Since my last update of the Draft Board 4 pitchers, 11th round selection Alex Koronis, 19th round selection Scott Shuman, 21st round selection Matt Swilley (signing bonus: 150.000 $) as well as the 28th round selection, Zach Rosscup, have signed. And while being a bit concerned that no one of the top 5 picks as well as Kevin James, Pierce Johnson and Dylan Floro are not signed yet I’m especially happy about the signings of the local boy Koronis and the potential high upside pitcher Matt Swilley. Lets hope the Rays get at least 5 of the above mentioned high upside players signed.

Here is the updated Draft Board. Click on the table for the full size version.

Already known signings / not-signings:

• After learning that the 10th round selection Derek Dennis won’t sign with the Rays and go to Michigan instead I’m very happy to hear that the Rays’ 7th round selection, CF Cody Rogers, has signed with the Rays.
• Next to the two players who have been added to the Hudson Valley Renegades roster earlier on – CF Chris Murrill and P Jeff Cinadr – and P Jacob Partridge
  who was already rumored of having signed, the Rays have signed another
  five players. The earliest drafted player of these five is the 6th
  round pick, P Devin Fuller. The other four are the very young, raw and talented RF Alexander Diaz (17th round selection), 1B Ryan Wiegand (25th round pick), 41st round selection Matthew Stabelfeld (LHP) as well as the 43rd round selection Eugene Glynn
  (3B). I’m really excited that the Rays have been able to sign three
  high upside prep (or CC) pitchers in Devin Fuller, Andrew Bellatti and
  Jacob Partridge. Let’s follow this example, Kevin James, Pierce Johnson
  and Dylan Floro!
• One of the raw, later round prep pitchers with lots of upside has
  already chosen against joining the Rays in 2009. The 23rd round
  selection Trevor Peterson (RHP, Hallsville HS) is going to play
  for Louisiana Tech next season. Let’s just hope that not every other
  high upside prep pitcher takes this route. Check out the updated Draft
  Board after the jump …
• The Rays have signed 13 more players lately, including the 8th round selection Brett Nommensen as well as two high upside prep pitchers in Andrew Bellatti (12th round) and Jacob Partridge (18th; no official word on this signing yet, but a source said he has signed). The 13th round selection, P James Hill,
  has also signed a contract with the Rays. The other signees have all
  been drafted out of college. Some more good news: The Rays 6th round
  selection, RHP Devin Fuller, is rumored to sign soon and the 3th round pick, OF Todd Glaesmann, leans to signing with the Rays.

Some updates on other drafted players:

• Luke Bailey and LeVon Washington plan to sign (Can the Rays sign both for about 2 Mio. $ together? Questionable!).
• Kenny Diekroeger and Jeff Malm will be tougher signings with their strong commitments to college programs.
• 10th
  round pick Derek Dennis (SS) is said to want 1st round money in the 1.5
  Mio. $ range (!!!). So, he will be one of the toughest players to sign
  as the Rays “just” plan on giving him a 2nd round bonus (about 0.5
  Mio.). UPDATE: Dennis won’t sign with the Rays!
• There are rumors that the Rays just intend to sign one
  of Kenny Diekroeger and Derek Dennis. I hope for Diekroeger if this is
  true.
• Later round high upside guys like Austin Maddox (C,
  37th round), Dylan Floro (RHP, 20th) and Jacob Partridge (LHP, 18th)
  will be very tough to sign. I hope for one of Floro / Partridge (more
  likely) and don’t expect Maddox to sign.
• Another tough player to sign is Andrew Heaney who is looking for heavy overslot money.
• Funny
  thing: 44th round selection Kalani Brackenridge hasn’t even played
  baseball this season and was planning on playing football at the
  University of Hawaii. Now he doesn’t exactly know what to do as it was
  a huge surprise for him to even been drafted.
• For more infos about draftee signings look at the Draftee Signing Thread at DRaysBay or RaysProspects’ signing board.

Jason Bartlett figures to be a key part in the lineup which has gotten Burrell back and has several hitters finding their groove in Pena and Zobrist. He gives Maddon a lot of options in the lineup, hitting well in every position in the order except for #3-4, which he hasn’t hit in this season.

I am trying to imagine he and Longoria coming back to April form as the 3-4 hitters.

Yes, and it shows when you are facing Major League hitters. Even watching from the stands I noticed Shields strike count was insanely high as the Nationals hitters were aggressively pursuing those strikes.

At one point, Shields threw 40 strikes in his first 46 pitches. Still somehow to manage getting out of spots early in the game and go 6.1 innings with only 4 runs allowed. Could have easily been more if he didn’t calm himself down. Getting terrible run support while he is pitching doesn’t help either, having one of the worst run support in the Majors.

Starting in a little slump this month but I like how his BB/K is improving. Looks like he will get as many extra base hits as the previous two months, so the lack of singles may be a luck thing. He could be trying a little harder than he was earlier with some hopes of moving up to AAA in his mind. Although I would like him to get there this season.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Washington	0	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	0		4	9	0
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	1	X		5	8	0

Just some short notes of what I noticed in today’s game.

• Kapler is really turning things around hitting three home runs in three straight games, all off lefties.
• James Shields shook off a a bad start early and only allowed 4 runs (could have been more).
• Another player finding it Carlos Pena: 2-3 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored.
• J.P. Howell looks to be a good candidate to get the majority of save situations.
• There should be a warning sign to the pitcher, defense, and the fans as Elijah Dukes sprays line drives everywhere. He got two doubles off hard liners to the deep part of the ball park. Was the first Nats player waiting to take BP and hit some hard line drives into the seats, one going 20 rows back. On the field, he is one of my favorite players to watch in baseball.
• Burrell got two walks and has a .80 BB/K.

The Rays have purchased the contract of minor league pitcher Winston Abreu, who has been excellent at Durham this season. In 32 IP, he has earned 10 saves and getting a 13.78 K/9.

Now to keep it consistent as the Rays look to go on surge in the win column.

The Rays do have some depth in relief pitching with Chad Bradford in rehab and close to making a return. If not, Dale Thayer is already on the 40-man with veterans Winston Abreu and Jorge Julio at Durham.

But it is easier to hope it is nothing to serious has Isringhausen has been pitching very well and has seen his velocity return.