BA's Tampa Bay Rays Top 10 Prospects List

[Jaypers]

I'm digging the top dog. However, Bill Ballew thinks he won't see TB until the second half of 2010. I hope he's wrong.

I'm also a bit surprised he has Davis marked as a closer.



TOP TEN
PROSPECTS
1. Desmond Jennings, of
2. Jeremy Hellickson, rhp
3. Wade Davis, rhp
4. Matt Moore, lhp
5. Reid Brignac, ss
6. Tim Beckham, ss
7. Alexander Colome, lhp
8. Jake McGee, lhp
9. Alex Torres, lhp
10. Nick Barnese, rhp

BEST
TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Desmond Jennings
Best Power Hitter Matt Sweeney
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Desmond Jennings
Fastest Baserunner Fernando Perez
Best Athlete Desmond Jennings
Best Fastball Jeremy Hellickson
Best Curveball Matt Moore
Best Slider Alex Torres
Best Changeup Jeremy Hellickson
Best Control Jeremy Hellickson
Best Defensive Catcher Nevin Ashley
Best Defensive Infielder Reid Brignac
Best Infield Arm Tim Beckham
Best Defensive Outfielder Desmond Jennings
Best Outfield Arm Todd Glaesmann

PROJECTED 2012
LINEUP
Catcher Kelly Shoppach
First Base Carlos Pena
Second Base Reid Brignac
Third Base Evan Longoria
Shortstop Jason Bartlett
Left Field Carl Crawford
Center Field Desmond Jennings
Right Field B.J. Upton
Designated Hitter Ben Zobrist
No. 1 Starter David Price
No. 2 Starter James Shields
No. 3 Starter Matt Garza
No. 4 Starter Jeremy Hellickson
No. 5 Starter Jeff Niemann
Closer Wade Davis

 

[Great Dealz Rob]

Who are you shocked didn't make it? I know it's your team and I'm not that up on their lower Minors. Are they kicking themselves for not drafting Posey in '08??? Thanks for posting. Rob

 

[Jaypers]

Who are you shocked didn't make it? I know it's your team and I'm not that up on their lower Minors. Are they kicking themselves for not drafting Posey in '08??? Thanks for posting. Rob

That happens to be one of my ?s in this afternoon's chat. Hopefully it'll be printed.

I'm surprised Kyle Lobstein didn't make it, as well as Todd Glaesmann.

 

[Great Dealz Rob]

Who are you shocked didn't make it? I know it's your team and I'm not that up on their lower Minors. Are they kicking themselves for not drafting Posey in '08??? Thanks for posting. Rob

That happens to be one of my ?s in this afternoon's chat. Hopefully it'll be printed.

I'm surprised Kyle Lobstein didn't make it, as well as Todd Glaesmann.

They have to be thinking that everyday. I mean Beckham may pan out and be great, but a catcher is so hard to pass up, especially one as talented as Buster.

 

[Jays_Cards]

If the Rays are able to keep Upton and Crawford around, an OF with those two and Jennings could be the most athletic OF in MLB history. It would be quite interesting to see these guys all out there together.

 

[Jaypers]

If the Rays are able to keep Upton and Crawford around, an OF with those two and Jennings could be the most athletic OF in MLB history. It would be quite interesting to see these guys all out there together.

Another ? I hope gets printed involves the comparison of Jennings to McCutchen. I see a few similiarities, and am curious if Ballew does as well.

 

[Topnotchsy]

TOP TEN
PROSPECTS
1. Desmond Jennings, of

BEST
TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Desmond Jennings
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Desmond Jennings
Best Athlete Desmond Jennings
Best Defensive Outfielder Desmond Jennings

PROJECTED 2012
LINEUP

Center Field Desmond Jennings

Nice!!

 

[Great Dealz Rob]

Any idea why they passed on Stassi this year? I know he wanted $$$, but 2 years in a row??? I know he's not Buster, but a solid backstop he is.

 

[bigredmachine]

Matt Sweeney top power hitter caught me off guard. Wish I had that stack of refractors and xfractors I sold.

