, Rosenblum-Larson posted a sparkling 62-9 K-BB mark in 38.2 innings with a 1.16 ERA. He’s a low-slot righthander who drops down to a low three-quarter, near sidearm angle, giving hitters an uncomfortable look with his low-90s fastball and a solid slider.

• The managerial ‘high five’ of the Tampa Bay Rays - Chloe Stowe, Rays Colored Glasses
• Ranking the top 5 Tampa Bay Rays pitchers of all-time - Rylan Stiles, Rays Colored Glasses
• Rays top 50 prospects: No.42, Taylor Walls - Mat Germain, Wander Rays
• 2019 Top 10 catching prospects - Jonathan Mayo, MLB Pipeline
• Around the Horn: Rays’ bullpen to start it up - Juan Toribio, MLB

Highest riser: Hernandez

Hernandez began 2018 as the Rays’ No. 20 prospect, but was up to No. 7 by the end of the season. Now he’s jumping onto this Top 10 list for the first time after a year that saw him hit 21 home runs in his full-season debut while throwing out 36 percent of runners trying to steal.

• First spring training workout dates for all clubs (Rays report on Feb.13) - Matt Kelly, MLB

Around the League

• No-doubt Hall of Famers you’ll see play this season (Wander Franco was snubbed) - Mike Petriello, MLB
• Arizona Diamondbacks sign Wilmer Flores - Jim McLennan, AZ Snake Pit
• New Nationals’ 2B Brian Dozier is pull happy and proud of it - Patrick Reddington, Federal Baseball
• Eric Skoglund suspended 80 games for a banned substance - Max Rieper, Royals Review
• Manny Machado’s agent speaks out in light of new contract rumors - Cristiana Caruso, MLB Daily Dish
• Shawn Tolleson announces his retirement - Adam J. Morris, Lone Star Ball
• The Yankees hope DJ LeMahieu can shore up a shaky defensive infield - Ryan Chichester, Pinstripe Alley