Rays Sign Two More Sandwich Picks



The Rays signed their third and fourth supplemental first-rounders in the last five days on Monday, landing Lower Columbia (Wash.) JC righthander Jeff Ames for $650,000 and Oakland Technical HS outfielder James Harris for $490,000.

Both bonuses are less than MLB's recommendations for their slots—$802,800 at No. 42 for Ames, $605,700 at No. 60 for Harris—but likely more than they would have gotten had they not cut deals to move up in the draft. BA ranked Ames 119th on its Draft Top 200 Prospects list, while Harris didn't make the Top 200.

Ames' signature pitch is his lively mid-90s fastball, which tops out at 97 mph, while his breaking ball and changeup lack consistency. He had committed to Oregon.

Harris' best tool is his well above-average speed. He has some raw power, but profiles more as a center fielder/leadoff type.

Tampa Bay signed sandwich-rounders Blake Snell and Kes Carter last Thursday, and also gave an above-slot bonus to second-rounder Granden Goetzman two days before that. The Rays have yet to sign seven of their record 12 picks in the first two rounds.



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[...] James Harris Jr., OF (pick #60), Tampa Bay Rays $490,000 [...]


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