Life On The Farm: Tampa Bay Rays (# 4)

Still stacked to help for a possible run next year?

Graduated To Majors: Fernando Perez (CF, # 14), Reid Brignac (SS, # 4), Wade Davis (SP, # 3), Jeff Niemann (SP, # 10), David Price (SP, # 1).

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: AVG-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

2 - Tim Beckham: SS
Lo A: .275-.328-.389, 491, 5-63, 34-116, 13-10
Quick Take: Solid full season debut for 2008 # 1 overall pick.

5 - Desmond Jennings: CF
AA: .316-.395-.486, 383, 8-45, 48-52, 37-5
AAA: .325-.419-.491, 114, 3-17, 19-15, 15-2
Quick Take: Huge season and shows he might be major league ready at spring trianing.

6 - Matt Moore: LHP
Lo A: 26-26, 8-5, 3.15, 123-86-6-70-176
Quick Take: An insane strikeout rate with some control issues.

7 - Nick Barnese: RHP
Lo A: 15-15, 6-5, 2.53, 74.2-56-3-25-62
Quick Take: Solid full season debut was held off early in the year due to a slight shoulder issue.

8 - Jeremy Hellickson: RHP
AA: 11-11, 3-1, 2.38, 56.2-41-4-14-62
AAA: 9-9, 6-1, 2.51, 57.1-31-4-15-70
Quick Take: Righty looks ready to contend for a rotation spot in spring training.

9 - Jake McGee: LHP
R: 5-5, 0-2, 3.52, 7.2-5-0-3-14
Hi A: 11-11, 0-2, 6.45, 22.1-26-2-9-26
Quick Take: Lefty making the return from Tommy John surgery returned with his good strikeout rate.

AAA: Durham Bulls (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Rhyne Hughes (UR): .313-.361-.533, 214, 7-26, 12-69, 0-0
Disappointing Hitter: Chris Nowak (UR): .228-.294-.346, 228, 4-23, 18-54, 2-1
Breakout Pitcher: Wade Davis (# 3): 28-28, 10-8, 3.40, 158.2-139-14-60-140
Disappointing Pitcher: James Houser (UR): 18-15, 4-5, 5.16, 82-83-10-50-44
Quick Take: Hughes takes his act to Baltimore after being the PTBNL in the Gregg Zaun trade while Wade Davis looks ready to establish himself as a solid starter in the majors next season. Nowak struggled in his 1st exposure at AAA while Houser's performance got him released.

AA: Montgomery Biscuits (SL)
Breakout Hitter: Desmond Jennings (# 5): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Matt Spring (UR): .196-.272-.362, 224, 8-33, 22-74, 0-0
Breakout Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson (# 8): Line above.
Disappointing Pitcher: Ryan Morse (UL): 20-14, 4-6, 4.84, 74.1-80-7-38-40
Quick Take: Jennings and Hellickson look ready to compete for jobs in spring training. Spring had some struggles, but if he can just turn the batting average up, the other tools appear to be there. Morse was decent for a team that saw a lot of good performances from their pitchers.

Hi A: Charlotte Stone Crabs (FSL)
Breakout Hitter: Cody Cipriano (UL): .297-.402-.456, 239, 5-35, 39-60, 8-6
Disappointing Hitter: Omar Luna (UL): .185-.219-.216, 259, 0-19, 11-32, 5-3
Breakout Pitcher: David Newmann (UL): 24-24. 9-6, 3.44, 131-108-6-46-128
Disappointing Pitcher: Jesse Darcy (UR): 22-16, 3-9, 5.24, 103-128-14-21-45
Quick Take: Cipriano came back healthy and showed solid offensive stats and earned a midseason promotion to AA. Newmann also returned healthy and showed good stuff from the left side. Luna struggled badly and now will likely begin the conversion to utility infielder while Darcy did not build on his season last year.

Lo A: Bowling Green Hot Rods (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Kyeon Kang (# 27): .307-.390-.491, 316, 5-42, 40-74, 10-5
Disappointing Hitter: Mike McCormick (# 26): .165-.272-.252, 218, 4-13, 29-76, 1-0
Breakout Pitcher: Matt Moore (# 6): Line above.
Disappointing Pitcher: Shane Dyer (UR): 25-16, 1-10, 5.06, 101.1-121-3-32-76
Quick Take: Kang had a strong full-season debut and earned a chance to play in the Futures Game. Moore was tremendous and shows a huge upside as a lefty starter. McCormick didn't hit again as he was repeating Low A and has likely lost his prospect status. Dyer had some struggles in his full-season debut.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Desmond Jennings: CF
The next Carl Crawford?
2) Matt Moore: LHP
176 K's against 123 innings is absolutely incredible, especially from a lefty starter.
3) Tim Beckham: SS
1st overall pick will likely move up to High A.
4) Jeremy Hellickson: RHP
Will contend to start next year next to Wade Davis in the Rays rotation.
5) Kyle Lobstein: LHP
Starter put up good numbers at SS (14-14, 3-5, 2.58, 73.1-55-4-23-74) and will make his full season debut next year.
6) Nick Barnese: RHP
May repeat Low A next year, but likely will start at High A for his first exposure at playing a true full season.
7) Jake McGee: LHP
Lefty will enter 2nd year back from TJS, usually the year they return with command.
8) Alex Colome: RHP
Righty went 7-4, 1.66 in 15 starts at SS, striking out 94 against 32 walks in 76 innings. Will likely start next yeat at Low A.
9) Alex Cobb: RHP
Righty went 8-5, 3.03 in 24 games, 23 starts at High A, striking out 107 against 31 walks in 124 and 2/3 innings and will look to pass AA test next year.
10) David Newmann: LHP
Lefty flew under the radar, but pro debut was made last year at High A after being a 2nd round pick in 2007 and rehabbing from TJS.

Dropped From Top 10: None.

Final Overview: Man, this system is still really loaded and still a top 5 system. They have an absolute wealth of starting pitching from both the left and right sides, with it stationed at seemingly every level of the system. Failed to sign their 1st round pick, which was another toolsy OF, but this system could withhold that for 1 year at least. Desperately in need of some bats, they have the pitching depth to make some sort of deal to bring in good hitting prospects for good pitching prospects, similar to that of the Delmon Young-Matt Garza deal, only they would be the team bringing in a hitting prospect. Stacked still.