The Rays won't get a stud like Price AP/Steve Nesius
The 2009 Major League Baseball entry draft kicks off in a few short hours and the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in a very unusual position – picking towards the end of the first round. After posting the first winning record in franchise history and making it to the World Series in 2008, the Rays own the 30th pick in the first round tonight and will not be drafting a stud prospect the likes of David Price or Evan Longoria. The MLB draft is much more difficult to predict than the NBA or NFL draft. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the names the Rays could be looking at in the first round.
Wil Myers, C, Wesleyan Christian Academy, High Point, NC
Myers is at the top of a list of catchers the Rays are interested in. He’s projected as a late first-round pick and the Rays need some catching depth for the future. Jim Callis of Baseball America has Myers going to the Rays in his latest mock draft.
Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
A horse at 6’5", 225 lbs, Arnett has three pitches led by a Major League quality fastball. He could have a big future as an all-valuable innings-eater. Arnett struck out 109 in 108 innings of work at IU in ’09. He posted a 12-2 record with an impressive 6 complete games. Lincoln Hamilton at Project Prospect has the Rays taking Arnett in his latest mock draft.
Reymond Fuentes, OF, Fernando Callejo High School, Manati, Puerto Rico
Fuentes is the nephew of Mets’ centerfielder Carlos Beltran. He’s a speedy outfielder and could be the most talented player on the board when the Rays pick. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has Fuentes as the Rays’ pick in his latest mock draft.
Alex Wilson, RHP, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Wilson put up impressive strikeout numbers at A&M this year, fanning 120 in only 89.1 innings. It’s this kind of potential that makes him a prized prospect. He went 6-6 with a 4.24 ERA for the Aggies. Michael Huang of SportingNews.com predicts the Rays will end up with Wilson in his latest mock draft.
Max Stassi, C, Yuba City HS, Yuba City, CA
Stassi is another talented catcher who is committed to UCLA and could be very high on the Rays’ radar. Stassi hit 11 homers in only 80 at-bats in his senior year at Yuba City and batted .538 with a .645 OBP and 1.113 slugging average. According to agent Leo Wilson of L&E Sports, Stassi should be on high up on the Rays' radar.
Josh Phegley, C, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Phegley is an intriguing catching prospect even though his stock probably slipped a little bit from last year. He didn’t hit as well in 2009 as he did in ’08 and it could drop him in the draft, though the Rays could still be very interested in him. Phegley hit .344 with 17 homers and 66 RBI in 59 games for IU in ’09. In 2008, Josh hit .438, almost 100 points higher than his ’09 average. Phegley is another catching prospect who Leo Wilson says the Rays will be very interested in - if not in the first round then possibly the second or third depending on how the draft shakes out.
It will be a fun and interesting night tonight.
The Rays also have the 78th and 108th picks tonight. Only the first three rounds take place tonight, with the remainder of the draft taking place Wednesday and Thursday.
In game action, the Rays will pull a rotation swap and start James Shields against Jered Weaver of the Angels at the Trop. Jeff Niemann will start tomorrow. The Rays need a win tonight to get back to .500 after dropping the final two games at Yankee Stadium in disappointing fashion.
More Examiner draft coverage here:
Oakland A’s Examiner Scott Sabatini discusses the hype behind Strasburg
Colorado Rockies Examiner Travis Lay has a draft primer with a Colorado preview.
Jason Bartlett hits: 60
Jason Bartlett groundball singles between short and third: 12
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Have a great Rays' story idea for me? Who is the best Rays' draft pick ever - Josh Hamilton, David Price, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford? E-mail me at raysexaminer@live.com
Unfortunately, last Sunday’s show was the end of Speaking of Sports 2.0 on WSRQ. Stay tuned for updates on where you can find me on the radio in the future. Thanks to Tampa Bay Sports Examiner Ted Fleming and Tampa Bay Lightning Examiner Althea Pashman for making the show great!
Comments
My Sunday nights will never be the same. I haven't been this devastated a show being cancelled since Saved by the Bell, The College Years. Look on the bright side, you can start closing the store now on Sunday nights.
We'll be back, it wasn't the show being cancelled, we just left 1220 and we may be heading somewhere else. I'll keep you posted. I'm still in tears myself over Saved by the Bell too. Zach Powers is the role model of our generation.
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