Top Prospect
Alert - Jonny Gomes
DOB: 11/22/80, Age: 21, Bats/Throws: R/R,
Height: 6’1’’, Weight: 205. Acquired: Devil Rays - Drafted in the 18th
Round of the 2001 Draft (Santa Rosa JC). 2001 Stats: (Rookie - Princeton)
.291 AVG, 206 AB, 11 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 15 SB, 33 BB, 73 K, .442 OBP, .597
SLG. 2002 Stats: (High-A - Bakersfield) .300 AVG, 207 AB, 11 2B, 6 3B, 15
HR, 2 SB, 37 BB, 68 K, .427 OBP, .628 SLG.
Jonny Gomes is looking
like a new member of a relatively rare breed: the late-round draft steal.
Gomes, an outfielder by trade, was selected in the eighteenth round of
last year’s draft by Tampa Bay, and after tearing up the Appy League last
year, has put up some impressive numbers so far this season for
Bakersfield. Gomes is a solidly built right-handed hitter with extremely
quick wrists that generate impressive bat speed. He has above average
power already, and I would expect him to get a bit stronger yet. Thus far
in his pro career, Jonny has already hit 31 homers in just over 400
at-bats. Without knowing for sure, I would say that that has to be one of
the top three ratios for an A ball player. He is very aggressive at the
plate, striking out an enormous number of times (141 in 413 ABs), but he
is also showing the early stages of strike-zone judgment, with 70 walks
over the same period. The strikeout totals are far too high, and no doubt
illustrate the degree to which Gomes’ weaknesses would be exploited at
higher levels, but plate discipline in a 21 year old is rare, so he has
time and moderate expectations on his side. I wouldn’t expect him to be an
extreme average hitter, but he should be able to hold his own. On the
basepaths, Gomes will surprise you with his speed. Double-digit steals
will not be extremely likely, but he’ll steal a base now and then and
won’t clog things up. In the field, Gomes has played left, center, and
right in his brief career, but I think he is best suited for a corner
spot. His range is decent outside of center, and his arm is a solid
average. Gomes is still young, but to be faring so well in High-A ball
less than a year after drafting bodes well for his future with the
Rays.
The Devil Rays, for all of
their warts at the major-league level, are quietly improving their
prospect pipeline. Aubrey Huff, Toby Hall, and Brent Abernathy are already
cutting their teeth at the top level, and Carl Crawford, Josh Hamilton,
and Rocco Baldelli join Gomes as potential All-Star outfielders. With the
selection of BJ Upton in last week’s draft, the Rays are starting to look
like a well-stocked franchise. The pitching is a little thinner, but there
are a few quality arms in Wilson, McClung, and Brazleton. If they keep
heading in this direction, the Devil Rays won’t be an AL laughingstock for
long. As for Gomes, the depth of the system adds a few roadblocks to his
path to the majors. I would expect him to spend most, if not all of the
year at Bakersfield. He probably would be ready for the majors by the end
of 2004 at this pace. I am going to go with a little different player
comparison, and liken Gomes to Mike Restovich, current Twins OF prospect.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that Gomes has much of a chance with the Rays
due to the depth of the system (and the slightly better caliber of
Baldelli, Hamilton, and Crawford), but he may be able to show enough to be
included in a deal somewhere else. There are plenty of teams that could
use a player this talented, but Tampa Bay, surprisingly, may not be one of
them.
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