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No small-revenue team in any sport does more with less better than the Rays. The 2013 campaign proved that once again.
Tampa Bay entered the season having made one major move over the winter, but they made it count. The Rays in December 2012 traded righthanders James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals for four prospects, including outfielder Wil Myers, the system’s No. 1 prospect entering 2013, and righthander Jake Odorizzi, the top dog this time around.
While that deal helped make the Royals more relevant, the Rays became one of the American League’s streakiest teams. With manager Joe Maddon operating his lineup like a mad scientist, the Rays remained in the playoff hunt and wound up advancing to the AL Division Series by taking a trio of must-win road games against three teams—the Blue Jays, Rangers and Indians—in four days to close the season.
The achievement helped clinch the Rays’ fourth trip to the postseason in six years, including five seasons with at least 90 wins.
The trade with Kansas City not only saved Tampa Bay nearly $14 million in payroll for 2013—keeping the Rays at $57.5 million, 28th in the majors—it also provided immediate impact. Myers emerged as the AL Rookie of the Year once he received the call in mid-June. The 22-year-old hit .293/.354/.478 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs in 88 games.
Odorizzi didn’t provide the same immediate payoff, but he did make impressive strides at Triple-A Durham and emerged as the organization’s top prospect. He went 9-6, 3.33 in 22 starts for the Bulls, finishing third in the International League in strikeouts (124) and WHIP (1.13).
The rotation received a long-term answer when righthander Chris Archer showed up in early June. He finished runner-up to Myers in the AL rookie race and has proven to be the key acquisition from the deal that sent Matt Garza to the Cubs in 2011. Four other top 10 prospects received their first cups of coffee at the game’s top level, a list that includes lefthander Enny Romero and righty Alex Colome, shortstop Tim Beckham and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.
The Rays’ ongoing shell game might continue this offseason, with most observers expecting 2012 Cy Young Award recipient David Price and his arbitration-aided, eight-figure salary in 2014 to be dealt. Moving Price would give Tampa Bay the opportunity to promote Odorizzi, Romero or Colome while getting a significant haul in return.
Andrew Friedman, the team’s executive vice president of baseball operations, has been able to keep the Rays competitive by trading veteran homegrown talent in exchange for prospects, who Maddon incorporates into his ever-changing lineup and pitching staff to compete with the biggest revenue-earning teams in the game.
The constant replenishing of talent from the minor leagues is the key to the Rays’ continued success. The greatest amount of talent is found on the mound, which helped Durham and low Class A Bowling Green lead the International and Midwest leagues, respectively, in ERA in 2013.
The Rays also are deep in position players up the middle—including such prospects as shortstops Hak-Ju Lee and Tim Beckham, center fielder Andrew Toles, catcher Nick Ciuffo and second baseman Ryan Brett—thanks in part to a plethora of extra draft picks garnered as free agent compensation earlier in the decade.
If there is a flaw to the Tampa Bay farm system, however, it centers on the lack of development shown by several high draft picks, particularly the unprecedented seven supplemental first-rounders from 2011. The organization also has been hit hard with some character and makeup issues, including eight minor leaguers receiving 50-game suspensions over the past two years for recreational-drug and stimulant abuse. That list includes a trio of first-rounders from the 2008 (Beckham), 2010 (outfielder Josh Sale) and 2011 (righthander Taylor Guerrieri) drafts.
Sale, the 17th overall pick in 2010, headlines that motley crew after missing all of 2013 due to a pair of suspensions, the second from the organization for his behavior and social media posts regarding a visit to a strip club.
1. Jake Odorizzi, rhp
Jake Odorizzi (Photo by Cliff Welch)
Born: March 27, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Highland, Ill., 2008 (1st round supplemental) Signed by: Harvey Kuenn Jr. (Brewers).
