It may take years in its arrival, but the Tampa Bay Rays may have help for their anemic offense on the way.
The Rays signed their No. 1 draft pick, high school center fielder Garrett Whitley, to a contract Wednesday afternoon.
Whitley, 18, was taken 13th in baseball’s recent draft. He will join the Gulf Coast Rays.
“Garrett has all the tools we look for in a young prospect both physically and mentally,” said Rays’ director of scouting R.J. Harrison. “He has the tools to play center field and hit in the middle of a lineup, and he has the potential to impact the game with his legs, bat and glove. On top of that, Garrett is an intelligent young man with a great mental foundation for playing the game.”
Whitley was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 7 overall prospect and No. 2 outfielder in this year’s draft, and was named the Gatorade New York Baseball Player of the Year.
The Rays have struggled with their drafts in recent seasons. Perhaps Whitley will be an exception.
