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Top Pick Will Be Posey Or Beckham

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

BOSTON - Draft day is upon the Rays, but they have yet to make a final decision on who they will select with the first overall pick.

Tampa Bay has narrowed its choices to the two players most observers predicted to be vying for the top spot: Florida State C Buster Posey and Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham. The Rays will have to decide by 2 p.m. today, when they make the first selection in a first round that will be televised live from Disney's Wide World of Sports by ESPN2.

"At this point, there's some loose ends to be tied up," Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said Wednesday night. "We've gone this far with it, we might as well take advantage of the rest of the time we have up until the draft to make sure that any unanswered questions are answered and just some last-minute things that may come to mind."

Whoever the Rays choose, Harrison said, the organization will be "tickled" to have another potential cornerstone piece for a franchise on the rise.

Posey and Beckham are different types of players, with the 21-year-old catcher more polished and closer to the majors than the 18-year-old shortstop. Both are considered very good defenders, with draft bible Baseball America rating Posey the best defensive player at any position among collegians and Beckham third overall among high-schoolers. The magazine also tabbed each player as No. 2 among his peers in the "best pure hitter" category.

Posey's numbers for FSU this season have been remarkable - a .468 average, .572 on-base percentage and .897 slugging percentage. He has mashed 24 homers and collected 86 RBIs, all while striking out only 23 times in 233 at-bats.

While high school stats aren't nearly as applicable as those from high-level college play, Beckham did collect four hits in Griffin's two-game state championship series loss last weekend. The rest of his teammates combined managed only five hits.

When it comes to intangibles, the Rays are pleased with what their scouts and executives have seen from both players.

"I feel like we really did a good job and we identified really good players and top-notch guys," Harrison said.

PERCY'S PROGRESS: Rays closer Troy Percival (15-day disabled list, strained left hamstring) threw 26 pitches off the bullpen mound Wednesday at Fenway Park. It was his first bullpen session since going on the DL a week ago today.

Percival is eligible to come off the DL on June 13.

MORE ON C.C.'S KNEE: Rays LF Carl Crawford returned to the lineup Wednesday, a day after an MRI in Birmingham, Ala., revealed no structural damage to his right knee. He said the area where the hamstring attaches near the back of his knee is painful after playing for 10 consecutive days on the artificial surface at Tropicana Field, but he would continue to play through the pain until it subsides or becomes intolerable.

"I'll just have to play with it until it gets to its worst point," Crawford said. "Then if it gets to a point where I can't handle it, then I'll have to do what I have to do next. Right now I can tolerate the pain that's going on, so far."

BALDELLI UPDATE: Rays OF Rocco Baldelli continued his attempt to come back from a mitochondrial disorder by going 2-for-3 with a walk Wednesday in an extended spring training game in St. Petersburg. Baldelli is scheduled to DH in extended spring games Friday, Monday and Wednesday.

The disorder causes extreme fatigue after physical exertion. After extended spring training ends next week, Baldelli could join a minor-league team to continue his rehabilitation or continue to work out in St. Petersburg with the Rays' draftees when they report.

Carter Gaddis, Marc Lancaster

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