Background: Considered to be one of the top high school pitchers available in the 2008 draft, Odorizzi has been part of two major trades since signing with the Brewers as the 32nd overall pick for $1.06 million. At the end of 2010, shortly after ranking as Milwaukee’s No. 1 prospect, Odorizzi was part of the four-player package the Brewers sent to the Royals for Zack Greinke. Over the next two years he made several half-season jumps, climbing from high Class A to the major leagues in the process, before the Royals in December 2012 packaged Odorizzi with outfielder Wil Myers and lefty Mike Montgomery in the trade that brought James Shields and Wade Davis from Tampa Bay. Odorizzi spent most of the 2013 season at Triple-A Durham and ranked third in the International League in strikeouts (124) and WHIP (1.13), second in opponent average (.225) and eighth in ERA (3.33). He concluded the minor league slate with 28 consecutive scoreless innings, with 14 coming in the IL playoffs for the Governors’ Cup champion Bulls.
Scouting Report: Improved fastball command helped Odorizzi take the next big step in his development during the 2013 campaign. By working off his low-90s fastball with solid sinking action and armside run and using both sides of the plate, he was able to mix his three average-to-above secondary offerings to his advantage. He also upgraded his low-80s changeup to keep hitters off-balance while displaying better command of his low-80s slurvy slider and decent curveball. His slider is his best secondary offering, which borders on being an above-average pitch, and he has become more deceptive with his changeup by increasing his arm speed to make it closer to his fastball delivery. An excellent athlete who garnered attention as a high school shortstop and wide receiver, Odorizzi repeats his clean delivery with consistency. The ball comes out of his hand easily and makes his fastball appear even quicker. He is an excellent fielder with soft hands who moves well around the mound. Odorizzi has quick feet on his pickoff move but has struggled at times during his career to keep runners at bay. He has been able to maintain his velocity throughout his starts since signing and has held up well over the course of his first six professional seasons.
The Future: Odorizzi has spent time in the big leagues in each of the past two seasons, and he made four spot starts for the Rays in 2013. With opportunity often right around the corner for deserving starters in Tampa Bay, he could see significant time in the major leagues in 2014. Based on the adjustments and the ongoing improvements with his secondary pitches he makes at the game’s top level, Odorizzi could be a strong mid-rotation starter. Once he establishes himself in the big leagues, he should fit nicely in a Rays’ long-term rotation behind Matt Moore, Chris Archer and Alex Cobb.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Durham (IL)
9
6
3.33
22
22
0
0
124
101
12
40
124
.225
Tampa Bay
0
1
3.94
7
4
0
1
30
28
3
8
22
.252
Jake Odorizzi Player Card
2. Hak-Ju Lee, ss
Hak-Ju Lee (Photo by Carl Kline)
Born: Nov. 4, 1990. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 170. Signed: South Korea, 2008. Signed by: Steve Wilson (Cubs).
Background: A key component in the Matt Garza deal with the Cubs in January 2011, Lee got off to a great start at Triple-A Durham in 2013 before suffering torn ligaments in his left knee during a collision while covering second base. A two-time Futures Game participant, he had surgery in late April and missed the remainder of the season, but he should be ready for 2014.
Scouting Report: Lee was playing the best baseball of his career just prior to the injury. A quick-twitch athlete with great defensive instincts, he possesses soft hands and a strong, accurate arm with a quick release. He handles the speed of the game at higher levels with aplomb, producing numerous highlight-reel plays. His offensive production had leveled off during two stints at Double-A Montgomery before he showed the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field at Durham. He still tends to slap at pitches in order to use his plus speed to get on base. He has improved his ability to work counts and recognize pitches he can drive. He also has become an aggressive baserunner who should steal 30-plus bases annually if his plus speed returns in full.
The Future: With Yunel Escobar holding down shortstop in the big leagues and Tim Beckham ready for a backup role, Lee should spend 2014 honing his skills at Durham. Provided he picks up where he left off, he could emerge as the Rays’ shortstop as soon as 2015.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Durham (AAA)
.422
.536
.600
45
13
19
3
1
1
7
11
9
6
Hak-Ju Lee Player Card
3. Taylor Guerrieri, rhp
Taylor Guerrieri (Photo by Brian Bissell)
Born: Dec. 1, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Columbia, S.C., 2011 (1st round). Signed by: Brad Matthews.
