2007 MLB Preview

System is bursting with top prospects

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published April 1, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The pride of the Devil Rays organization is its farm system. Tampa Bay recently placed seven players on Baseball America's Top 100 prospect list, second most in the majors.

And though many prospects such as Delmon Young, Elijah Dukes and B.J. Upton will have their opportunity to shine at the major-league level, the Rays remain loaded on the farm with a crop of prospects - third baseman Evan Longoria, shortstop Reid Brignac, pitcher Jeff Niemann among them - who will be knocking on the door sooner than later.

"This is an unusual situation, because right now on our major-league team, we basically have a young core group of players that are very exciting and can be potentially very high-end major-league baseball players relatively soon," manager Joe Maddon said. "Furthermore, you have this core group in the minor leagues that rivals the group that's already here. And they're just a couple of years younger than the group that's here. So from an organizational perspective, I don't think many people could say that about their teams or their organization."

A glance at the Rays' minor- league system, including new Class A affiliates in Vero Beach and Columbus, Ga.

Triple A

DURHAM (N.C.) BULLS

Manager: Charlie Montoyo

Coaches: Xavier Hernandez, Gary Gaetti

Web site: durhambulls.com

Double A

MONTGOMERY (ALA.) BISCUITS

Manager: Billy Gardner Jr.

Coaches: Neil Allen, Hector Torres

Web site: biscuitsbaseball.com

Advanced Class A

VERO BEACH DEVIL RAYS

Manager: Joe Szekely

Coaches: R.C. Lichtenstein, Ben Oglivie

Web site: vbdrays.com

Class A

COLUMBUS (GA.) CATFISH

Manager: Jim Morrison

Coaches: Bill Moloney, Brady Williams

Web site: columbuscatfish.com

Short-season A

HUDSON VALLEY (N.Y.) RENEGADES

Manager: Matt Quatraro

Coaches: Rafael Montalvo, Ozzie Timmons

Web site: hvrenegades.com

Rookie league

PRINCETON (W. VA.) DEVIL RAYS

Manager: Jamie Nelson

Coaches: Marty Demerritt, Rafael Deleon

Web site: princetondevilrays.com

Minor-league staff

Director of minor-league operations: Mitch Lukevics

Assistant, baseball operations: Chaim Bloom

Administrative assistant: Giovanna Rodriguez

Field coordinators: Jim Hoff

Hitting coordinator: Steve Livesey

Pitching coordinator: Dick Bosman

Outfield/baserunning coordinator: Skeeter Barnes

Head trainer/rehab coordinator: Nick Paparesta

Assistant trainer: Chris Tomashoff

Strength/conditioning coordinator: Trung Cao

Equipment manager: Tim McKechney

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 20:57:03]