The Rays are slated to promote infield prospect Willy Adames, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com (Twitter link). He’ll make his MLB debut at 22 years of age.
Adames has long been billed as a high-end prospect, though he was relatively unknown when he was shipped to Tampa Bay as a key piece in the 2014 David Price swap. At the time, he was an intriguing 18-year-old. Since, his profile has risen steadily.
Entering each of the past two campaigns, Adames was generally ranked by prospect hounds among the twenty-five or so best pre-MLB players leaguewide. In response, he has delivered an impressive forty-game stretch at the highest level of the minors. Thus far in 2018, Adames has compiled a .311/.387/.466 slash line with four home runs in 173 plate appearances for Durham.
Of course, Adames had already shown that he could produce at Triple-A. And that output falls in line with what Adames has done in prior seasons. He has long been a consistently quality producer at the plate, with good average, a solid walk rate, and manageable strikeout numbers. While he has yet to break out in the power department, evaluators generally expect there could be some added pop in the tank.
There’s good reason, then, to think that Adames is ready to contribute right out of the gates. He’s considered a polished defender at shortstop with quality makeup, so the expectation will surely be that he’ll be able to step into the everyday lineup if that’s what’s asked.
The Rays’ plans, though, aren’t yet clear. With Adeiny Hechavarria on the 10-day DL, Adames could receive regular time at shortstop, with the team reassessing its options once Hechavarria returns. On the other hand, the youngster may also just be up for a brief visit; after all, his active roster spot is coming from the placement of Joey Wendle on the paternity list, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets and the team has since confirmed.
Pick up in Fantasy
Wonder if Cash is gonna make a fill in pitcher lol?
Cash said on the radio that he goes back down after Wendle gets back from paternity leave, so get your fix in now
Sounds about right–determine the long-term plan without seeing whether the kid has the goods. What if he comes up and lights the league on fire? Seriously, we would go back to Wendle and/or Hechy? Wendle can single with the best of them, but he is of limited value; Hechy plays a good defensive shortstop…and that is all. Adames is the future. Why not just let him play it out, whether he starts good or bad?
Actually for a non contending small market team it makes sense. Let him “get a little more seasoning”, keep that service clock down for more control, and maybe heccavaria nets you a prospect at the deadline. No it’s not exciting and the service clock to control is dumb but, it does make sense long term
Was quite well-known by Tiger fans at the time of the David Price deal, the key player in the trade. The chicken’s come home to roost.