Jonny Gomes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #17 prospect in 2005
  After making tremendous strides with his approach at the plate and earning big league manager Lou Piniella's seal of approval in 2003, Gomes reverted to his pull-conscious ways last year in Triple-A. The Devil Rays were encouraged by his willingness to hit the ball to the opposite field two years ago, but the temptation offered by the left-field wall at Durham Bulls Athletic Park was too much for him to avoid. Getting him to use the entire field again may be difficult because he was much more productive in 2004 than '03. Though he has the strength and bat speed to knock the ball out of any part of any park, the Rays may have to accept that he's not going to change his approach. Gomes swings mightily with every cut and may never hit for average. He plays hard, but he's a subpar fielder. He lacks range and arm strength, and he needs to get better jumps and take more direct routes on flyballs. He's a below-average runner as well. Tampa Bay could give him a look as a DH in 2005.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 2004
  After suffering a mild heart attack in December 2002, Gomes recovered to make his big league debut last September, doubling off David Wells in his first at-bat. He tied for second in the system with 17 homers and continued to slug in the Arizona Fall League, where he nearly earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. His brother Joey is also a power-hitting outfielder in the Rays organization. An aggressive hitter, Gomes hits the ball with authority. He has plus power from left field to right-center. He runs well in the outfield and on the bases. Gomes must continue to refine his approach in order to make more consistent contact. His defense is rough, but it's not from a lack of effort. If he played football, Gomes would be described as having a non-stop motor. His arm strength will keep him in left field. Gomes' strong AFL showing will help his chances of sticking in the big leagues in 2004. He may need time in Triple-A, but he could crack the Tampa Bay lineup as a DH at some point this year.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #12 prospect in 2003
  Gomes could end up giving Tampa Bay one of the biggest steals in the 2001 draft. After earning Appalachian League MVP honors and leading the circuit with 16 home runs in his pro debut, Gomes continued to impress in 2002 with his power potential. He ranked fifth in the minors with 30 home runs and a .574 slugging percentage. He fell one homer shy of the California League title as he and his brother Joey, Tampa Bay's eighth-round pick in June, nearly became the first siblings to win homer crowns in the same year since Danny and Ike Boone in 1929. Gomes has incredible bat speed that causes the lumber to whistle while whipping through the strike zone. Unlike many young power hitters, he does a good job of working counts, enabling him to draw 91 walks last year and finish second in the Cal League with a .431 on-base percentage. He's susceptible to strikeouts because his swing is a bit long and has a couple of holes. He's best suited for left field at higher levels. Former Tampa Bay scouting director Dan Jennings calls Gomes a throwback player because of his old-fashioned, hard-nosed approach. Though several aspects of his game remain raw, Gomes has polished many areas and is making impressive progress. He's scheduled to open the 2003 season in Double-A.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #13 prospect in 2002
  No one from the Rays' 2001 draft class made a bigger splash last summer than Gomes. The 18th-round pick has a non-stop motor and showed an impressive blend of power, speed and hitting ability as he was named MVP in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He topped the Appy League in homers, on-base percentage (.442) and slugging percentage (.597) and ranked second in runs, RBIs and extra-base hits (29). Undrafted out of high school and after his first junior college season, Gomes has excellent raw power and a quick bat. He generates most of his power from his thick lower body. He uses the entire field and should have the ability to hit just about anywhere in the lineup provided he closes some of the holes in his swing. A catcher in high school, Gomes has adjusted to the outfield over the past two years thanks to his above-average athleticism, but he still needs to get better jumps on fly balls. He appears to be a late bloomer who could continue to surprise scouts this year in Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #11 prospect in 2005
  The biggest reason for Gomes' surge this year was simple: improved recognition on breaking pitches. The Devil Rays sent Gomes to the Mexican Pacific League last offseason so he could get a better handle on breaking stuff, and he responded by winning BA's Winter Player of the Year award. Gomes continued to hit back in the United States, tearing up the International League for two months and proving he belonged in the majors when Tampa Bay finally gave him a chance. He always has possessed the bat speed and power to knock the ball out of any park, though his swing can get long at times. He doesn't offer much in the way of speed or arm strength, and he's rough defensively as a corner outfielder.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #19 prospect in 2002
  The Devil Rays stole Jonny Gomes in the 18th round of the 2001 draft and see a lot of the same qualities in his older brother Joey, whom they took in the eighth round this year. Jonny topped the Rookie-level Appalachian League in home runs in his debut last summer, and Joey followed suit by topping the NY-P with 15 homers. They combined for 45 homers in 2002, employing the same ultra-aggressive approach. Both project as solid left fielders with decent speed. "I thought it was his brother," Almaraz said. "I saw his brother last year in the Appy League and thought this guy was just tormenting me, then realized it was his brother. What a player. He hits a ton, like his brother. Excellent power, similar to his brother. Pretty good plate discipline, and he impressed me with a mature approach at the plate."
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  Ranked American League #10 prospect in 2001
  Gomes was named the Appy League's player of the year after putting on the best power display in the circuit. The unheralded 18th-round pick out of Santa Rosa (Calif.) CC this June led the league in homers, on-base percentage (.442) and slugging percentage (.597) while placing second in runs and RBIs. Gomes produces above-average power with his impressive bat speed. He has outstanding natural strength, possesses plus speed and leaves nothing on the field. The biggest concern about Gomes was his big swing, which prevented him from catching up to some good fastballs up in the strike zone. "He's a big swinger with the best bat speed in the league," Crabbe said. "He runs pretty well for a big kid and he has a great attitude. There's a lot of holes in his swing for a college kid, but he's a prospect who has a chance to develop based on his approach and his tools."

• December, 2000 Scouting Report
  Gomes was named the Appy League's player of the year after putting on the best power display in the circuit. The unheralded 18th-round pick out of Santa Rosa (Calif.) CC this June led the league in homers, on-base percentage (.442) and slugging percentage (.597) while placing second in runs and RBIs. Gomes produces above-average power with his impressive bat speed. He has outstanding natural strength, possesses plus speed and leaves nothing on the field. The biggest concern about Gomes was his big swing, which prevented him from catching up to some good fastballs up in the strike zone. "He's a big swinger with the best bat speed in the league," Crabbe said. "He runs pretty well for a big kid and he has a great attitude. There's a lot of holes in his swing for a college kid, but he's a prospect who has a chance to develop based on his approach and his tools."