 

[Jaypers]

TOP TEN
PROSPECTS
1. Desmond Jennings, of

BEST
TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Desmond Jennings
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Desmond Jennings
Best Athlete Desmond Jennings
Best Defensive Outfielder Desmond Jennings

PROJECTED 2012
LINEUP

Center Field Desmond Jennings

Nice!!

I maintain he should have taken the Fastest Baserunner category as well, but that's just me.

 

[Jays_Cards]

If the Rays are able to keep Upton and Crawford around, an OF with those two and Jennings could be the most athletic OF in MLB history. It would be quite interesting to see these guys all out there together.

Another ? I hope gets printed involves the comparison of Jennings to McCutchen. I see a few similiarities, and am curious if Ballew does as well.

I see similarities as well, but I think McCutchen will develop more power while Jennings will hit for the higher average and have better OBP numbers.

 

[Jaypers]

Any idea why they passed on Stassi this year? I know he wanted $$$, but 2 years in a row??? I know he's not Buster, but a solid backstop he is.

They went with Luke Bailey instead. Not sure yet who has the higher ceiling, but I hope he recovers from TJ in speedy fashion.

 

[Wes]

I predict a Desmond Jennings 09 like year for Beckham, no way he's this low on next years list.

 

[Jaypers]

Also, am I the only one salivating at all those lefties in the Top 10? And those don't even include Lobstein.

 

[Jaypers]

I predict a Desmond Jennings 09 like year for Beckham, no way he's this low on next years list.

I don't see Beckham having nearly as much athleticism as Jennings, nor the plate discipline. It's been said he didn't watch his weight this season. I'm one of those who thinks he might be better suited for the OF.

 

[andyduke86]

I predict a Desmond Jennings 09 like year for Beckham, no way he's this low on next years list.

I don't see Beckham having nearly as much athleticism as Jennings, nor the plate discipline. It's been said he didn't watch his weight this season. I'm one of those who thinks he might be better suited for the OF.

I agree. I love Beckham, but his stock has taken a huge hit in the last year and I'd be shocked if he has a great year like Jennings. I just hope he can stick at short (a serious question at this point), but I'm still confident his bat will develop into a mlb bat.

What I strongly disagree with is Ballew's best tools assessment. Ballew has always been one of my least favorite writers at BA. No chance Hellickson has the best fastball in the organization. Davis, Moore, McGee, Colome, Wilking Rodriguez all have better fastballs without doubt, maybe Barnese too. Hellickson controls it well but that's not really what best fastball means. Also, Moore definitely doesn't have the best curve, it's far too inconsistent at this point. Davis and Hellickson's curves are definitely better than Moore's. And yes, I saw all of those pitchers live this year from behind the plate, some more than once, except for Colome (whom I saw last year) and Wilking, whom I've only heard about.

Not that it means anything, but I'm also very surprised to see he doesn't have McGee as the future closer since word is he's moving to the pen next year and considering he had him #8 on the list. Doesn't make too much sense.

 

[darocker80]

Tim Beckham was a #1 overall pick right. JEez, not even in the projected 2013 line up.

 

[Jaypers]

I predict a Desmond Jennings 09 like year for Beckham, no way he's this low on next years list.

I don't see Beckham having nearly as much athleticism as Jennings, nor the plate discipline. It's been said he didn't watch his weight this season. I'm one of those who thinks he might be better suited for the OF.

I agree. I love Beckham, but his stock has taken a huge hit in the last year and I'd be shocked if he has a great year like Jennings. I just hope he can stick at short (a serious question at this point), but I'm still confident his bat will develop into a mlb bat.

Dave (Tampa): Could you envision Beckham following in the Upton brothers' footsteps and playing an OF position?

Bill Ballew: That's definitely a possibility. He will probably be tried at third base if he is deemed incapable of playing shortstop at the major league level. If that doesn't work, then one of the corner outfield slots would be the next options. I don't see him in center, however, especially with the likes of Jennings and even Crawford in the picture.

 

[andyduke86]

Ballew's right in essence, however he clearly doesn't know much about the Rays since Crawford has made it expressly clear for years that he is unwilling to play CF. Beckham doesn't really have the speed to play CF anyways.