Buy the hype? Rays rookie makes debut at Fenway
The Guru
Contributing Writer
The Tampa Bay Rays have called for reinforcements. Hotshot rookie outfielder Wil Myers, rated by Baseball America as the number four overall prospect in baseball, will make his major league debut today at Fenway Park.
Ever since the blockbuster trade that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals for a package in which Myers was the centerpiece, it's been a waiting game to see when the right-handed outfielder would make the jump.
The time is now. Welcome to Boston. Rookie.
The team is in fourth place in the American League East with a 36-33 record, five games behind the first place Red Sox. The Rays have been struggling to score runs and Myers should inject some power into the Tampa lineup. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, Myers hit 37 home runs, drove in 109 and batted .314.
Rays Executive VP of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman told reporters, Myers is "going to fit right in and help us win games." Friedman says Myers' recent hot streak (hitting .354 with ten home runs, and 32 RBI's in his last 32 games) "accelerated the conversation".
Myers will play regularly, mostly in right field. Rays Manager Joe Maddon said, "He's going to play a lot. Of course you don't bring somebody like that up to sit around."
Myers, the reigning Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, hit .286 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs in 64 games at Triple-A Durham this year.
It will be interesting to see if he can follow the 2011 winner, Mike Trout, in taking home the AL Rookie of the Year award.
Do you buy the hype Red Sox Lifer's? Leave a comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
Contributing Writer
Ever since the blockbuster trade that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals for a package in which Myers was the centerpiece, it's been a waiting game to see when the right-handed outfielder would make the jump.
The time is now. Welcome to Boston. Rookie.
Lifelong dream coming true tomorrow! Heading up to Boston now. Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes. @RaysBaseball @MLB time!
— Wil Myers (@wilmyers) June 17, 2013
The team is in fourth place in the American League East with a 36-33 record, five games behind the first place Red Sox. The Rays have been struggling to score runs and Myers should inject some power into the Tampa lineup. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, Myers hit 37 home runs, drove in 109 and batted .314.
Rays Executive VP of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman told reporters, Myers is "going to fit right in and help us win games." Friedman says Myers' recent hot streak (hitting .354 with ten home runs, and 32 RBI's in his last 32 games) "accelerated the conversation".
Myers will play regularly, mostly in right field. Rays Manager Joe Maddon said, "He's going to play a lot. Of course you don't bring somebody like that up to sit around."
Myers, the reigning Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, hit .286 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs in 64 games at Triple-A Durham this year.
It will be interesting to see if he can follow the 2011 winner, Mike Trout, in taking home the AL Rookie of the Year award.
Do you buy the hype Red Sox Lifer's? Leave a comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
