Will Rhymes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #30 prospect in 2009
  Often overlooked because of his small stature, Rhymes has nonetheless made himself into a prospect. He'll never be mistaken for a toolsy middle infielder, but his peskiness has earned him praise as a lefthanded-hitting version of David Eckstein. Rhymes brings one element--speed--that the Tigers have sorely lacked on their big league roster. His plus speed and instincts have allowed him to steal bases at an 81 percent clip in the minors. Though he'll need to be a contact hitter to stick in the majors, he has been known to take huge swings and will chase pitches outside the strike zone. His superb hand-eye coordination allows him to overcome those shortcomings much of the time. Rhymes should develop into a solid defender at second base, his most natural position, though his footwork around the bag needs to improve. He has good hands and solid range at second base. He doesn't have enough arm to be a regular shortstop, but he could fill in there for a few days if needed. Rhymes offers enough on both sides of the ball that he profiles as an Aaron Miles-type utility player. He helped his cause by hitting .287 in the Arizona Fall League and will open 2009 as Detroit's starting second baseman in Triple-A.