Jeff Ridgway

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #19 prospect in 2007
  Ridgway missed all of the 2002 season with Tommy John surgery and half of the 2004 slate with an inflamed left shoulder. He found his rhythm during the second half of 2005 and was impressive last summer. He allowed earned runs in just 13 of 50 relief appearances and, more important, showed his arm is fully recovered. He threw more free and easy in 2006 than he had the year before, and had confidence in his arm for the first time in years. Ridgway pitches mostly with his 90-93 mph fastball and hard slurve, though he'll mix in a changeup on occasion. He does a nice job of working on both sides of the plate and keeping his pitches down in the strike zone. A hard worker and one of the feel-good stories in the organization, Ridgway is fearless on the mound. He should battle for a bullpen job with the Rays this spring and will earn one if he can show more consistency with his stuff.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #20 prospect in 2001
  Ridgway made some solid adjustments during his first taste of the professional ranks. After signing too late to compete in 1999, he reported to Princeton and topped the team in strikeouts while ranking second in starts and innings. He has a strong arm with a 90-mph fastball, a plus curveball and a solid changeup. High-strung both on the field and off, he funnels his natural energy into aggressiveness on the mound that makes him effective when things are going well. While scouts love many aspects of Ridgway's game, he needs to control his emotions better while adding some maturity. Once he accomplishes that, Ridgway should begin to make rapid progress in the organization. He's targeted for the Charleston starting rotation in 2001.