Wes Bankston
| AB | 59 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .203 |
| OBP | .238 |
| SLG | .305 |
| HR | 1 |
- Full name Wesley Wade Bankston
- Born 11/27/1983 in Dallas, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Plano East
- Debut 07/02/2008
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Drafted in the 4th round (104th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2002.
View Draft Report
Bankston has been described as a stronger athletic version of Clevlen, a fellow Texas recruit and high school quarterback, which is saying something. He hasn't performed as well this spring, so Bankston probably won't go earlier than the fourth round. He has nice size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, a right-field arm and the ability to drive the ball a long way. His swing is inconsistent, however, so he doesn't always make contact. His speed isn't quite in Clevlen's class, though Bankston runs well once he gets going. He could be a tough sign because he reportedly wants second-round money and is more likely to go a couple of rounds later.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The first half of the 2006 season was a lost cause for Bankston. He missed all of May with a strained oblique and struggled in all phases of the game when the Rays attempted to fill an organizational need by moving him from first base to third. He returned to first exclusively after his mid-July promotion to Triple-A and once again displayed a keen eye and solid stroke at the plate. Bankston has above-average raw power but has not parlayed that asset into big home run numbers the last two years. He's a below-average runner and doesn't move as well as a 23-year-old should, which led to his problems at third base. He's only adequate at first base, where he's going to have to start hitting homers if he hopes to play regularly in the big leagues. Maintaining better overall conditioning would be a step in the right direction. Bankston will spend at least another half-season in Triple-A before getting serious consideration from the Devil Rays, who have no obvious first baseman of the future. -
Bankston continues his methodical climb through the organization. After ranking among the South Atlantic League leaders in homers, RBIs and extra-base hits in 2004, he received a midseason promotion to Double-A last year and helped pick up the slack in Montgomery after Delmon Young's departure. Bankston shows as much raw power as anyone in the organization. He's learning how to harness that pop in game action. He has made impressive strides in hitting to the opposite field with authority. His pitch selection and plate discipline should get better with experience. Injuries have plagued Bankston, including a knee injury that cost him six weeks at the start of 2005. A right fielder until mid-2004, he has improved at first base but remains merely adequate there. His lower body has gotten thicker in the past two years, reducing his speed and overall athleticism. Bankston reminds some scouts of former all-star Glenn Davis. He'll move up to Triple-A in 2006 and should get his first taste of the big leagues by September. -
After leading the Appalachian League with 18 homers and 57 RBIs in his pro debut, Bankston was sidetracked by a wrist injury in 2003. He returned to low Class A in 2004 and showed significant progress in all phases of his game. He ranked among South Atlantic League leaders in homers, RBIs, extra-base hits and on-base percentage. A former high school quarterback, Bankston has good all-around tools. His above-average raw power stands out the most, and he has good speed and mobility for a big man. His strong arm is suitable for right field; he moved to first base because of the organization's outfield depth. His improved numbers were due in part to better pitch selection. Bankston's swing remains a little too long for his own good. He goes through stretches where he doesn't make consistent contact. As his lower half has thickened, he has lost some athleticism. The Rays can afford to be patient with Bankston, though he should move quicker as a first baseman than he would have as a right fielder. He could reach Double-A at some point in 2005 and the majors by the end of 2006. -
Bankston led the Appalachian League with 18 homers and 57 RBIs in his 2002 pro debut, but he battled a wrist injury and tailed off in the second half of 2003. Bankston is a prototype right fielder, with plus arm strength and budding power. He could blossom into a 30-homer, 100-RBI man in the majors. He's selectively aggressive at the plate and improved his discipline last year. He's an average runner with good mobility on the bases and in the outfield. His swing is a little long, and Bankston goes through stretches when he doesn't make consistent contact. After batting .192 with three homers in the last two months of the 2003 season, he'll have to get stronger. His biggest problem may be the logjam of outfielders in the organization. With so many good young players ahead of him on the depth chart, Bankston may not have a place to play in Tampa Bay. Bankston could move to first base, where he played five games last year, but Aubrey Huff may move there at the major league level. The Rays have no reason to rush Bankston. At 20, he'll be one of the high Class A California League's younger players in 2004. -
Anyone who saw Bankston in his pro debut wondered how he lasted until the fourth round. He led the Rookie-level Appalachian League in home runs and RBIs. Managers rated him the league's second-best prospect, behind Braves first-rounder Jeff Francoeur. A prototype right fielder, Bankston has outstanding raw power. He's big and is a good athlete who rates at least average in all five tools. He has good side-to-side mobility and above-average arm strength that will enable him to play right field. His knowledge of the strike zone and plate discipline weren't as raw as expected. Appy managers were impressed with his ability to hit changeups as well as fastballs at any time in the count. Not unlike many young power hitters, Bankston tends to overswing at times. His swing can be a little long. He simply needs to face more advanced pitching and continue to make adjustments as he climbs the ladder. Bankston will go to Charleston in 2003 and should be one of the younger everyday players in the South Atlantic League.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Bankston mirrored Francoeur in that he made a seamless move from the high school ranks to the Appalachian League. No one on the circuit showed more power than the Rays' cleanup hitter, who topped the league in home runs and RBIs. A former high school quarterback, Bankston has good athleticism and solid all-around tools. He's not as fluid as Francoeur in the outfield, but Bankston has the mobility and the arm strength to play right field at higher levels. Bankston also impressed managers with his plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone for such a young player. "He's a big kid who is going to hit a lot of home runs in this game," Rupp said. "He not only crushes fastballs and changeups, he can hit any pitch at any time in the count." Said Bluefield manager Bien Figueroa: "I've never seen an 18-year-old hit breaking balls the way Bankston can."
