Xavier Isaac Exceeds Rays’ Expectations In First Full Pro Season
When the Rays drafted 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman Xavier Isaac last year, they faced questions about a player who was viewed as a non-consensus talent at pick No. 29.
A year later, the 19-year-old Isaac has shown there is little reason for concern.
Playing for Low-A Charleston, Isaac has looked very much like the overall hitter the Rays expected him to be and, if anything, the lefthanded hitter has yet to show much of the power expected.
Through his first 61 games, he hit .268/.387/.455 with seven home runs, 39 walks and 46 strikeouts.
“I think he’s been great,’’ Rays scouting director Chuck Ricci said. “I think he’s controlled the strike zone. He’s controlled at-bats, and now he’s starting to get into power. I think we’re thrilled with the way it’s gone.’’
The Rays had a sense of Isaac’s work ethic after he initially worked his way onto scouts’ radars as a sophomore at East Forsyth High near Winston-Salem, N.C., then how he battled to overcome a fractured left foot that sidelined him for the summer showcase as a rising senior.
Then they got a firsthand look as he spent the winter working out with organization-mate Brock Jones and working on improving his conditioning, which has made a difference at the plate and at first base.
“X spent a lot of time working in Miami, working out, working on his body, working on his agility. He got himself in really good shape,’’ Rays general manager Peter Bendix said. “And it showed in spring training.’’
“Over the course of the season, we’re seeing the hitter develop. He’s always had very hitter strong abilities, in addition to the power that’s in there. As the seasons progressed, he’s kind of gotten to a little bit more of that power.
“He’s not striking out very much. He’s taking his walks. He’s hitting the ball hard, and he’s making the adjustments over the course of the season. Doing that in his first full season at such a young age is really impressive . . . I think he’s exceeding our expectations at this point.’’
COOL RAYS
— Rays scouting director Chuck Ricci is excited to run his first draft this year. He moved into the top spot after nine years as national crosschecker, having been promoted when former scouting director Rob Metzler took an assistant general manager job with the Tigers last fall. Ricci, 54, melds on-field experience, having pitched briefly in the majors during an 11-year pro career, with analytic acumen.
— June was good for the Rays’ farm system. The organization had four players win player or pitcher of the month awards in their leagues: second baseman Jonathan Aranda (Triple-A International) and third baseman Austin Shenton (Double-A Southern) and lefthander Mason Montgomery (Double-A Southern) and righthander Yoniel Curet (Low-A Carolina).
