Carlos Hines

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #25 prospect in 2006
  Hines was originally drafted by the Reds, who released him after just three months in the organization. He didn't play at all in 2000, and the Devil Rays signed him in the middle of the 2001 season. Durham pitching coach Joe Coleman raved about the way Hines pitched for the Bulls during the final month of the 2005 season. In his last 11 outings, Hines surrendered just one earned run in 192⁄3 innings, and the Devil Rays were most impressed with the way he responded in pressure situations. They have hope he may finally live up to the potential he has teased them with for the past several seasons. Hines has a fast arm that produces a powerful 92-97 mph fastball. His improvement at Durham came when he came up with a more effective slider, a pitch that has some power in the upper 70s. As always, consistency and maintaining the feel for his two main pitches as well as a modest changeup are crucial. His control slipped last year, and he's going to have to do a better job of throwing strikes. Hines could make Tampa Bay as a middle reliever in spring training and might develop into a set-up man down the road.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #22 prospect in 2004
  Though Hines has won seven games since turning pro in 1999 and hasn't experienced any success above high Class A, the Devil Rays added him to their 40-man roster in the offseason. He has been a different pitcher since moving to the bullpen in mid-2002, and he showcased one of the best fastballs in the Arizona Fall League following the 2003 season. Hines pitches off a mid-90s fastball that regularly touches 97 mph. It only has modest movement. Hines' problems come when he must throw something other than his heater. He doesn't have confidence in his slider and he hangs it on occasion. His changeup has little depth or fade, and its lack of effectiveness was a major reason he couldn't remain a starter. There had been some questions regarding Hines' makeup in the past--the Reds released him for disciplinary reasons shortly after signing him in 1999--but the reserved pitcher produced no problems last year. If he can polish a second pitch, Hines could be a situational reliever in the major leagues, possibly as soon as late 2004.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #30 prospect in 2003
  Signed out of a North Carolina high school in 1999 by the Reds, Hines was released for disciplinary reasons later that summer and didn't play pro ball in 2000. He resurfaced with the Devil Rays in 2001, earning pitcher of the year honors at Princeton. He struggled in 2002, though he showed good athleticism for a pitcher and a fastball that touches 94 mph. He also throws a decent slider, but most scouts agree he's a one-pitch pitcher at this point in his career. Because of his limited repertoire and mediocre movement on his fastball, Hines has difficulty when he goes through the lineup a second time. He needs to make more progress with his slider while developing a changeup. Added maturity would help the 22- year-old as well, as his makeup has been described as questionable at best. His potential lies as a set-up man and possibly a closer if he adds a little velocity to his heater. He'll probably spend 2003 with one of Tampa Bay's Class A affiliates.