New Ray fits profile: young, with potential

Felix Escalona, a Rule 5 player, shined during the spring while with the Giants.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 30, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The bleary-eyed traveler arrived Thursday evening and found a new jersey bearing a new number hanging inside his locker.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Middle infielder Felix Escalona could be the third Rule 5 pick on the Rays 25-man roster.

For Felix Escalona, who spent almost the entire spring with the Giants, No. 5 was a perfect fit in more ways than one.

The middle infielder is the third Rule 5 pick acquired by the Rays who, ready or not, could make the unusual leap from Class A to the majors on opening day Tuesday. "I know there are people questioning whether he should make the club or not," general manager Chuck LaMar said Friday, before Escalona's first spring game with the Rays. "But if he would've had the same spring training here as he had with San Francisco ... he'd already have made our club."

In his first major-league spring training, Escalona was named the best prospect in Giants camp after hitting .364, including four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.

"I said to myself, 'Relax it's the same baseball,"' he said. "You see different pitches. The ball is thrown harder, and they've got more control than guys in the minors. But it's the same game."

Rays scouts studied Escalona's every on-field move in the Cactus League.

"We had interest in him from Day 1 in spring training, and we probably saw him play more than any team in baseball," LaMar said. "We liked his ability and is the type of player we're looking for on this club."

Meaning he is young. Meaning he has tools. Meaning he is inexpensive.

The Giants, who selected Escalona from the Astros with the 11th pick in December's Rule 5 draft, waived him earlier this week. When every National League team passed on him, the Rays claimed him for $25,000.

Tampa Bay must either keep Escalona on the major-league roster or risk losing him. He first would have to be offered on waivers and then to the Astros for $50,000. Only then could the Rays send him to the minors.

"He's already played a full spring training with a major-league organization, and he handled himself extremely well," LaMar said. "He's still a Rule 5 draftee. He's still coming out of A ball. And it's still a huge jump for any player.

"But we like his abilities. He's young, and he's low salary. That combination fits what we're trying to do."

Escalona's promise rose dramatically last season.

After hitting .245 in his first five professional seasons, he batted .289 at Class-A Lexington with 16 homers, 64 RBIs and 46 steals and led the South Atlantic League with 42 doubles.

"I didn't feel healthy for a couple years before that," he said. "I was healthy the whole year, and I got to play more and get more at-bats. I worked harder than I had in three years. You have to do that."

The Astros have a glut of infield prospects and a solid major-league infield.

The Giants, who should again push the Diamondbacks in the NL West, don't have the time the Rays do to wait for a prospect to develop.

"They've got a lot of veteran guys," Escalona said. "I didn't know if I'd get a chance to play. But I was still working to be with those guys and was hoping to get to the big leagues.

"Now I'm going to do whatever I can to help this team ... my new team."

Escalona, who would be used primarily as a backup second baseman and shortstop, started at short against the Twins on Friday. He went 1-for-4 and made a spectacular leaping play to his right on a line drive by Alex Prieto in the sixth inning.

"I think he's going to be okay," Rays manager Hal McRae said. "Obviously, he's a good hitter. But it's just a matter of seeing him play."

And seeing if he can develop from an above-average Class-A player into a legitimate major-leaguer.

"Coming out of A ball, I think you still have to use the word prospect," LaMar said. "You still have to use the word potential. We hope that that equates to (Escalona) being a usable utilityman now on his way toward winning a starting job.

"Whether that happens or not, it's way too early for us to tell. But we like his ability, and, hopefully, we can give him enough at-bats that he can show us that he can be that kind of player."

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