Travis Harper

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #19 prospect in 2002
  After making his major league debut in September 2000, Harper was a candidate for the Tampa Bay rotation last spring but was bypassed during 2001 by such rookies as Joe Kennedy and newly acquired Nick Bierbrodt. Harper spent all of the season in Triple-A, leading Durham in wins, starts, innings and strikeouts. He finished strong and the Devil Rays were pleased with his overall performance, believing he added strength and improved the consistency of his changeup and curveball. Harper continues to have tremendous control of his low-90s fastball and he shows intelligence and competitiveness every time he takes the mound. What's more, he continued to prove that he's healthy after having his first professional contract voided by the Red Sox in 1997 because he had elbow tendinitis. With a full year of Triple-A seasoning under his belt, Harper will compete for a major league job once again this spring.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 2001
  Harper signed with the Red Sox as a third-round pick in 1997 before the team voided his contract because he had elbow tendinitis. He has been healthy since signing with the Devil Rays and joined their big league rotation in September. Harper has tremendous control of his 92-mph fastball that he uses to pitch on both sides of the plate. Quiet and laid back off the field, he's an intense, intelligent and competitive pitcher who has a solid understanding of what he wants to accomplish on the mound. He showed his resiliency after getting bombed in his major league debut, improving with every outing and blanking the Blue Jays with a two-hit shutout. Harper needs to improve his curveball and changeup. Added strength would benefit him over the long haul of the season. The Devil Rays believe Harper received a near-perfect taste of the big leagues in 2000. Aided by that experience, he should earn a job in the Tampa Bay rotation this spring.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 1999
  Background: Harper was a highly-regarded prospect out of high school but an auto accident left him with serious back injuries and persuaded him to attend school at James Madison. He was drafted in the third round by the Red Sox in 1997, but had his contract voided because of elbow problems. A true free agent after that, Harper signed with the Devil Rays for a $185,000 bonus. Strengths: Harper has a long, fluid, easy delivery and a 90-93 mph fastball, along with a solid curveball and changeup. Like Rupe, Harper has an advanced knowledge of pitching, though he doesn't have Rupe's raw stuff. Weaknesses: After missing almost a year recovering from his elbow problems, Harper tired near the end of the 1998 season and the Devil Rays prescribed an offseason of rest and strengthening exercises. The Future: Because of his polish, the Devil Rays feel Harper will be a fast-track pitcher for them. If he has a healthy spring training, he could be part of an all-prospect starting rotation at Double-A Orlando.