While we here at Project Prospect have our fingers on the beat of all things
Minor Leagues, it doesn't mean that we just forget about our boys once
they graduate to actual major league rookies and beyond.
There was one graduate last week: Elijah Dukes.
Elijah Dukes - OF -Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Born 6/26/84 - Age 22
It may have come as somewhat of a surprise to some around baseball this spring when the Devil Rays decided to carry Elijah Dukes on their major league roster at the start of the season. He had a solid spring and an impressive 2006 in the minor leagues, but he had enough baggage to fill up a Coach warehouse. Basically, he belongs playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in some parallel universe.
But on the field for Dukes,
not many problems. In 2006, Dukes hit .293/.388/.488 with 10 HR 68 RBI
and an extremely impressive 44/47 BB to K ratio in Triple-A. Anytime a
player can walk around as many times or more times then he strikes out,
you keep an eye on that young man.
In 2007 so far, he's at
.231/.340/.485. Those peripherals are close to his minor league
numbers besides the low batting average. His slugging and OBPare not
terrible for a first time big leaguer. Dukes has hit 9 home runs in
134 at-bats -- very solid power ratio for any player, let alone a kid
trotting around big league diamonds for the first time. He just needs
to continue to put the ball in play and let his considerable talent
take over.
Dukes main weaknesses are his questionable attitude and demeanor, and so far this season has been much of the same with his alleged recent threat on his wife's life. It will be interesting to see if he suppresses his anger and drug issues and turns into the All Star he can be, or if he just fades into oblivion like former Devil Rays prospect Toe Nash did.
The Florida native ranked 45th on our Top 100 list and ranked 24th on our Top 50 list.
<<< Click here for Chris' April 1-May 22 Graduation Report.
Chris Loupos can be reached at loopdog1@aol.com.