Chris Archer Takes Time To Tutor Willy Adames

ST. PETERSBURG—Shortstop Willy Adames got a head start on his first big league spring training thanks to a hand from ace Chris Archer.

Impressed since meeting Adames last spring, Archer arranged for Adames to fly in a week before the team’s annual winter-development camp and spend five days training with him at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

“I met Willy last (spring) when he got called up for a day to play in a game and I could just see something in him, like in his eyes,” Archer said. “And when you get to know him, you can see it too, just this love and passion for the game. And I feel like that’s been missing a little. It inspired me, and I said, you know what, I want to help this kid however I can.”

Adames, a 21-year-old who ranks as the system’s top prospect, was appreciative of the invitation, and then the opportunity to work with the trainers on speed and position-specific agility drills.

“I’ve got no words,” said Adames, who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012. “I’ve been so grateful to him. He took time to show me around, to show me how to work harder . . . I love his attitude. I love how much work he puts in.”

Adames was one of 25 Rays prospects at Tropicana Field for four days of on- and off-field activities, though he knows he is not yet ready to come back. He is ticketed for Durham where he will get his first taste of Triple-A competition.

“It’s like a dream coming true,” Adames said. “I want to be here. I think I’m getting close, but I’ve got to keep working harder and harder.”

Rays officials, who acquired Adames from the Tigers in the July 2014 David Price trade, are quite sure he’ll be an impact player.

That confidence is based not only on what Adames has done on the field, where he shows the range and arm strength to handle short while flashing some power and improved discipline at the plate, but also his intangibles.

“His attitude, his aptitude, his work ethic—all the intangibles make Willy Adames stand out along with his skill,” farm director Mitch Lukevics said. “His ability to field a ground ball, to throw a baseball and to hit a baseball makes him a very unique player.”

COOL RAYS

• Zac Law, who played center field his first three years after being a 23rd-round pick in 2014, is converting to catcher.

• Shortstop Lucius Fox, acquired from the Giants in the Aug. 1 Matt Moore deal, missed the winter-development camp because of visa issues.

— Marc Topkin covers the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times