Baseball Guru
02-06-2002, 11:13 AM
By CARTER GADDIS igaddis@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 6, 2002
TAMPA - The Devil Rays announced seven more spring training invitees Tuesday, including the trio of prospects that could be the team's outfield of the future.
Josh Hamilton, Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli - all among the highest-rated prospects in baseball - join catcher Paul Hoover, shortstop Jorge Cantu, right-handed pitcher Travis Harper and left- handed pitcher Jon Switzer to increase the training camp roster to 61 players.
Hamilton, Crawford and Baldelli are slated to begin the season in the minors, although all three will be given the chance to advance quickly through the system. Hamilton, the top pick in the 1999 draft, is coming off an injury- plagued season but has been given a clean bill of health.
Crawford, the team's second-round pick in 1999, batted .274 with 36 stolen bases for Double-A Orlando last season. He played for Team USA in World Cup competition in Taiwan after a good showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Baldelli, the team's first- round pick in 2000, battled wrist and back injuries in 2001, when he batted .249 with eight home runs and 55 RBIs for Class A Charleston.
Switzer, out of Arizona State, was the team's second-round pick in the 2001 draft. Hoover spent the final month of 2001 with the Rays.
Also, the team has added a spring training game against a split squad of Minnesota Twins on March 29 at Florida Power Park. Admission to the added game is included in spring season ticket packages.
Published: Feb 6, 2002
TAMPA - The Devil Rays announced seven more spring training invitees Tuesday, including the trio of prospects that could be the team's outfield of the future.
Josh Hamilton, Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli - all among the highest-rated prospects in baseball - join catcher Paul Hoover, shortstop Jorge Cantu, right-handed pitcher Travis Harper and left- handed pitcher Jon Switzer to increase the training camp roster to 61 players.
Hamilton, Crawford and Baldelli are slated to begin the season in the minors, although all three will be given the chance to advance quickly through the system. Hamilton, the top pick in the 1999 draft, is coming off an injury- plagued season but has been given a clean bill of health.
Crawford, the team's second-round pick in 1999, batted .274 with 36 stolen bases for Double-A Orlando last season. He played for Team USA in World Cup competition in Taiwan after a good showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Baldelli, the team's first- round pick in 2000, battled wrist and back injuries in 2001, when he batted .249 with eight home runs and 55 RBIs for Class A Charleston.
Switzer, out of Arizona State, was the team's second-round pick in the 2001 draft. Hoover spent the final month of 2001 with the Rays.
Also, the team has added a spring training game against a split squad of Minnesota Twins on March 29 at Florida Power Park. Admission to the added game is included in spring season ticket packages.