Drafted in the 6th round (192nd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1998.
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Background: Rupe's injury history since his senior year in high school includes elbow surgery, fractured ribs and a punctured lung from a car wreck, surgery for blood clot/rib removal and a pulled hamstring. The Devil Rays signed him as a fifth-year senior out of Texas A&M in 1998. Strengths: Rupe throws 92-94 mph and will hit 96 on ocassion. His slider is a major league quality pitch and his changeup isn't far away either. Tampa Bay personnel praise his pitching instincts, command and maturity on the mound. Weaknesses: With no medical setbacks in almost two years, it's tempting to say that Rupe is over the hump, but the specter of his past will always be there. The Devil Rays shut him down at the end of the season with no instructional league or winter ball for strictly precautionary reasons. The Future: Given his age, maturity and command of his pitches, Rupe is likely to move quickly through the Tampa Bay system, perhaps starting 1999 in Double-A.
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