• Full name Elijah David Dukes
  • Born 06/26/1984 in Homestead, FL
  • Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Hillsborough
  • Debut 04/02/2007
  • Drafted in the 3rd round (74th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2002 (signed for $500,000).
    View Draft Report
    Tampa's Hillsborough High has produced first-round picks such as Carl Everett, Dwight Gooden and Gary Sheffield, but none was in Dukes' class as an athlete. One of the nation's top high school linebackers, Dukes also starred at running back and has signed to play football at North Carolina State. He's a physical specimen at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, and his combination of size and speed has evoked comparisons to Bo Jackson. He offers plenty of power and speed (4.0 seconds from the right side of the plate to first base) as a corner outfielder, and he's more polished than similar athletes often are. He also has a strong arm and would be a candidate for pitching if not for his offensive potential. Dukes has played at four high schools in four years, and off-field problems scared off some of the nation's better college football programs.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Minor League Top Prospects

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Athlete in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007
  • Rated Best Athlete in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006
  • Rated Best Athlete in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2005

Scouting Reports

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