Background: The 24th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Guerrieri appeared to hit his stride in the low Class A Midwest League in June when he put together a 22-ininng scoreless stretch. In early July, however, the Rays pulled him from the Futures Game with elbow soreness, and he worked just two innings after a two-week layoff. He had Tommy John surgery in late July, then was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse in late September.
Scouting Report: Guerrieri has an electric arm and an ideal frame to succeed at higher levels. Clocked as high as 98 mph in high school, his fastball has resided in the 91-93 mph range while touching 95 in pro ball, with a hard, late sink and good armside run. His above-average curveball sits at 77-80 mph and has a sharp drop, making it a swing-and-miss offering. His changeup showed progress in becoming at least an solid-average pitch last year. Guerrieri works both sides of the plate and is not afraid to pitch inside, as evidenced by his 10 hit batters in 2013. Worries about Guerrieri’s makeup dropped him in the draft, and the drug suspension reinforces those concerns.
The Future: Ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the MWL, Guerrieri will miss most if not all of the 2014 season while he recovers from elbow surgery. He will be 22 when he returns to the mound in 2015 and should remain on course to develop into a potential No. 2 or 3 starter.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Bowling Green (Lo A)
6
2
2.01
14
14
0
0
67
54
5
12
51
.225
Taylor Guerreri Player Card
4. Enny Romero, lhp
Born: Jan. 24, 1991. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 165. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008. Signed by: Eddy Toledo.
Background: Ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Double-A Southern League in 2013, Romero tied for second in the circuit in opponent average (.215) and fifth in ERA (2.76) but tied for third in walks (73). Throughout his career, he’s been both stingy with hits (.217 average) and generous with walks (4.6 per nine innings). More consistent over the course of 2013, Romero dominated in mid-May when he did not allow an earned run over four starts, covering nearly 25 innings.
Scouting Report: Romero has a live arm that generates a tailing 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96. He flirts with having a plus breaking ball, a slurve that reaches the mid-80s with hard-breaking, two-plane action. The problem has been finding a consistent release point from his three-quarters arm slot, which affects his control and the sharpness of his breaking ball. Romero has a fringy, firm changeup that needs to improve if he hopes to be a starter in the big leagues.
The Future: The Rays believe once Romero conquers his mechanics that he will be an elite pitcher. His success has been impressive despite his control issues, and continued improvement will determine whether he is a mid-rotation starter or a reliever in the big leagues. He likely will spend most of 2014 at Triple-A Durham.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Montgomery (AA)
11
7
2.76
27
27
0
0
140
110
9
73
110
.215
Durham (AAA)
0
0
0.00
1
1
0
0
8
4
0
2
2
.154
Tampa Bay
0
0
0.00
1
1
0
0
5
1
0
4
0
.071
Enny Romero Player Card
5. Alex Colome, rhp
Alex Colome (Photo by Carl Kline)
Born: Dec. 31, 1988. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 185. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2007. Signed by: Eddy Toledo.
Background: Colome made his big league debut at midseason 2013, following in the footsteps of his uncle Jesus, a 10-year major league veteran, including six with the Rays. Unfortunately, for the second time in as many seasons, Colome missed the latter part of the season, this time due to an elbow strain. He opted for rest and rehab instead of surgery and figures to be ready for the 2014 slate.
Scouting Report: Colome has made impressive strides over the past two years in his development as a pitcher after being a thrower early in his career. He has a plus fastball in the 93-95 mph range that touches 97 with decent sinking action and armside run, though at times it can be too true. He mixes the heater with a tight power curveball and a hard slider that resides in the upper 80s. His changeup also has shown improvement over the past two seasons, though it remains his fourth pitch. Colome’s command and feel for pitching also have taken big steps forward as well, making him more effective at getting ahead in the count and generating more groundball outs.
