DOB: 9/25/81, Age: 20, Bats/Throws: R/R,
Height: 6’4’’, Weight: 183. Acquired: Devil Rays - Drafted in the 1st
Round of the 2000 Draft (Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI). 2001 Stats:
(Low-A - Charleston) .249 AVG, 406 AB, 23 2B, 6 3B, 8 HR, 25 SB, 23 BB, 89
K, .289 OBP, .394 SLG. 2002 Stats: (High-A - Bakersfield) .342 AVG, 231
AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 14 SB, 11 BB, 46 K, .380 OBP, .537
SLG.
Rocco Baldelli is a Devil
Ray hitting prospect who is predictably battling to turn his obvious tools
into usable skills. He is arguably succeeding at this, which is becoming
less unusual by the season in Tampa’s system. Baldelli was drafted with
the sixth choice in the 2000 draft, and for the first two years of his
career he struggled offensively, posting OBPs under .300 with sub-par
power. This season, Baldelli hasn’t controlled the strike zone any better,
but he is hitting with much more power, even when taking into account the
hitters’ league (and park) that he is playing in. If you look closely at
his statistics for this year versus last, you see that the only categories
that have shown improvement are singles and homers. The increase in
singles could always be an aberration, but the home runs are probably a
legitimate change. His power is at least average right now, and will
probably get a bit better as he matures. Rocco’s biggest flaw is his lack
of strike zone judgment, an issue that doesn’t show any signs of improving
in the near future. If I recall correctly, Baldelli has batted leadoff
more often than he has not in his career thus far, and his career OBP
might have nosed over .300 finally this month. If he is going to bat in
the top half of the order like the Devil Rays envision, he is going to
have to improve his walk to strikeout ratio. On the bases, Baldelli is
extremely proficient, showing the speed to steal 30-40 bases annually.
With more patience at the plate, his combination of speed and power would
make him a force at the top of a lineup. Defensively, Baldelli has the
speed and route-running capability to be a top-notch center fielder, but
like all Northern-born kids, is still a bit raw at age 20. I expect him to
become an above-average center fielder, possibly one of the best in the
league. His arm is merely average, but it should be serviceable for the
Rays. Thus far in his career, Baldelli has been more tools than skills,
but he is certainly showing signs of progress this season.
The Devil Rays’ system is
in good shape on the hitting side of the ball. In addition to Toby Hall,
Steve Cox, Brent Abernathy, and Aubrey Huff, all of whom have already
spent time in the bigs, they have the prospect outfield of Jonny Gomes,
Josh Hamilton, and Baldelli toiling at Bakersfield. Aside from shortstop,
the Devil Rays can reasonably expect to have eight positions filled with
average or better hitters within a few seasons (including Ben Grieve as DH
to the aforementioned seven, and assuming that everyone progresses
optimally). The pitching is not quite as strong, but between Seth McClung,
Jason Standridge, Joe Kennedy, Dewon Brazleton, and Paul Wilson, they
should be able to find a couple reasonable starters for their next (first)
good squad. Baldelli should be a part of that team, due to both
opportunity and talent. He will probably earn a promotion to Orlando at
some point this year, but still would not be expected to hold a
major-league job until 2005. His youth and inexperience are still fairly
evident, and the Devil Rays will probably not be in the position to rush
him quite yet. A player like Devon White would be a pretty good
comparison, except that Rocco’s arm is nowhere near as strong as Devo’s.
Baldelli should turn out to be a solid player on a pretty good offensive
team in about five years.