The Future: Durability has become the biggest question mark surrounding Colome, a predicament that could land him in the bullpen on a permanent basis. Regardless of role, he has the arm and the ability to pitch in the major leagues, which is where he should find himself again at some point in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Durham (AAA)
4
6
3.07
14
14
0
0
70
63
5
29
72
.236
Tampa Bay
1
1
2.25
3
3
0
0
16
14
2
9
12
.230
Alex Colome Player Card
6. Andrew Toles, of
Born: May 24, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185. Drafted: Chipola (Fla.) JC, 2012 (3rd round). Signed by: Milt Hill.
Background: Drafted by the Marlins in the fourth round in 2010, Toles opted to attend Tennessee, where his father Alvin and uncle Johnnie Jones played college football. Dismissed from the program after a year, he wound up at Chipola (Fla.) JC, where he was benched and suspended. The Rays loved his athletic ability and signed him for $394,200 as a third-rounder in 2012 and watched him put together a breakout season in 2013. The Rays named Toles their minor league player of the year and best baserunner.
Scouting Report: Toles inspires Michael Bourn comparisons as a speed-oriented center fielder who has the strength and ability to drive the ball. Considered a 70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, he runs down balls in the gaps and led the organization with 62 stolen bases, a total that ranked second in the low Class A Midwest League. He also ranked second in the minors in triples (16) and fourth in the MWL with 53 extra-base hits while using the entire field. Despite winning the MWL batting title at .326, his pitch recognition and strike-zone discipline need work. His arm strength is his weakest tool, but he has good accuracy on his throws.
The Future: Several parts of Toles’ game remain raw, which should mean the best is yet to come for this blossoming athlete. He has the ability to develop into a starting center fielder in the major leagues, and he should make the jump to high Class A Charlotte this spring.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Bowling Green (Lo A)
.326
.359
.466
519
79
169
35
16
2
57
22
105
62
Andrew Toles Player Card
7. Nick Ciuffo, c
Nick Ciuffo (Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode)
Born: March 7, 1995. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Lexington, S.C., 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Brian Hickman.
Background: The Rays have spent big on prep catchers recently, investing $750,000 in Luke Bailey (2009) and $1.025 million in Justin O’Conner (2010). They did it again in 2013 with the 21st overall pick, Ciuffo, who was the second catcher drafted last year prior to signing for $1,972,200. He made a seamless move to pro ball in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, tiring late in the season tough still ranking as the GCL’s No. 12 prospect.
Scouting Report: As a lefthanded-swinging receiver who has a chance to hit for power and average, Ciuffo possesses the traits scouts long for in a professional catcher. He has above-average bat speed with a solid up-the-middle approach. His power should become more prominent as he learns to incorporate his lower half into his swing more consistently. He has wide shoulders and a strong, solid build with good overall athleticism. He displays above-average arm strength with a quick release and above-average accuracy on his throws. An intense, fiery player with a take-charge attitude, Ciuffo leads by example with his hustle and by blocking balls in the dirt and guiding the pitching staff.
The Future: The Rays tend to move pitchers and catchers slowly through the organization, but Ciuffo could make the organization reconsider once he gets his feet wet in pro ball. He has the tools to be a starting major league receiver, and he’s expected to open 2014 in extended spring training before drawing a short-season assignment.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
GCL Rays (R)
.258
.296
.308
159
11
41
6
1
0
25
9
40
0
Nick Ciuffo Player Card
8. Ryan Brett, 2b
Born: Oct. 9, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-9. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Burien, Wash., 2010 (3rd round). Signed by: Paul Kirsch.
Background: Brett began his 2013 season on the shelf, completing a 50-game suspension after failing a test for amphetamine use in 2012. He made the jump to the high Class A Florida State League upon his return to the field in mid-May and ranked among the leaders in batting until his promotion to Double-A Montgomery in early August.
Scouting Report: While many harp on Brett’s short stature, he gets as much out of his ability as anyone in the organization. He employs a hustling, blue-collar approach that evokes Pete Rose but with more speed and lesser hitting ability. He has an excellent feel for the strike zone and drives the ball consistently with strong, quick hands and a compact swing. Brett has above-average speed and first-step quickness and displays solid instincts on the bases that could make him a leadoff hitter at the major league level. Defensively, he has plus range at second base with average arm strength, but he does not have soft hands, committing 11 errors in 73 games at second in 2013.
The Future: Brett put together an impressive season while displaying a more relaxed approach on the field. While the Rays expect him to open 2014 back at Montgomery, he could be pushing for a role in the big leagues by 2015.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Charlotte (Hi A)
.340
.396
.490
206
38
70
11
4
4
22
15
27
22
GCL Rays (R)
.000
.000
.000
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Montgomery (AA)
.238
.289
.400
105
19
25
6
1
3
16
8
14
4
Ryan Brett Player Card
9. Tim Beckham, ss/2b
Tim Beckham (Photo by Mike Janes)
Born: Jan. 27, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Griffin, Ga., 2008 (1st round). Signed by: Milt Hill.
Background: Beckham made his major league debut in September, following six years of ups and downs after being the first overall pick in the 2008 draft who signed for $6.15 million, a record bonus at the time. Along the way the versatile infielder failed to hit with the consistency the Rays had envisioned. He also earned a 50-game suspension in 2012 for testing positive for marijuana for the second time.
Scouting Report: Beckham recorded career bests for batting average (.276) in 2013 during his third stint at Triple-A Durham, sliding to shortstop after Hak-Ju Lee’s knee injury. He continues to display above-average bat speed and has shown raw power to all fields, but that hasn’t translated to home run power. He tends to overswing at times and has difficulty with pitch recognition, which has created low walk totals and more than 100 strikeouts in four of his five full seasons. He has seen some time at second base in each of the past two seasons and seems better-suited for that position, despite above-average arm strength, given his average speed and range.
The Future: The Rays believe Beckham can be a starting shortstop in the big leagues, but his path in Tampa Bay is blocked by Yunel Escobar and possibly Lee. A favorite of manager Joe Maddon, he could stick with the big league team this year as a backup infielder, though he still has two minor league options remaining.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Durham (AAA)
.276
.342
.387
460
71
127
25
7
4
51
44
108
17
Tampa Bay
.429
.375
.429
7
1
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Tim Beckham Player Card
10. Kevin Kiermaier, of
Kevin Kiermaier (Photo by Cliff Welch)
Born: April 22, 1990. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 200. Drafted: Parkland (Ill.) JC, 2010 (31st round). Signed by: Tom Couston.
Background: The MVP of the 2009 Division II Junior College World Series, Kiermaier is the organization’s latest Cinderella story after he reached the big leagues in his fourth pro season. He got the call in late September and served as a defensive replacement in Game No. 163 against the Rangers. That capped a campaign in which Kiermaier led all regular, full-season minor league center fielders with 2.85 putouts per game, was tabbed the Double-A Montgomery MVP and helped Triple-A Durham win the International League title.
Scouting Report: Tabbed by the Rays as the organization’s best defensive outfielder the past two seasons, Kiermaier is one of the premier flycatchers in pro ball. He shows outstanding instincts with great first-step quickness and has a plus arm with above-average accuracy and carry. He also has above-average speed but has not learned to use it to his full advantage on the basepaths. At the plate, he has a quick, short swing that allows him to stay on the ball. He uses the entire field and can drive pitches, though power is not a big part of his game.
The Future: Kiermaier is knocking on the door of the big leagues and could be a starter down the road, but first he must continue to improve his consistency at the plate. A crowded Tampa Bay outfield likely means a return to Durham to open the 2014 season.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Montgomery (AA)
.307
.370
.434
371
65
114
14
9
5
28
31
61
14
Durham (AAA)
.263
.338
.423
137
24
36
7
6
1
13
14
26
7
Tampa Bay
.000
.000
.000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kevin Kiermaier Player Card
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